Lab group photo (2023)
From left to right: Hui Zhao, Genhong Gao, Allee Emmi, Yuxi Guo, Jiangxiao Qiu, Haojie Cao, Ran Zhi, Yu Tao, and Paige Dungan
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Dr. Jiangxiao QIU
Associate Professor of Landscape Ecology Principal Investigator Email: [email protected] My research contributes to ecosystem service science that is mainstreamed into environmental decision making and explores major frontiers in global change and environmental sustainability. Given profound humanity’s impacts on the biosphere, my interdisciplinary research (1) improves theoretical understanding of drivers and mechanisms for sustainable provision of ecosystem services, and (2) provides practical knowledge to improve landscape management, enhance environmental awareness, and develop solutions for real-world conservation, management and policy challenges in a changing and uncertain future. My research takes an interdisciplinary approach integrating field observation and experiment, biophysical modeling, remote sensing, landscape analysis, data synthesis, and social sciences to address basic and applied questions across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Education: Postdoc Fellow, Office of Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservation (2016) PhD., Zoology (Quantitative Ecology), University of Wisconsin – Madison (2016) M.S., Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2011) B.S., Geography, Northwest University (2007) |
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CURRENT LAB MEMBERS
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Yuxi GUO
Postdoc Fellow (2022 – Present) Email: [email protected] PhD., University of Florida (2022) M.S., University of Florida (2017) Yuxi Guo received her PhD and M.S. in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (FFGS) at the University of Florida. Her current research seeks to understand effects of global change drivers for ecosystem functions and services in subtropical grassland-wetland mosaics, and synthesizes large-scale biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships across land-use gradient and spatial scales. |
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Hui ZHAO
PhD Candidate (2019 – Present) Email: [email protected] M.S., Chinese Academy of Sciences (2019) B.S., Lanzhou University (2016) Hui Zhao is a PhD candidate in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the University of Florida. She received her B.S. in Physical Geography in Lanzhou University, with focuses on the origin of lake water in Badian Jaran Desert. Her master thesis investigated N loss in intensive vegetable production in China. Her dissertation combines modeling, survey, and meta-analysis to understand complex interactions between the public and urban agriculture through the lens of ecosystem services. Table tennis is her favorite sport to relax. |
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Ran ZHI
PhD Student (2021 – Present) Email: [email protected] M.S., Renmin University of China (2020) B.S., Nanjing Agricultural University (2015) Ran Zhi is a PhD student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the University of Florida. She received her Master's degree in Environmental Engineering with thesis project focused on wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Currently she is working on her dissertation project that aims to improve understanding, management and prediction of soil legacy phosphorus in subtropical grasslands. |
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Olena LESKOVA
PhD Student (2022 – Present) Email: [email protected] M.S., Florida Atlantic University (2020) B.S., Khmelnytskyi National University, Ukraine (2005) Olena Leskova is a PhD student in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. She is originally from Ukraine where she studied Ecology at Khmelnytskyi National University. She received her M.S. in Geosciences from Florida Atlantic University and her Master thesis was focused on studying impacts of large solar facilities installation on wildlife corridors and, in particular, on dispersal routes of Florida panthers. As a PhD student, Olena is also working as an Environmental Consultant at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. |
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Haojie CAO
PhD Student (2023 – Present), UF CALS Dean's Award Fellowship Email: [email protected] M.S., Wuhan University (2023) B.S., China University of Geosciences (2020) Haojie Cao is a PhD student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the University of Florida. He received his Master's degree in Geographic Information Science with thesis project focused on coastal landscape perceptions and corresponding sentiments based on social media data. Currently, he is working on his research that aims to provide deeper insights into urban ecosystem services and biodiversity with big data and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. |
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Genhong Gao
PhD Student (2023 – Present), UF CALS Dean's Award Fellowship Email: [email protected] M.S., Nanjing Agricultural University (2022) B.S., Nanjing Agricultural University (2019) Genhong Gao is a PhD student in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida. She has the background in both Landscape Architecture and Land Resources Management. Her previous research has focused on investigating ecological land-use planning and ecosystem services. Currently, she is working on her dissertation project that aims to understand how will ecosystem services respond to the interaction of alternative grazing intensity and land management with climate change in the subtropical grasslands. In her spare time, she always enjoys watching movies and learning diverse languages. |
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Ruoyu Wu
