Lab alumni | Conservation Innovation Lab

Postdoctoral research associates

José Daniel Anadón (Fall 2012 – Spring 2013)
Currently an Assistant Professor at Queens College, City University of New York

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Gerber, L.R., Gondor, A., D’Agrosa, C., & Anadon, J. (2014). Conservation prioritization to conservation action in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Journal of Conservation Planning, 10, 1-16. (link)

Victoria Bakker (Fall 2008 – Fall 2010)
Currently an Assistant Research Professor at Montana State University

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Hernández-Camacho, C. J., Bakker, V. J., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., Laake, J., & Gerber, L.R. (2015). The use of surrogate data in demographic population viability analysis: A case study of California sea lions. PLoS One, 10(9), e0139158. doi:10.1371. (link)

Ford Ballantyne (Fall 2003 – Fall 2005)
Currently an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Rife, A. N., Aburto-Oropeza, O., Hastings, P. A., Erisman, B., Ballantyne, F., Wielgus, J., Sala, E., & Gerber, L.R. (2013). Long-term effectiveness of a multi-use marine protected area on reef fish assemblages and fisheries landings. Journal of Environmental Management, 117, 276 283. doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.12.029. (link)

Wielgus J., Ballantyne, F., Sala, E., & Gerber, L.R. (2007). Viability analysis of reef fish populations based on limited demographic information. Conservation Biology, 212, 447-454. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00644.x. (link)

Gerber, L.R., S. Heppell, F. Ballantyne and E. Sala. (2005). The role of dispersal and demography in determining the efficacy of marine reserves. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 62: 863–871 (2005). (link) doi.org/10.1139/f05-046

D’Agrosa, C., Gerber, L.R., Sala, E., Wielgus, J., & Ballantyne IV, F. (2007). Navigating Uncertain Seas: Adaptive monitoring and management of Marine Protected Areas. 32 pp.

Caterina D’Agrosa (Fall 2006 – Spring 2011)
Currently a Content Developer and Freelance Writer

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Gerber, L.R., Gondor, A., D’Agrosa, C., & Anadon, J. (2014). Conservation prioritization to conservation action in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Journal of Conservation Planning, 10, 1-16. (link)

Anadon, J. A., D’Agrosa, C., Gondor, A., & Gerber L.R., (2011). Quantifying the spatial ecology of wide-ranging marine species in the Gulf of California: Implications for marine conservation planning. PLoS ONE, 6(12), e28400. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0028400. (link)

Underwood, J., D’Agrosa, C., & Gerber, L.R. (2010). Identifying conservation areas on the basis of alternative distribution data sets. Conservation Biology, 24(1), 162-170. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01303.x. (link) 

Young, J. K., Gerber, L.R., D’Agrosa, C., Hilborn, R., Hopcraft, G., & Arcese, P. (2007). Wildlife population increases in Serengeti National Park. Science, 315(5820), 1790-1791.doi:10.1126/science.315.5820.1790b. (link)

D’Agrosa, C., Gerber, L.R., Sala, E., Wielgus, J., & Ballantyne IV, F. (2007). Navigating Uncertain Seas: Adaptive monitoring and management of Marine Protected Areas. 32 pp.

Steffen Eikenberry (Fall 2018 – Summer 2021)
Currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the ASU’s School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences

Elena Finkbeiner (Fall 2017 – Fall 2018)
Currently a Fisheries Science Program Manager at Conservation International

Joint Publications with Professor Gerber:

Kittinger, J. N., Bernard, M., Finkbeiner, E., Murphy, E., Obregon, P., Klinger, D. H., School, M. L., Dooley, K. J., Gerber, L. R. (2021). Applying a jurisdictional approach to support sustainable seafood. Conservation Science and Practice, e386.

Krista Kemppinen (Fall 2018 – Spring 2020)
Currently a Senior Scientist for the Center for Biological Diversity

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Kemppinen, K. M., P. M. Collins, D. G. Hole, C. Wolf, W. J. Ripple and L. R. Gerber. 2020. Global reforestation and biodiversity conservation. Conservation Biology 34(5):1221-1228. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13478.

