Colloquium Speaker Series
The Ecology and Evolution Colloquium Speaker Series
The department of E&E brings together leading experts in their fields to share groundbreaking research and insights. Our series offers a dynamic platform for faculty, students, and the broader community to engage with cutting-edge ideas in ecology and evolution. Through these presentations, we aim to foster intellectual growth, inspire future research, and contribute to a deeper understanding of our natural world.
Dissertation Defenses
Our doctoral students culminate their academic journeys with a rigorous defense of their original research. This formal presentation offers an opportunity for students to showcase their expertise, engage in scholarly dialogue, and receive valuable feedback from faculty and peers. These events are open to the public and provide a glimpse into the cutting-edge research being conducted within our department.
Fall 2025
8/27/2025, Welcome Colloquium, (In-Person)
Title: Introductions and more,
Host: E&E (Reception outside underthe bridge following the Colloquium)
9/3/2025, Dr. Krishna Veeramah, Stony Brook University, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: Dr. Rest & Dr. Thacker
Website
9/10/2025, Curriculum Committee meeting
9/17/2025, Dr. Rafael D'Andrea, Stony Brook University, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: Dr. Joshua Rest
Website
9/24/2025, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
Website
10/1/2025, Dr. Bin He , University of Iowa, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: Dr. Joshua Rest
Website
10/8/2025, Dr. Isaac Casanovas Vilar, Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: Tara Smiley
Website
10/15/2025, Dr. Yuri Kimura, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
Website
10/22/2025, Dr. Natasha Vitek, Stony Brook University, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: Dr. Joshua Rest
Website
10/29/2025, Dr. Michael Rosenberg, Virginia Commonwealth University, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: Dr. Joshua Rest
Website
11/5/2025, Dr. Laura Alencar, Yale university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: Dr. Pascal Title
Website
11/12/2025, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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11/19/2025, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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12/3/2025, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
Website
Spring 2026
(The colloquium schedule for this semester is still under development)
1/28/2026, Dr. Carla Narvaez Diaz, Rhode Island College, (In-Person)
Title: "TBD"
Host: Dr. Dianna Padilla
Website
2/4/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
Website
2/11/2026, Dr. Kevin Kocot, University of Alabama, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: Dr. Robert Thacker
Website
2/18/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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2/25/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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3/4/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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3/11/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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3/25/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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4/1/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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4/8/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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4/15/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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4/22/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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4/29/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
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5/6/2026, Name of speaker, university, (In-Person)
Title: "TBA"
Host: TBA
Website
Dissertation Defenses
Spring 2025
February 17, 2025, 10:00 AM, Urmi Poddar (In-Person), Life Science 038
Title: Understanding Plant Invasions Through A Community Assembly Framework
Dissertation Advisor: Drs. Jessica Gurvich & Rafael D'Andrea
February 20, 2025, 9:00 AM. Ashley Morris (In-Person), Life Science 038
Title: Tri-Kingdom Interactions in a Shifting Environment: Understanding Insect-Plant
Host Shifts and How Fungal Species Can Explain Host Susceptibility.
Dissertation Advisor: Drs. Jessica Gurvich & Robert Thacker
May 8,2025, 11:00 AM, Alex Gil Gomez (In-Person), Laufer Center Lecture Hall 101
Title: Molecular Evolution and Network-Level Consequences of Natural Antibiotic Biosynthesis
in Bacteria
Dissertation Advisor: Joshua Rest
Fall 2024
November 22, 2024, 9:00 AM, Nicolette Sipperly (In-Person)
Title: Population and Species Level Transitions in Life History Traits of North American Draba for the Purposes of Integrating Art and Science
Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Liliana M. Dávalos
December 2, 2024, 9:30 AM, Lexi Brown (In-Person)
Title: A tale of senescence and resistance: Bats as a model for combating deafness and avoiding
cancer
Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Liliana M. Dávalos
December 6, 2024, 9:00 AM, Michael J. Wethington (In-Person)
Title: Multi-Scale Controls of Sea Ice on Antarctic Megafauna
Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Heather J. Lynch