Wildlife Trust Announces Additions to Mathematical and Ecological Modeling Team
Core Scientific Team Expands To Develop Predictive & Preventative Measures
NEW YORK - April 5, 2010 - Wildlife Trust, the global conservation health organization, announced the addition of Tiffany Bogich and Carlos Zambrana-Torrelio to its expanding scientific team. Both scientists will work with the Wildlife Trust modeling team to expand the organization's research on emerging diseases by incorporating global datasets of biodiversity, demographic, socio-economic, and anthropogenic environmental changes.
As a Senior Research Fellow, Bogich will analyze global trends in emerging disease occurrences and use that data to create predictive models to more effectively gauge the emergence of future diseases. Her work will also include collaborating with leading research scientists across the world to target global and regional disease hotspots. "My work utilizes mathematical modeling to better understand the dynamics of ecological changes," said Bogich. Bogich received her Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Cambridge in England.
Wildlife Trust's modeling team employs quantitative risk analysis strategies using data from a range of sources such as global human travel, livestock and wildlife trade, and natural animal migration. "We are one of the few organizations in the world that uses computer models to analyze and even predict how diseases move between people and wildlife, and how the environment is affected. This has benefits for public health and conservation. Our two new mathematicians will work directly on predicting where the risk of disease is greatest so we can get out there and prevent the next pandemic," said president of Wildlife Trust, Dr. Peter Daszak.
Carlos Zambrana-Torrelio is an evolutionary biologist whose interests include identifying patterns of species richness & distribution and the factors that govern such paradigms. He combines quantitative methods, spatial data and phylogenetic information to test ecological hypotheses and to address issues on regional and global scales. "My background in biogeography, macroecology and conservation biology will help me aggregate existing research and formulate preventative measures to assure efficacious results," stated Zambrana-Torrelio.
As a Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program Fellow, Zambrana-Torrelio earned his M.Sc. degree from the University of Puerto Rico. His earlier research identified the determinants of both overall species richness and range-restricted species richness. His work outlined the effects of contemporary and historical processes that control the patterns of species diversity.
About Wildlife Trust
Wildlife Trust, an international conservation organization, is dedicated to protecting wildlife and safeguarding human health from the emergence of disease. We believe the key to long-term, grassroots involvement requires local conservation expertise.
Building on more than 35 years of innovative science, Wildlife Trust develops solutions to combat the effects of damaged ecosystems on human and wildlife health. We focus on all of the aspects of a healthy planet - wildlife, ecosystems and human health.
Wildlife Trust specializes in saving biodiversity in human-dominated ecosystems where ecological health is most at risk from habitat loss, species imbalance, pollution and other environmental issues.
We identify and examine the causes impacting the health of global ecosystems in the U.S. and more than 20 countries worldwide. Our strength is built upon innovations in research, education, and training a global network of Wildlife Trust Alliance conservation partners.
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