Elderd Lab Group

 

My research focuses on examining how disease outbreaks, community structure, and stochasticity influence population dynamics by combining field experiments and theoretical models. I'm particularly interested in:


  1. •  Virus transmission and insect outbreaks

  2. •  Variability in disease transmission

  3. •  Disturbance and riparian community structure

  4. •  Population viability and rare species management

If you're interested in joining my research group, please email me. I'm seeking students and post-docs to work on projects involving either population or community ecology. In particular, I take a quantitative approach to ecological questions and would require that my students have some interest or training in mathematical ecology/modeling. While students may work on projects closely affiliated with my research, I encourage them to seek out their own research identity.

Post-Doctoral Researchers

Dr. Bret Elderd

Assistant Professor

Department of Biological Sciences

Louisiana State University



Current CV

 

Dr. James Reilly (2009-2011)

Graduate Students

Adriana Dantin

James worked a number of different projects related to epizootic dynamics.  He developed a model examining the use of nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) as a biocontrol agent and how it affects gypsy moth population dynamics.  The field component of his work examined how climate change will affect host-pathogen interactions.  Currently, James is a post-doctoral researcher with Rachael Winfree at Rutgers University.

Dr. Maynard Milks (2009-2011)

Maynard is examined how plant induced defenses and systemic acquired responses affected NPV disease transmission in the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni).  Currently, Maynard is working on NPV dynamics in British Columbia.

Adriana is broadly interested in how plant stress affects plant population and herbivore dynamics.  She is currently examining the direct and indirect effects of global climate change on plant-insect interactions.
 

Past Lab Members

Richa has been helping us in the lab examining the effects of plant-induced defenses and cannibalism on disease transmission.
 

Undergraduate Students

Richa Banthia.

Undergraduate Students

Kyle McCauley (2009-2011).

Kyle is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Health at the University of Texas at Houston. 

William has been helping us in the lab and the field on plant-induced defenses and climate change on disease transmission.  He is also working on a project modeling epidemic dynamics.
 

William Vail.

Kacie has been helping us in the lab and the field on plant-induced defenses and climate change on disease transmission.
 

Kacie Dillon.