Scientist

I am a conservation ecologist whose research draws from movement and spatial ecology, biodiversity informatics, and quantitative ecology. My research interests are broad, but are united by a passion for working with under-researched taxa, systems, and regions. Much of my research focuses on bats, migratory strategy, participatory science data, and horizon scanning for emerging conservation issues. I hold dual appointments as a scientist based in the Sound Forest Lab at UW-Madison and as a quantitative ecologist at Bat Conservation International. Recently, I led the bat bioacoustics and biodiversity informatics component of Team Limelight, the grand prize-winning team of the XPRIZE Rainforest competition. Visit my website.

Postdoctoral researcher - UW Distinguished Research Fellow, RISE Initiative

I am a conservation scientist focused on advancing evidence-based conservation in tropical ecosystems. I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible species—from tigers and elephants to Komodo dragons and hornbills. My work centers on optimizing biodiversity monitoring in human-dominated landscapes, fostering human–wildlife coexistence, and strengthening community-based conservation. With Sound Forest Lab, I’m developing an AI-based framework to integrate camera trap, acoustic, and eDNA data for monitoring the biodiversity benefits of Natural Climate Solutions. I currently serve as President of the Society for Conservation Biology Indonesia and as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Ecology. In my free time, I enjoy reading comics, watching tennis, and predicting Eurovision winners. Visit my website.

Postdoctoral researcher

I am an ecologist and conservation biologist with a strong interest in understanding the factors that shape the distribution and abundance of animal populations and their interactions with landscapes. Combining fieldwork and data analysis, I enjoy working with large datasets, including acoustic and camera trap data, spatial data, and citizen science, to address key conservation challenges. My current work on the Soundscape Baselines project integrates advanced modeling techniques, machine learning, and remote sensing to study biodiversity in tropical forests. Through this research, I aim to uncover patterns in biodiversity and develop actionable strategies to tackle pressing ecological and conservation challenges.

Honorary fellow

I am a conservation scientist and a field biologist interested in developing effective conservation strategies to protect biodiversity, particularly in tropics. I use a combination of field observation, conservation technology, econometrics, and policy research to address delicate issues and provide evidence for conservation advocacy. I graduated with a PhD in Forestry, which he completed in 2024 at the Sound Forest Lab. I evaluated the co-benefits of REDD+ project in Sierra Leone and devising a strategy to reduce human-wildlife conflict. I grew up in the Western Ghats to a coffee-farming family beside a Tiger reserve. I love to walk wilderness, observe wildlife, and sail. website: Conservation Chorus

I am an undergraduate researcher prospectively majoring in Wildlife Ecology or Biology. I am interested in the mechanisms of ecosystems and how they respond to anthropogenic changes, merging scientific insights for conservation applications. I grew up and completed my past education in China, and my previous experiences are broadly related to behavioral ecology and ornithology, from nest-side fidelity to fear response. My current work entails an analysis of birds' vocalization frequencies in the context of their conservation status. Through this research, I aim to unravel the patterns of acoustic features that could be applied to interpret soundscapes to tackle conservation challenges. In my free time, I love trekking in the wilderness, looking for birds and other wildlife, and playing soccer.

Postdoctoral researcher (2023-2025)

Laura is a conservation ecologist interested in the dynamics of ecological systems, and how those dynamics can be disrupted by climate change and environmental degradation. Her research in the Sound Forest Lab focused on the Soundscape Baselines project.

PhD in Environment & Resources

Tatiana is a Brazilian biologist with a MS in Environmental Conservation, who did her PhD with the Sound Forest Lab. Her degree is in Environment and Resources from the Nelson Institute. She collaborated with The Nature Conservancy and local communities in Mexico to understand the impacts of wood harvesting and habitat loss on tropical biodiversity. Tatiana is the Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University.

Grace was a Research Intern in the Sound Forest Lab, working on the Soundscape Baselines Project. She is interested in community based conservation and community based natural resource management on the African continent. Grace is particularly interested in exploring these things through ecotourism and cultural and heritage tourism initiatives.

Postdoctoral researcher (2022-2023)

Tally is a conservation scientist focused on understanding the impacts of landscape-scale disturbance on tropical biodiversity. Her research in the Sound Forest Lab focused on using soundscapes to assess the value of forest certification for species in logged forests in Gabon. Tally is a co-chair of the British Ecological Society ALDER network, and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kent.

Walter is a biodiversity conservation scientist currently pursuing a PhD at the Omar Bongo University in Gabon. He collaborated with the Sounds Forest Lab as a consultant for a 3 year project on bioacoustics in logging concessions, and published this research in Biological Conservation.

MSc in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Zakher is an ecologist and conservation scientist from Tunisia, who completed his masters degree with the Sound Forest Lab in 2023. Zakher was a Fulbright student at UW-Madison and is the Vice-President of the Tunisian Association for Wildlife.

Undergraduate Researcher, Zoology and art major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

”Working in the Sound Forest Lab allowed me to conduct research investigating the effectiveness of various restoration techniques while analyzing the environmental, social, and economic effects of forest restoration globally.”

Undergraduate Researcher, Political Science major with minors in Environmental Studies and Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

“Through my work as an undergraduate researcher in the Sound Forest Lab, I aspire to make an impact in preserving wildlife and their habitat. I am interested in the effectiveness of various conservation strategies and the impact they have on the environment, economy, and local community. It is my hope that through this holistic approach to research more inclusive solutions to environmental problems can be found.”

Masters at the Bern Applied University of Sciences.

Isaac worked with the Sound Forest Lab on comparing bioacoustics and camera trapping in Gabon’s rainforest. Isaac is currently based in Gabon where he applies his expertise in managing the environmental impact of infrastructure.

Undergraduate Researcher, Computer Sciences and Economics major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I am interested in the applications of Computer Sciences, especially data analysis and machine learning, to other fields to try to solve challenging problems. I used machine learning for research on the rainforest biodiversity.”

Graduate student in Tropical Forest Conservation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I have a strong interest in wildlife monitoring in African countries and ecology. I am also interested in bringing awareness about the importance of biodiversity to local communities and to find a balance between the daily needs of these communities and the protection of biodiversity.”

Undergraduate Researcher, Computer Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I’m interested in topics concerning machine learning and computer graphics. I am also a video game developer. My team and I have developed several games and I hope I can develop games that can educate young players and advertise concept of environmental protection.”

Undergraduate Researcher, majoring in Environmental Science and Conservation Biology at UW-Madison.

“I am interested in the ways that bioacoustics and new technologies can be used for conservation and what they can tell us about the ways that humans are affecting the environment.”