The Lab

PI: Flor Sangermano (she, her, ella)

I’m a geographer interested in conservation technologies. My research focuses on climate and land cover change impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity through the lens of geospatial analysis to support conservation planning and ecosystem management. I merge geographic information science (GIS) and remote sensing technologies with acoustics and landscape ecology to uncover how ecosystems change due to human actions, and the potential cascading impacts on wildlife and humans.

I'm proud to be part of the team ETH BiodivX, which won the bonus prize in the XPRIZE Rainforest competition.

Before joining Clark University's Graduate School of Geography, I worked at Clark Labs (ClarkLabs.org) developing methods to facilitate the analysis and modeling of changes in climate and land cover, which are implemented within the IDRISI/Terrset software.

I have a Licenciatura (BSc/MSc) in Biology from Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina, and an MA and PhD in Geography from Clark University

In my free time I like baking, cooking, and having fun with my family

PI's advising and mentoring philosophy

As the PI of the lab, I am privileged to provide guidance to students pursuing their Ph.D., Master's, and undergraduate degrees in Geography, Biology, Environmental Studies, GIS, and Environmental Science and Policy.

My mentoring is committed to supporting underrepresented students. Being first-generation student, I understand the struggles of minorities in academia. My mentoring thus provides capacity development, supports the navigation of academia, and maintains sound mental health. With one-third of the global Ph.D. population seeking help for anxiety and depression, mental health issues are the main reason for Ph.D. students leaving graduate school. Moreover, female scientists leave academia in greater numbers than men. Thus, mentoring PhD students to be successful while maintaining a work-life balance is fundamental for Ph.D. success.

Different Ph.D. students require a specific amount and type of guidance. Therefore, each student's mentoring plan is developed independently.

Interested in joining the Lab?

If you are interested in joining the GECo lab, please send me an email of interest at fsangermano @ clarku.edu.

Please include in your email your Major or previous degree, any past research and/or coursework experience in the topics relevant to the lab, and a brief statement explaining and why this lab is a good fit for your research goals.

If you are an undergraduate student at Clark University interested in Honors, please make an appointment for office hours to discuss your interests. You should contact me during the Spring semester of your Junior year, or before (for completion of Honors during the Spring of your Senior year).

Information about the Honors program in Geography can be found here.

Current Students

Vanchy Li (Ph.D. Student)

I am interested in ecological monitoring, wildlife conservation, and health geography. In my free time, I enjoy taking care of my two pet lizards, painting, and relaxing.

Mikayla Schappert (Ph.D. Student)

I am interested in the effects of landscape heterogeneity on species diversity, as well as habitat fragmentation. I enjoy using GIScience to address and analyze these questions with the hope of real world applications that can make a difference in our changing world.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my dog, photography, and outdoor activities such as camping and kayaking, plants, and horseback riding.

List of all Advisees (advisor or committee member)

Ph.D. Students

Fatemeh Kordi (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Mykayla Schappert (advisor): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Anna Zhu (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Ashley Hoffman (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Aiyin Zhang (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Vanchy Li (advisor): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Shiqi, Tao (co-advisor): Geography, Clark University. Withdrew
Luisa Young (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. 2022
Nick Geron (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. 2023
Jackie Guz (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. 2021
Mandy Gaudreau (dissertation committee): Biology, Clark University. 2022
Zhiwen Zhu (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. (finished with MA 2018)
Nathan Gill (dissertation committee): Geography, Clark University. 2018

Master Student’s Thesis

Brennan Hare (Committee): MS Biology, Clark University. 2025
Rob Kearney (Advisor): MSGIS, Clark University. MSGIS, Clark University (did not complete thesis)
Qihui Wang (Advisor): MSGIS, Clark University. MSGIS, Clark University. 2021
Laurence SanBoeuf (Committee / Co-Advisor): MSGIS, Clark University. 2021
Maseeng Masitha (Committee / Co-Advisor): MSGIS, Clark University. 2021
Andrew Pagan (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee): Geography, Clark University. 2020
Erica Carcelen (Advisor): GISDE, Clark University. 2019
Aaron Meneghini (Advisor): GISDE, Clark University. 2019
Meyru Bhanti (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee): Geography, Clark University. 2019
Tyler Anderson (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee): Geography, Clark University. 2019
Rishi Singh (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee): Geography, Clark University. 2018
Eli Simonson (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee): Geography, Clark University. 2018
Meghan Kelly (first reader): Environmental Science and Policy Program, Clark University. 2018
Yuka Fuchino (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee): Geography, Clark University. 2017
Kate Markham, M.Sc. (Advisor): Environmental Science and Policy Program, Clark University. 2017
Laia Brugarolas Macia (second reader): Environmental Science and Policy Program, Clark University. 2017
Hannah Rush (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee): Geography, Clark University. 2016
Erin Glennie (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee): Geography, Clark University. 2016
Andrea Cabrera (second reader): Environmental Science and Policy Program, Clark University. 2016
Flor Monroe (co-advisor with John Rogan): Environmental Science and Policy Program, Clark University. 2016
Matthew Warndorf M.Sc. (5th year M.Sc. thesis committee) Biology, Clark University. 2015
Sean McCartney, M.Sc. (Advisor) Geographical Information Science for Development and Environment Program, Clark University. 2015
Liudmila Osipova, M.Sc. (Advisor) Environmental Science and Policy Program, Clark University. 2013
Lori Johnson, M.Sc. (Advisor) Geographical Information Science for Development and Environment Program, Clark University. 2012
Kate Doiron (co-advisor with Ron Eastman) Geographical Information Science for Development and Environment Program, Clark University. 2010

Undergraduate Student’s Honors

Angela Ruan (Advisor): Geography, Clark University. 2025
Rory Dickinson (Advisor): Geography, Clark University. 2024
Lara Jordan (Advisor): Geography, Clark University.2023
Ru Ward (Committee): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Finnegan Wertz (Committee): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Luke Brogna (Committee): Geography, Clark University. In progress
Aandishah Tehzeeb Samara (Committee): Geography, Clark University. January 2021
Sadie Murray (Committee): Geography, Clark University. December 2020
Tobey Chase (Advisor): Geography, Clark University. 2020
Rachel Corcoran-Adams (Committee): Geography, Clark University. 2020
Olivia Landry (Advisor): Geography, Clark University. 2019
Anika Berger (Advisor): Geography, Clark University. 2019
Andrew Pagan (Committee): Geography, Clark University. 2019
Anthony Himmelberger (Committee): Geography, Clark University. 2019
Carly Robbins (NOAA and Honor’s advisor): Geography, Clark University. 2018
Daniela Reyes-Saade (Advisor): Geography, Clark University. 2017
Tom Smith (committee): Geography, Clark University. 2017
Anela Layugan (committee): Geography, Clark University. 2017
Mary Molloy (committee): Geography, Clark University. 2017
Zachary Peloquin, B.A. (Advisor), Clark University. 2016 (no Honors)

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