Teaching
Here is a quick description of the courses I am currently teaching or have taught in the past. Descriptions sourced from the Bryn Mawr College website and the Macalester College website.
Ecology and the Environment
Fall 2026
This course dives into a range of topics to study how species, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes function in our changing climate. We will emphasize biological nutrient and energy cycling, population dynamics, animal and plant species interactions, disturbances and response to disturbances, and ecology in urban and agricultural landscapes. We will examine Ecology under four conceptual ‘lenses’: Climate Change, Environmental Justice, Land Use, and Ecosystem Services. These lenses provide critical insight into how scientists, policy makers, land managers, and other stakeholders evaluate complex ecological and environmental systems. Labs will be field and data-based, and emphasize the development of hypotheses, novel data collection at Ordway Field Station, and statistical analysis.
Ethics in Biology
Fall 2024, 2025
Students will read and discuss various text to understand the intersection of ethics with biology in the modern world in light of the history of questionable morality and ethics in science. We will specifically focus on the medical sciences, environmentalism, and how settler colonialism is an intrinsic part of most scientific research practices.
Biodiversity Conservation in a Changing World
Fall 2025
How is biodiversity responding to human-induced global change, and how can ecological knowledge be applied to conservation? This course explores pressing ecological challenges such as endangered species management, invasive species spread, and climate-driven range shifts. Through case studies and primary literature, we will examine how conservation biologists, invasion ecologists, and population biologists use data-driven approaches to understand ecological dynamics, inform decision-making, and propose real-world solutions. Students will explore quantitative methods by analyzing and discussing scientific papers, gaining insight into the role of data and models in conservation science. By the end of the course, students will design a research proposal detailing how to collect and analyze data for forecasting ecological change or modeling biodiversity threats.
Invasion Biology/Invasion Ecology
Spring 2025, 2026
The negative impact of biological invasions is recognized as one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss. We will study how biological invasions come to be, what makes invasive species so successful, and how the ecology and evolution of invasive populations redefine the ecosystems in which they become established. The course will explore the interaction between invasive species and other global change factors such as urbanization, globalization of trade, and climate change. For each topic, we will examine the theoretical background, consider case studies, and develop a deeper understanding through class discussions, readings, and assignments.
Animal Behaviour
Spring 2026, Spring 2027
This course explores the evolutionary and ecological processes that shape the diversity of animal behaviors. We will investigate how animals forage for food, attract mates, avoid predators, communicate, and ensure the survival of their offspring. By examining how particular behaviors provide evolutionary advantages in different contexts, we will explore why animals behave in such varied and complex ways. We will do this by both studying the primary scientific literature and designing, conducting, and analyzing our own experiments during the lab portion of the class.
Biostatistics with R
Fall 2024
An introductory course in statistical analysis focusing on biological data. This course is structured to develop students’ understanding of statistics and probability and when to apply different quantitative methods. The lab component focuses on how to implement those methods using the R statistics environment. Topics include summary statistics, distributions, randomization, replication, and probability. The course is geared around problem sets, lab reports, and interactive learning. Course developed by Dr B. Bitarello
Ecological Modeling
Spring 2025
Unraveling the complexity of ecological systems calls for increasingly sophisticated quantitative approaches. Statistical models and simulations built on empirical data offer the means of exploring complex ecological questions to better understand ecological processes and inform environmental decisions. This class will introduce students to a variety of ecological models while instilling an appreciation for the strengths and limitations of each modeling technique, vital to characterizing inferences made from them. The course will be taught as a hands-on integrated lab/lecture, and students will be expected to program regularly, primarily in R.
Sustainable cities: Urban Environmental Science
Spring 2027, in development
The world is becoming more and more urban, with over 80% of the US population and half of the world’s population living in cities. This trend (and the environmental problems it creates) will only increase throughout the 21st century, yet ecologists are just beginning to understand humans as organisms that influence their environment. Cities are hubs of activity that influence the physical structure, climate, element and energy cycling, and plant and animal communities within the urban footprint. However, these urban environments are influential well beyond their perceived borders. Urban ecologists are expanding their focus from ecology in cities, where they studied urban plants and wildlife, to the ecology of cities, where they consider human-biological interactions with increasing attention to the complex interplay among people, society, and environment. Importantly, this course acknowledges how the lived experiences of urban dwellers vary tremendously, both within and across cities. This course examines current developments in urban ecology and looks at the role it can play in planning and managing urban environments to create equitable futures for all.