Lyne Morissette (Fall 2007 – Spring 2009)
Currently an Assistant Professor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Morissette, L., Kaschner K., & Gerber, L.R. (2010). ‘Whales eat fish’? Demystifying the myth in the Caribbean marine ecosystem. Fish and Fisheries, 11. 388-404. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2979.2010.00366.x. (link)

Morissette, L., Kaschner, K., & Gerber, L.R. (2010). Ecosystem models clarify the trophic role of whales off Northwest Africa. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 404, 289-302. doi.org/10.3354/meps08443. (link)

Gerber, L.R., Morissette, L., Kaschner, K., & Pauly, D. (2009). Should whales be culled to increase fishery yield? Science, 323, 880-881. doi:10.1126/science.1169981. (link)

Morissette, L., Melgo, J. L., Kaschner, K., & Gerber, L.R. (2009). Modelling the Trophic Role of Marine Mammals in Tropical Areas: Data requirements, uncertainty, and validation. UBC Fisheries Center Research Reports, 17(2), 120 pp.

Aireona Bonnie Raschke (Spring 2018 – Spring 2019)
Currently an Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University

Haridas Chirakkal Variam (Fall 2007 – Fall 2010)
Currently an Adjunct Research Assistant Professor at University of Nebraska

Dara Wald
Currently an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University

Michael Westphal (Fall 2003 – Fall 2004)
Currently at World Resources Institute, Northern Arizona University & Washington, DC

Jeffrey Wielgus (Fall 2004 – Fall 2006)
Currently a Senior Manager at Rare

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Wielgus, J., Balmford, A., Lewis, T., Mora, C., & Gerber, L.R. (2010). Coral reef quality and recreation fees in marine protected areas. Conservation Letters, 3, 38-44. doi:10.1111/j.1755-263X.2009.00084.x. (link)

Stamieszkin, K., Wielgus, J., & Gerber, L.R. (2009). Management of a marine protected area for sustainability and conflict resolution: Lessons from Loreto Bay National Park (Baja California Sur, Mexico). Ocean and Coastal Management, 52(9), 449-458. doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2009.07.006. (link)

Wielgus, J.,Gerber, L.R., Sala, E., & Bennett, J. (2009). Including risk in stated-preference economic valuations: Experiments on choices for marine recreation. Environmental and Resource Economics, 90(11), 3401-3409. doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.05.010. (link)

Wielgus, J., Gonzalez-Suarez, M., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., & Gerber, L.R. (2008). A non-invasive demographic assessment of sea lions based on stage-specific abundances. Ecological Applications, 18(5), 1287-1296. doi:10.1890/07-0892.1. (link)

Wielgus, J., Sala, E., &Gerber, L.R. (2008). Assessing the ecological and economic benefits of a no-take marine reserve. Ecological Economics, 67, 32-40. doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.04.019. (link)

Gerber, L.R., Wielgus, J., & Sala, E. (2007). A decision framework for the adaptive management of an exploited species with implications for marine reserves. Conservation Biology, 21(6), 1594-1602. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00824.x. (link)

D’Agrosa, C., Gerber, L.R., Sala, E., Wielgus, J., & Ballantyne IV, F. (2007). Navigating Uncertain Seas: Adaptive monitoring and management of Marine Protected Areas. 32 pp.

Julie Young (Spring 2006 – Fall 2007)
Currently an Associate Professor at Utah State University

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Flatz, R., Young, J. K., Gonzalez-Suarez M., Hernandez, C. J., Immel, A., & Gerber, L.R. (2012). Weak polygyny in California sea lions and the potential for alternative mating tactics. PLoS ONE, 7(3), e33654. doi: 10.1371/journal/pone.0033654. (link)

French, S. S., Young, J. K., Gonzalez-Suarez, M., Durham, S., & Gerber, L.R. (2011). Human Disturbance Influences Reproductive Success and Growth Rate in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). PLoS ONE, 6(3), e17686. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017686. (link)