PhD Student (2024 – Present), Email: [email protected] M.S., University of Michigan (2024) B.S., Nanjing University (2022) Ruoyu Wu is a PhD student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on understanding grassland ecosystem dynamics in the context of global changes. She investigates the impact of climate change, grazing, and land management on grassland functions and services by examining both above- and below-ground plant functional traits. Ruoyu is trying to employ a holistic approach, combining fieldwork, mathematical modeling, and the integration of experimental and observational data to address these critical ecological challenges. |
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Tori A. GARY
M.S. Student (2021 – Present) Email: [email protected] B.S., Juniata College (2016) Tori is a Master’s student in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences with a concentration in Ecological Restoration at the University of Florida. She is originally from Pennsylvania and graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science from Juniata College in 2016. Her research interests include how climate change and anthropogenic factors are influencing ecosystem functions and services. Tori currently works for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection while pursing her Master's degree. |
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Paige DUGAN
M.S. Student (2023 – Present) Email: [email protected] B.A., University of Florida (2018) Paige is a Master's student in School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences with a concentration in Ecological Restoration at the University of Florida. After receiving her B.A. in Sustainability Studies from UF, Paige completed a service term with Florida Conservation Corps focusing on invasive and exotic plant management. Paige currently works for South Florida Water Management District in the Water Quality Monitoring Section, where much of her work revolves around nutrient monitoring in the Everglades and stormwater treatment areas. In her free time, Paige enjoys fishing, free diving, reading, gardening, and exploring Florida's state parks. |
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Alexandra Lee "Allee" EMMI
Lab manager Email: [email protected] M.P.S., University of Miami (2022) B.S., Rochester Institute of Technology (2012) Allee started her professional career in the healthcare sector until she decided to pursue a graduate degree that aligns with her passion of environmental science. She obtained her Master of Professional Science degree at the University of Miami by utilizing her previous healthcare skillset to create an elasmobranch ultrasound field guide as part of her capstone project. She is now working as the lab manager to further expand her environmental knowledge and practical field and laboratory skills. Allee enjoys spending time paddle boarding on the water, exploring the landscape of south Florida, and lounging with her amazing new rescue dog. |
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Yu TAO
Visiting Scholar (2022 – Present) Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Postdoc Fellow, Nanjing Agricultural University (2020) PhD., Chinese Academy of Sciences (2016) B.S., Sun Yat-sen University (2010) Yu Tao received his Ph.D. in Ecology at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His current research aims to develop spatially explicit approaches for characterizing supply-flow-demand relationships of hydrologic ecosystem services under alternative land management scenarios. He is also interested in developing an ecosystem service-based approach to understand and manage water-food-land nexus for cost-effective improvement of surface water quality in agricultural landscapes. |
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LAB ALUMNI
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Graduate Student Alumni
Christina NEAF, M.S.
Forest Resources & Conservation 2017 – 2019 Email: [email protected] Current position: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
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Visiting Scholar Alumni
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Lab Managers Alumni
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Charlotte (Hayley) HENDERSON
Lab Manager 2021 – 2023 Email: [email protected] Current position: PhD., University of North Carolina Wilmington |
Chase O'NEIL
Lab Manager 2017 – 2019 Email: [email protected] Current position: M.S., Michigan State University |
Amy WIEDENFELD
Lab Manager 2019 – 2021 Email: [email protected] Current position: PhD., University of Lethbridge |
Andrea NOCENTINI
Biological Scientist 2023 – 2023 Email: [email protected] Current position: Ecologist, Seminole Tribe of Florida |
Undergraduate Student Alumni
Melissa MONTOYA
Undergraduate Intern Miami-Dade College 2017 |
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Ariel JOHNSON
Research Technician University of Maryland 2018 |
Claudine ALCIDA
Undergraduate Intern Miami-Dade College 2018, 2020 |
Claire CHRISTIANA
Research Technician 2022 – 2023 Current position: Laboratory Analyst, Phoenix Environmental Laboratories |
Lucciana CABARICO
Undergraduate Intern 2023 Miami-Dade Honors College |
Caroline IBARRA
Research Technician 2022 – 2023 University of Central Florida |
Amber MAIER
Research Technician 2023 University of Florida |
Dunnel FENNELL
Undergraduate Intern 2023 Miami-Dade Honors College |
Silvia GONZALES
Undergraduate Intern 2024 Miami-Dade Honors College |
Melissa TRIANA, Undergraduate Intern, Miami-Dade College, 2021
Beraca CORNELY, Undergraduate Intern, Miami-Dade College, 2021
Benjamin PINTO, Undergraduate Intern, Miami-Dade College, 2020
Valentina ACOSTA, Undergraduate Capstone Advisee, University of Florida, 2021 – 2022
Melissa TRIANA, Undergraduate Intern, Miami-Dade College, 2021
Beraca CORNELY, Undergraduate Intern, Miami-Dade College, 2021
Benjamin PINTO, Undergraduate Intern, Miami-Dade College, 2020
Valentina ACOSTA, Undergraduate Capstone Advisee, University of Florida, 2021 – 2022
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