Benjamin Baiser

I received my B.A. in Environmental Studies and Biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2003 and my Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University in 2009. I currently am a postdoc at the Harvard Forest, working with Aaron Ellison. In my research, I use computational and empirical approaches to study ecological networks, ecosystem thresholds, and biodiversity patterns. I am interested in how anthropogenic change influences the structure and dynamics of ecosystems at the local scale and how this translates to changes in large-scale biodiversity patterns. I develop computational models to explore the structure and dynamics of ecological networks and have worked with bird, plant, invertebrate, and protozoan communities in exciting locations such as the Florida Everglades, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, and ombrotrophic bogs across Vermont and Massachusetts.

I also enjoy teaching and have gained experience working with students both inside and outside of the classroom. My teaching experiences include developing and teaching a course in Ecology and Conservation at Emerson College, co-instructing a field methods course in Ecology and Evolution at Rutgers, and teaching a variety of courses as a graduate assistant at Rutgers. In addition, I have mentored several undergraduate students through the Harvard Forest REU program and recently published a paper with an undergraduate mentee.

In my spare time, I enjoy biking, hiking, and especially birding. When I can't get outside, I enjoy listening to music, attempting to play the keyboard, and following the New York Islanders, Mets, Giants, and Knicks.

If you are interested in my publication list or the details of my teaching experience, please check out my current CV. Feel free to contact me for pdf versions of my publications or any other questions about my research.