I am a spatial ecologist interested in mechanisms that shape the distribution of life on Earth. I draw from a variety of quantitative ecological tools including population dynamics, spatial demography and ecological niche modelling.
With a major line of research I am developing and improving spatially explicit, global models of plant population performance and persistence across species’ geographic ranges. Recently I have tested the ability of presence-only climate models to predict demographic processes and extinction risk of plant populations worldwide. My current project focuses on how the position and geometry of suitable habitat fragments within a species’ range interact with life history, demography and organismal movement to modulate population persistence patterns.
The distribution of species in space is however tightly linked to human activities. With another line of research I am investigating how traditional ways of coexistence of humans with nature have generated both self-sustaining societies and increased biological diversity.
I am a spatial ecologist interested in mechanisms that shape the distribution of life on Earth. I draw from a variety of quantitative ecological tools including population dynamics, spatial demography and ecological niche modelling.
With a major line of research I am developing and improving spatially explicit, global models of plant population performance and persistence across species’ geographic ranges. Recently I have tested the ability of presence-only climate models to predict demographic processes and extinction risk of plant populations worldwide. My current project focuses on how the position and geometry of suitable habitat fragments within a species’ range interact with life history, demography and organismal movement to modulate population persistence patterns.
The distribution of species in space is however tightly linked to human activities. With another line of research I am investigating how traditional ways of coexistence of humans with nature have generated both self-sustaining societies and increased biological diversity.
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Positions
- Research Fellow, with Prof. Yvonne Buckley, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland (2014-2017)
- Research Associate, with Prof. Amy Angert, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (2012 – 2014)
- Visiting Scientist, with Prof. Roy Turkington, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (2010 – 2012)
- Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Romania (2006-2013)
- Conservation Biologist, Environmental Protection Agency of Harghita County, Romania (2004-2006)
- Researcher, Curator and Collection manager, Herbarium of Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania (2000 – 2004)
Grants and Awards
- 2015 - 2017 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (€187,866)
- 2013 Conservation grant received from Native Plant Society of British Columbia, Canada ($4,000)
- 2007 - 2009 Conservation grant received from Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation, England (£5,000)
- 2001 – 2008 Doctoral research fellowships, Domus Hungarica Scientiarum et Artium Scheme, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (€1,300)
Education
- PhD in Plant Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania (2009)
- MSc in Community Ecology, Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania (1999)
- BSc in Biology, Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania (1998)