CV
Sarah L. Raubenheimer, Ph.D.
Institute for Global Change Biology
School for Environment and Sustainability
University of Michigan
sraubs@umich.edu
SUMMARY
I am an African climate change ecologist with expertise in grasslands and rangelands under global change. My African insight and experience bring a valuable perspective to my work on climate and sustainability. I am currently managing the University of Michigan’s Institute for Global Change Biology alongside the acclaimed ecologist Prof Peter Reich. My career has developed along this path through my love of nature and resultant desire to contribute as much as I can to the conservation of our planet.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Botany (Climate Change Ecophysiology), Rhodes University, South Africa. 2020
Thesis title: CO2-induced woody thickening depends strongly on interacting abiotic and biotic factors.
Advisor: B.S. Ripley, Ph.D.
BSc honours Magna Cum Laude, Biodiversity and Conservation. Rhodes University, South Africa. 2016
Thesis title: Effects of rangeland herbivores on savanna woody thickening.
BSc, Botany and Zoology. Rhodes University, South Africa. 2015
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING
Research Fellow, Institute for Global Change Biology. 2022-pres.
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Advisors: P. Reich, Ph.D.; I. Ibanez, Ph.D.
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2022 – pres. Program Manager and Research Fellow, Institute for Global Change Biology, University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.
2021 Temporary Lecturer, Rhodes University Department of Botany.
2020 – 2022 Instrument Scientist, Rhodes University Elevated CO2 Facility.
Research, facility management, instrument utilization/maintenance for botanical climate change research (www.ru.ac.za/ruecf) in collaboration with the University of Sheffield.
2018 – 2019 Senior demonstrator, Rhodes University Dept. of Zoology & Entomology
Running of large practical classes and management of a team of post-graduate tutors.
2016 – 2019 Tutor/practical demonstrator, Rhodes University Dept. of Zoology, Entomology, & Botany.
2017 Intern, Ground Truth Environmental Consultants Research assistance in the River Ecology Division
2016 Research Assistant, Stellenbosch University Department of Botany & Zoology.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
2022 Journal of Ecology Editor’s Choice Award
2021 Golden Key invitation
2019 German Academic Exchange (DAAD) international research travel award | € 5325
2018 Schonland Prize for Contribution to the Rhodes University Botany Department
2017 Academic Colours, Rhodes University
2017 BA Puterhill Award for Contribution to Conservation in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
2017 National Research Foundation PhD Innovation Scholarship | R 360 000
2016 National Research Foundation BSc honours Scholarship | R45 000
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Raubenheimer, S.L., Venter, N., and Ripley, B.S. 2023. Drought susceptibility of southern African C4 grasses: phylogenetically and photosynthetically determined? Functional Ecology.
Paper, M.P., Righetti, T., Raubenheimer, S.L., Coetzee, J., Sosa, A., Riple, B.S., Hill, M. 2023. Effects of Elevated CO2 on Feeding Responses of Biological Control Agents of Pontedaria crassipes Mart. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
Ripley, B.S., Raubenheimer, S.L., Perumal, L., Anderson, M., Mostert, E., Kgope, B.S., Midgley, G.F. and Simpson, K.J. 2022. CO2 fertilisation increases tolerance of herbivory in seedlings of the bush encroaching savanna tree Vachellia karroo. Functional Ecology.
Raubenheimer, S.L. and Ripley, B.S. 2022. “CO2-stimulation to savanna tree seedling growth depends on interactions with local drivers”. Journal of Ecology.
** awarded Journal of Ecology Editor’s Choice Award for this article **
Raubenheimer, S.L., Simpson, K.J., Carkeek, R., and Ripley, B.S. 2022. “Could elevated CO2-induced changes to C4 flammability aggravate woody thickening?” African Journal of Range and Forage Science.
Raubenheimer, S.L., Simpson, K.J., and Reich, P. Competitive suppression trumps climatic stimulation in grasslands. In prep. Global Change Biology.
Simpson, K.J., Staver, A.C, King, J., Bond, W.J., Botha, J., Coetsee, C., Pellegrini, A.F.A., Raubenheimer, S., Ripley, B.S., Val Martin, M., Osborne, C.P. CO2 fertilization of C4 grasses across experiments, field observations, and models. In prep. Science
Raubenheimer, S.L., Simpson, K.J., Osborne, C.P., Ripley, B.S. Acquisitive vs. conservative growth strategies differentiate between encroachers and non-encroachers in savannas? In prep. Journal of Ecology.
Raubenheimer, S.L., and Reich, P. Winners and losers: how global change drives shifts in North American grasslands. In prep. Global Change Biology.
Goncalves-Souza, T., Raubenheimer, S.L., Zheng, L., Rocci, K., Song, Y., McPherson, M., Brinkhoff R., Reich, P., et al. Functional traits across life science disciplines and their relevance to global change. In prep. Science.