Gerber, L.R., Young, J. K., Gonzalez-Suarez, M., Hernandez-Camacho, C. J., & Sabo, J. L. (2010). The cost of male aggression and polygyny in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). PLoS ONE, 5(8), e12230. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012230. (link)

Green, D.S., Young, J. K., Hernandez-Camacho, C. J., & Gerber, L.R. (2010). Developing a non-invasive indicator of pinniped health: Neonate behavior and growth in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Ciencias Marinas, 36(3), 311-321. (link)

Holcomb, K., Young, J., & Gerber, L.R. (2009). The influence of human disturbance on the behavior of California sea lions during the breeding season. Animal Conservation, 12, 592–598. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2009.00290.x. (link)

Jacobs, D. F., Young, J. K., Hernandez-Camacho, C. J., & Gerber, L.R. (2008). Determinants of outcomes of agonistic interactions among male California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Journal of Mammalogy, 89(5), 1212–1217. (link)

Young, J. K., Gonzalez-Suarez, M., & Gerber, L.R. (2008). Determinants of agonistic interactions in California sea lions. Behavior, 145. 1797-1810. (link)

Robertson, K. L., Runcorn, C. W., Young, J. K., and Gerber, L.R. (2008). Spatial and temporal patterns of territory use of male California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 86, 237-244. doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2013-0099. (link)

Young, J. K. & Gerber, L.R. (2008). The influence of social composition on reproductive behavior of territorial male California sea lions. Aquatic Mammals, 34(1), 103-110. doi: 10.1578/AM.34.1.2008.102. (link)

Young, J. K., Hernandez, C. J., & Gerber, L.R. (2007). Long-distance movement of a pinniped neonate. Marine Mammal Science, 23(4), 926-930. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00138. (link)

Graduate students

Infynity Hill (Fall 2019 – Fall 2021)

Kesha Cummings (Fall 2017 – Fall 2021)
Rotational Business Analyst at Salt River Project

Arielle Amrein (Fall 2018 -Spring 2020)

Join Publications with Professor Gerber:

Amrein, A. M., Guzman, H. M., Surrey, K. C., Polidoro, B., & Gerber, L. R. (2020). Impacts of whale watching on the behavior of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the coast of Panama. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 1105.

Cárdenas, S., Gabela-Flores, M. V., Amrein, A., Surrey, K., Gerber, L. R., & Guzmán, H. M. (2021). Tourist Knowledge, Pro-Conservation Intentions, and Tourist Concern for the Impacts of Whale-Watching in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. Frontiers in Marine Science.

Miranda Bernard (Fall 2016 – Spring 2021)
Currently a Smith Fellow at Duke University in partnership with NOAA

Joint Publications with Professor Gerber:

Borrelle, S.B., Ringma, J., Law, K.L., Monnahan, C.C., Lebreton, L., Mcgivern, A., Murphy, E., Jambeck, J., Leonard, G.H., Hilleary, M.A., Eriksen, M., Possingham, H.P., De Frond, H., Gerber, L.R., Polidoro, B., Tahir, A., Bernard, M., Mallos, N., Barnes, M., Rochman, C.M. (2020). Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution. Science, doi: 10.1126/science.aba3656 (link)

Anna J. Bettis (Fall 2012 – Spring 2015)
Currently a Resident Scholar at Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trusts

Ute Brady (Fall 2014 – Spring 2020)
Currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at Syracuse University

Caiti Busch (Troyer) (2012 – Spring 2014)
Currently an Associate Attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Troyer, C. & Gerber, L.R. (2015). Assessing the impact of U.S. Endangered Species Act recovery planning guidelines on managing threats for listed species. Conservation Biology, 29(5):1423–1433. doi:10.1111.cobi.12552. (link)

Tara Gancos Crawford (Fall 2010 – Spring 2013)
Currently a PhD student at University of Georgia

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Gerber, L.R., Estes, J., Gancos-Crawford, T. M, Peavey, L., & Read, A. J. (2011). Managing for extinction? Conflicting conservation objectives in a large marine reserve. Conservation Letters, 4(6), 417-422. doi:10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00197.x. (link)

Gerber, L.R., Gancos, T. N., & Halpern, B. (2012). Marine reserves and ecosystem-based management: Nested approaches for marine conservation. In A. Hastings and L. Gross, editors. Sourcebook in Theoretical Ecology. University of California Press.

