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/