ECCB Newsletter October 2025
A NOTE FROM
DR. GONDER
Howdy!
Fall is here, and with it comes new energy, fresh faces, and exciting accomplishments for the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, ECCB. From welcoming outstanding new faculty to celebrating prestigious awards and groundbreaking research, ECCB continues to grow as a community of learners, innovators and leaders.
We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Aaron Hogan, a forest ecologist, and Dr. Eric Duell, a plant ecologist, whose expertise will open new doors for our students and research programs. Their arrival strengthens our department’s mission of tackling today’s most pressing ecological challenges while training tomorrow’s leaders.
We also celebrate major faculty milestones: Dr. Kevin Conway’s promotion to professor and Dr. Daniel Spalink’s promotion to associate professor with tenure. These promotions highlight the exceptional scholarship and teaching that define ECCB.
Recognition has been widespread throughout our community. Dr. Gary Voelker received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award, Dr. Jacquelyn Grace was awarded a college-level teaching award and research grant, and Dr. X. Ben Wu was honored with the Outstanding Mentoring Award. Learn more about our award-winning faculty, staff and students at ECCB’s awards page.
Our students continue to inspire us with their achievements. A special shout-out goes to Ph.D. student Otshabile Bahetoleng, whose NSF award supports research on human–wildlife conflict in Botswana, and to undergraduate student Skyler Nix, who received the National Wildlife Federation’s Young Leader Award for conservation leadership here in Texas. These honors reflect the remarkable talent, drive, and impact of all ECCB students.
ECCB research continues to make a global impact. Highlights include Dr. Sorin Popescu’s co-authored release of NASA’s first continental-scale canopy height model, Dr. Claudio Casola’s genome assembly of the southern pine beetle in Royal Society Open Science, and Professor Emeritus Thomas Lacher’s landmark article in Nature Reviews Biodiversity. These publications exemplify how ECCB advances science and informs conservation solutions worldwide.
As part of Texas A&M, ECCB is proud to serve both our university and the broader community—educating future leaders, advancing knowledge, and applying science to address challenges that matter for Texas and beyond. Together, we are building a stronger department and a brighter future for people and the planet.
Thanks and gig’em,
Best regards,
Katy Gonder, Ph.D.
Professor and Department Head
[email protected]
A legacy of conservation in Cameroon
In May, Katy Gonder, Ph.D., an evolutionary biologist and head of the department, led a team on a three-week expedition through Cameroon focused on field research, environmental education and conservation. Gonder's research has significantly advanced the understanding of chimpanzee evolution in Central and West Africa and highlighted the importance of engaging local communities in biodiversity conservation efforts.
Study to forecast ecological 'tipping points' for U.S. wetlands
Scientists with Texas A&M AgriLife Research are leading a NASA-backed effort to develop a predictive tool that could transform how the U.S. approaches wetland conservation.
The study is a three-year, $897,000 grant project funded by NASA’s Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry program, which monitors short- and long-term changes here on Earth. The study also includes collaborators from Pennsylvania State University.
Hamer and Voelker among Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award winners
Two Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty members received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in their field of study for the 2025-2026 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Gary Voelker, Ph.D., professor and faculty curator of birds in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, was one of the two College faculty members receiving the recognition.
AgriLife Research to help reduce flood risk in Central Texas
An ongoing watershed project led by Texas A&M AgriLife Research is working to reduce flood risks for residents in Coryell County and surrounding areas.
The 30-month project, launched in February and funded by $4 million in disaster relief support from the Texas General Land Office, aims to mitigate long-term flood damage and strengthen community resilience associated with flooding in the Leon River Watershed and Cowhouse Creek Watershed.
Association of Former Students honors faculty with teaching awards
The Association of Former Students has announced the honorees of the 2025 College-Level Teaching Awards, recognizing four faculty members in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Among the recipients was Jacquelyn Grace, Ph.D., assistant professor in ECCB.
The awards celebrate exceptional faculty members whose mastery of their discipline, innovative methods and dedication to students set the highest standard of education.
Forest ecologist Aaron Hogan joins ECCB
J. Aaron Hogan, Ph.D., a forest ecologist, investigates how forests respond to global changes like rising carbon dioxide, drought, warming, and extreme weather. By studying everything from individual trees to entire landscapes, his lab uncovers the mechanisms driving ecosystem change.
Grassland and prairie expert Eric Duell named to department faculty
Eric Duell, Ph.D., a plant ecologist, studies how plants interact with soil microbes and how these relationships shape ecosystems and support vital services. His research is especially focused on grasslands and prairies, drawing on a lifelong connection to the Great Plains.
Antonio Rodrigues explores evolutionary dynamics across species
Antonio Rodrigues’, D.Phil., research combines theoretical models and quantitative methods to study how evolutionary processes shape life, from microbes to mammals. His work aims to uncover key ecological principles and inform conservation through insights into cooperation, conflict, and biodiversity.
Jacquelyn Grace Wins College-Level Teaching Award
We are proud to announce that Jacquelyn Grace, Ph.D., has received The Association of Former Students College-Level Teaching Award!
These awards honor exceptional teachers who inspire, challenge, and support their students while upholding the highest standards of academic rigor and mentorship.
Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology hosts Nov. 12 webinar on graduate study opportunities
Learn about graduate study opportunities in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University. Discover how our master's and doctorate programs prepare the next generation of scientists to address pressing ecological and environmental challenges through research, innovation and leadership.
👏 Oluwaseun was also honored with the Young Investigator Travel Grant Award. A well-deserved recognition of impactful scientific contributions!
Jessica Light represents department at international conference in France
Jessica Light, Ph.D., represented the department at the 8th International Conference on Phthiraptera in Marseille, France, contributing to four presentations on the systematics and evolution of parasitic lice. Her involvement highlights the department’s global research impact.
NSF award supports research on human–lion coexistence
Doctoral student Otshabile Bahetoleng and Amanda Stronza, Ph.D., received a National Science Foundation award for research in Botswana exploring how communities in the Kalahari Desert live alongside lions. The project uses ethnographic methods to understand how cultural values like Botho foster empathy and cooperation between farmers and conservationists.
Read the Newly Released Issue 9 of the Applied Biodiversity Sciences Journal
The latest issue of the Applied Biodiversity Sciences Perspectives Series highlights student-driven conservation research from across Texas A&M University and partner institutions. This edition continues the series’ mission to communicate the complex relationships between people and the natural systems they depend on. Read Issue 9 and explore new perspectives advancing conservation communication.
Graduate student Danial Nayeri and co-authors achieve publication
A recent study on human–bear conflict in northern Iran explores how people’s attitudes and behaviors affect coexistence with brown bears. While many individuals express positive views toward bears, these attitudes don’t always lead to conservation-friendly actions. These findings challenge the idea that liking wildlife automatically means opposing harm and highlight the complex psychological factors involved in human–wildlife relationships.
Light observes hidden diversity of rodent lice
”Unraveling Louse Evolution”, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, is the result of a long-term international collaboration between Dr. Jessica Light, Ph.D.; Lance Durden, (Georgia Southern University), and researchers from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Lacher publishes work revealing 10,000-plus critically endangered species
Thomas Lacher, Ph.D., was a co-author on a study published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity
about animals on the brink of extinction. These species face severe threats like rapid population loss, tiny habitats, or having fewer than 50 mature individuals left. The research shows that while extinction is daunting, conservation efforts can still make a difference.
Giving to the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology was officially founded in 2020. We aim to conduct interdisciplinary research across all ecological levels, from genes to ecosystems, to conserve biodiversity and natural resources in our rapidly changing world.
None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donors and friends.