Heather A. Fischer (Fall 2011 – Fall 2017)
Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Spatial Analysis Research Center

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Fischer, Heather A. Elizabeth A. Wentz, Leah Gerber. Data Fitness for Use Assessment for Volunteered Geographic Information. GeoJounral. In Preparation https://stem.oregonstate.edu/sites/stem.oregonstate.edu/files/Heather-Fischer_CV.pdf

Ramona Flatz (Spring 2007 – Spring 2010)
Currently a Research Associate at Willamette College

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Flatz, R. & Gerber, L.R. (2010). First evidence for adoption in California sea lions. PLoS ONE, 5(11), e13873. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013873. (link)

González-Suárez, M., Flatz, R., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., Hedrick, P. W., & Gerber, L.R. (2009). Isolation by distance among California sea lion populations in Mexico: Redefining management stocks. Molecular Ecology, 18, 1088-1099. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04093.x. (link)

Marie Fujitani (Fall 2008 – Spring 2014)
Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Fujitani, M., Fenichel, E., Torre, J. & Gerber, L.R. (2018). Synthesizing ecological and human use information to understand and manage coastal change. Ocean and Coastal Management. doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.10.001 (link)

Fujitani, M. L., Fenichel, E., Torre, J., & Gerber, L.R. (2012). Implementation of a marine reserve has a rapid but short-lived effect on recreational angler use.
Ecological Applications, 22(2), 597-605. doi:10.1890/11-0603.1. (link)

Sarah Geren (Fall 2014 – Fall 2015)
Currently a PhD student at ASU’s School for the Future of Innovations in Society

Micah V. Harp (Fall 2015 – Spring 2017)
Currently a Climbing Arborist at Bartlett Tree Experts

Claudia Hernández-Camacho (Fall 2004 – Spring 2009)
Currently a Professor at CICIMAR in La Paz, MX

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Hernandez-Camacho, C.J., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., & Gerber, L.R. (2008). Age-specific birth rates of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Marine Mammal Science, 24(3), 664-676. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2008.00199.x. (link)

Hernandez-Camacho, C. J., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., Laake J., & Gerber, L.R. (2008). Survival rates of the California sea lion, Zalophus californianus, in Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy, 89(4), 1059-1066. doi.org/10.1644/07-MAMM-A-404.1. (link)

Underwood, J. G., Hernandez-Camacho, C. J., & Gerber, L.R. (2008). Estimating sustainable bycatch rates for California sea lion populations in the Gulf of California. Conservation Biology, 23, 1523-1739. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00919.x. (link)

Biao Huang (Fall 2011 – Spring 2016)
Currently a postdoctoral fellow at University of Berlin

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Huang, B., Abbott, J. K., Fenichel, E. P., Muneepeerakul, R., Perrings, C., & Gerber, L.R. (2017). Testing the feasibility of a hypothetical whaling-conservation permit market in Norway. Conservation Biology, 31(4), 809-817. doi:10.1111/cobi.12916. (link)

Zachary Hughes (Fall 2007 – Spring 2010)
Currently President and Senior Consultant at Coastal Resilience Consulting Inc

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Hughes, Z. D., Fenichel, E. P., & Gerber, L.R. (2011). The potential impact of labor choices on the efficacy of marine conservation strategies. PLoS ONE, 6(8), e23722. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023722. (link)

Eric D. Johnson (Fall 2010 – Fall 2012)
Currently an Information Management Consultant at Aerotek Scientific

Tiffany Lewis (Spring 2016 – Spring 2018)
Current a PhD Student at ASU

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Wielgus, J., Balmford, A., Lewis, T.B., Mora, C. and Gerber, L.R. (2010), Coral reef quality and recreation fees in marine protected areas. Conservation Letters, 3: 38-44. doi:10.1111/j.1755-263X.2009.00084.x

