Lab Members
Joseph W. Veldman
Associate Professor, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2258 USA
Core Faculty, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475 USA
Investigador Asociado, Instituto Boliviano de Investigación Forestal, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Investigador Asociado, Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Ph.D. Botany, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida USA
B.S. Biology, Hope College, Holland, Michigan USA
Email: veldman (at) tamu (dot) edu
Gisel Garza
Doctoral Student, Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2258 USA
M.S. Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA
B.S. Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA
Leonardo Collazos
Doctoral Student, Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University
B.S. Biological Sciences, La Molina National Agrarian University (UNALM), Lima, Peru
RENÉE HOLMAN
Doctoral Student, Graduate Program in Philosophy (Environmental Ethics), Texas A&M University
M.Sc. Student, Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University
B.A. Philosophy, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX, USA
JAVIER RUIZ-PÉREZ
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University
Ph.D. History (Archaeobotany), Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
M.S. Terrestrial Ecology and Biodiversity Management, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
B.A. History, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Research Interests: Dr. Ruiz-Pérez is an archaeologist and phytolith specialist. His research is mostly focused on tropical South America, where he investigates pre-Columbian cultivation systems, the effects of past anthropogenic land use on contemporary landscapes, and the millennial-scale role of fire in shaping savanna-forest mosaics.
Email: javier.ruizperez (at) ag (dot) tamu (dot) edu
FORMER LAB MEMBERS
Ashish Nerlekar
Ph.D. Ecology and Conservation Biology (2023), Texas A&M University
Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan State University
M.S. Biodiversity, Pune University, India
B.S. Botany, Fergusson College, Pune University, India
MAriana Dairel
Visiting Doctoral Student, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University
Doctoral Candidate, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Department of Biodiversity, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
M.S. Plant Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
B.S. Biological Sciences, Ouro Preto Federal University (UFOP), Minas Gerais, Brazil
R. Peter Dorn
Masters of Science (2023, non-thesis), Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University
B.S. Biomathematics, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Thaís Mazzafera Haddad
Visiting Doctoral Student, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management, Texas A&M University
Doctoral Candidate, Department of Forest Resources, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture / University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 11 Pádua Dias Av.- Piracicaba - SP, Brasil 13418-900
M.S. Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
B.S. Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
Erin Novak
M.Sc. Ecosystem Science & Management (2020), Texas A&M University
Thesis title:
Season of prescribed fire determines grassland restoration outcomes after fire exclusion and overgrazing
B.S. Biology, University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas, USA
B.A. Theology, University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas, USA
Julie C. Aleman
Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management, Texas A&M University
Currently: Visiting Research Scientist, Université de Montréal (Canada)
Ph.D. Ecology and Evolution, University of Montpellier (France)
M.S. Agronomy and Environmental Sciences, International Centre for Higher Education in Agricultural Sciences, Montpellier (France).
B.S. Agronomy, International Centre for Higher Education in Agricultural Sciences, Montpellier (France)
Research interests: Dr. Aleman studies savanna and forest history, biogeography and conservation. She uses interdisciplinary approaches (i.e., paleo-ecology, historical ecology, GIS, and modelling) to understand past and future responses of grass-dominated ecosystems to global environmental change.
Website: http://www.juliealeman.com/