Environmental Science Departmental Faculty

Scientists within FAU’s Department of Biological Sciences that focus on environmental science use primarily aquatic systems such as the Everglades and coral reefs to study ecological systems and sustain their biodiversity. Faculty members are actively conducting research on a wide range of topics including population ecology, predator-prey interactions, ecosystem energetics, food web dynamics, ecological modeling and physical-biological coupling. Much of the research is done through partnerships with agencies and organizations in South Florida, with emphasis on research in the Everglades. These partnerships have allowed FAU’s faculty to play a strong role in the restoration of the Everglades ecosystem and have led to the study and conservation of ecosystems worldwide.

FAU’s Department of Biological Sciences faculty members view integration of disciplines as a defining characteristic to understanding scientific principles. The department offers a Ph.D. Program in Integrative Biology and Masters degrees (both include the option to concentrate in environmental sciences) and Bachelors degrees.


NameArea of Emphasis
Aleuy Young, O. Alejandro (Ale) Disease ecology, conservation biology, one health, epidemiology
Anderson, RindyBehavioral ecology, communication, cognition, sexual selection
Baldwin, John D.Population genetics and reproductive biology
Brooks, RandyMarine behavioral ecology, symbiology, coral reefs
Cavallo, MichelleSTEM Education, Citizen Science, Undergraduate Research Experiences, Informatics
Esiobu, NwadiutoEnvironmental microbiology, drug resistance and antimicrobiosis
Fahimipour, AshkaanUnderstanding and modeling complex ecosystems using mathematics and data science
Fernandes, VanessaMicrobial ecology, microbial community analysis
Francis, JacobMicrobial and pollination ecology; insect husbandry, microbiology
Frazier, Evelyn MarquesEntomology, plant/insect interactions
Hughes, ColinEvolutionary and conservation genetics
Koch-Rose, MargueriteMarine botany, nutrient cycling and climate change in tropical marine systems
McCoy, MichaelMy research combines observational, experimental, and mathematical approaches to better understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that regulate populations, communities and ecosystems.
Milton, Sarah L.Vertebrate anoxia tolerance, marine turtle physiology
Salmon, MichaelAnimal behavior
Theisen, Tim C.Movement patterns, population structure and physiology of marine fish
Wyneken, JeanetteIntegrative biology, comparative and functional morphology
Zhang, Xing-HaiPlant physiology, molecular biology and biotechnology

Associated Faculty