Popular science articles published by The Conversation, The Daily Maverick, and Modern Ghana.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Conference oral presentations
2019 Raubenheimer, S.L. and Ripley, B.S. Are elevated CO2 benefits exclusive to C3 trees? Savanna Science Network Meeting, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
2019 Raubenheimer, S.L. and Ripley, B.S. Elevated CO2 induced enhancements to growth and water conservation are not exclusive to C3 trees. Global Change Conference, Polokwane, South Africa.
2018 Raubenheimer, S.L. and Ripley, B.S. Is climate exacerbating bush encroachment? – responses of Vachellia karroo seedlings to elevated CO2 and herbivory. Savanna Science Network Meeting 2018, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
2018 Raubenheimer, S.L. and Ripley, B.S. Can disturbance mitigate the growth enhancement caused by elevated CO2? The Thicket Forum, Addo Elephant Park, South Africa.
Invited Talks
2023 Raubenheimer, S.L., Simpson, K.J., Carkeek, R.H., and Ripley, B.S. Could CO2-induced changes to C4 grass flammability aggravate savanna woody encroachment? Departmental Seminar at the School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, USA.
2022 Raubenheimer, S.L. and Ripley, B.S. CO2-induced woody thickening depends strongly on interacting abiotic and biotic factors. Departmental Seminar at the School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, USA.
2021 Raubenheimer, S.L., Simpson, K.J., Carkeek, R.H., and Ripley, B.S. Could CO2-induced changes to C4 grass flammability aggravate savanna woody encroachment? Invited online talk at the School of Biosciences, Sheffield University, United Kingdom.
2019 Raubenheimer, S.L. CO2-induced woody thickening depends strongly on interacting abiotic and biotic factors. Invited talk at the Plant Ecology Department, University of Bayreuth, Germany.
2017 Raubenheimer, S.L. and Ripley, B.S. Elevated CO2 and bush encroachment. Bush Encroachment Workshop, Rhodes University, South Africa.
Conference Talk Judging
2021 Served as Judge for the Applied Centre for Climate and Earth System Science annual conference.
EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Fire Ecology, Reviewer
Tree Physiology, Reviewer
Plant Ecology, Reviewer
Applied Centre for Climate and Earth System Science, Conference Talk Judge
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2021 Plant Physiological Adaptations 1st year lecture course, Rhodes University 2019
2019 R program course tutor, Rhodes University Dept. of Statistics
2018 – 2019 Cell biology senior demonstrator / practical coordinator, Rhodes University
2017- 2018 Botany and Cell Biology tutor, Rhodes University Dept. of Botany.
STUDENT SUPERVISION
2020 BSc hons, Chris Johnston (co-supervision with Prof Brad Ripley)
2020 BSc 3rd year, Richard Carkeek (co-supervision with Prof Brad Ripley)
2020 BSc 3rd year, Masixole Njengele (co-supervision with Dr Tiffany Pillay)
2020 BSc 3rd year, Marco Arnoldi (co-supervision with Prof Brad Ripley)
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT
2023 Co-organizer of Lunch and Learn Series, Institute for Global Change Biology
2023 Organizer of Seminar Series, Institute for Global Change Biology
2021 Steering committee, Global Change Emerging Researcher Network
2021 Conference talk judge, Perspectives on Climate Change Conference
2018 – 2019 Host for interns, Rhodes University Community Engagement
2019 Student representative on Faculty Board, Rhodes University
2012 Volunteer, Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots School Program, Minnesota
2009 Volunteer, FreeMe KZN Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
SKILLS
Management | Experience with management of various programs, projects, teams, and institutes
Research | Extensive research skills and experience
Communication | Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Programming and Software| R, bash, Google and Microsoft Suites
Teaching | Online teaching experience, face-to-face practical teaching, student supervision
Ecological Modeling | Species distribution modeling, photosynthetic modeling, fire modeling
Instrument science | Instrument usage/maintenance/calibration, electronics, irrigation
Ecophysiology | Photosynthetic exploration, use of gas exchange instruments
Analytical thinking and experimental design
Leadership skills and teamwork
Languages | English (advanced), Afrikaans (intermediate), Dutch (basic)
Experienced driver | South African & USA driver’s license, RSA professional drivers permit (PRDP)
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
2023 Bayesian Statistics Course, University of Michigan, USA.
2023 GIS in R, University of Michigan, USA.
2019 Species Distribution Modeling, University of Bayreuth, Germany.
2019 R programming workshop, University of Cape Town.
2017 ESRI ArcGIS Course, Rhodes University Department of Geography.
2017 Environmental Consulting, Ground Truth Environmental Consultants.