Explaining biodiversity patterns across space and time is one of the biggest scientific challenges of the 21st century.  

We study ecological communities, focusing mostly on plants (but sometimes also microbes, arthropods, and others). We use various tools, including experiments, models, and global-scale big-data analyses. We are interested in patterns of species diversity, species composition, and trait distribution.

 We believe that a better understanding of the mechanisms behind biodiversity patterns is crucial for conserving and restoring natural systems.