Maria del Mar Mancha Cisneros (Fall 2011 – Fall 2017)
Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Duke University

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Álvarez-Romero J. G., Munguía-Vega, A., Beger, M., Mancha-Cisneros, M. A., Suarez-Castillo, A. N., Gurney, G. G., Pressey, R. L., Gerber, L.R., Morzaria-Luna, H. N., Reyes-Bonilla, H., Adams, V. M., Kolb, M., Graham, E., VanDerWal, J., Castillo-Lopez, A., Hinojosa-Arango, G., Petatan-Ramirez, D., Moreno-Baez, M., Godinez-Reyes, C. R., & Torre, J. (2018). Designing connected marine reserves in the face of global warming. Global Change Biology, 00, 1–21. doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13989. (link)

Mancha-Cisneros, M. & Gerber, L.R. (2015). Guiding principles for green economic development in the marine environment: Insights from small-scale fisheries. In Gasparatos and Willis, Biodiversity in the Green Economy. Routledge.

Gerber, L.R., Mancha-Cisneros, M., O’Connor, M. I., & Selig, E. (2014). Climate change impacts on connectivity in the ocean: Implications for conservation. Ecosphere, 5(3), 33. doi:10.1890/ES13-00336.1. (link)

Anandon, J. D., Mancha-Cisneros, M., Best, B., & Gerber, L.R. (2013). Habitat-specific larval dispersal and marine connectivity: Implications for spatial conservation planning. Ecosphere, 4(7), 1-15. doi:10.1890/ES13-00119.1. (link)

Jenny Lynn Melgo (Fall 2008 – Fall 2009)
Currently an Air Pollution Specialist at California Air Resources Board

Andrea J. Noziglia (Spring 2012 – Spring 2015)
Currently the Garden Assistant at Blackbird Farm in Philo, CA

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Noziglia, A. J., Abbott, J., Polidoro, B., & Gerber, L. (2018). Flame retardant contamination and seafood sustainability. Sustainability (Switzerland), 10(4), [1070]. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10041070

Tin Phan (Fall 2017 – Spring 2019)
Currently a Graduate Student at ASU

Mary Ross (2014 – 2015)
Currently a Decision Science Analyst at United Services Automobile Association

Jennifer Rupnow (Fall 2003 – Spring 2007)
Currently a Sustainability Manager at Autodesk

Jesse Sayles (Fall 2013 – Spring 2016)
Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at McGill University

Erin Spencer (Fall 2017 – Spring 2019)
Currently a Ph.D. Student at Florida International University

Melanie C. Sturm (2013 – Spring 2014)
Currently a Development Manager at TwoXSea

Manuela González Suárez (Fall 2003 – Fall 2007)
Currently a Lecturer in Ecology at University of Reading

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Gerber, L.R. & Gonzalez-Suarez, M. (2011). Population viability analysis: Origins and Contributions. Nature Education Knowledge, 1(11), 15. (link)

Ward, E., Chirakkal, H., Gonzalez-Suarez, M., Aurioles-Gamboa, D., Holmes E. E., & Gerber, L.R. (2010). Inferring spatial structure from time series data: Using multivariate state-space models to detect metapopulation structure of California sea lions in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47(1), 1365-2664. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01745.x. (link)

Gonzalez-Suarez, M. & Gerber, L.R. (2008). Habitat preferences of California sea lions: Implications for conservation. Journal of Mammalogy, 89(6), 1521-1528. (link)

Gonzalez-Suarez, M., McCluney, K.E., Aurioles, D., & Gerber, L.R. (2006). Incorporating uncertainty in spatial structure for viability predictions: A case study of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Animal Conservation, 6, 219-227. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2006.00022.x. (link)

Sage Tezak (Spring 2006 – Spring 2009)
Currently a Program Manager at Seabird Protection Network

Leigh-Ann Tower (Fall 2015 – Spring 2017) Currently on the board as the Professional Development Chair, The Wildlife Society

Jared Underwood (Fall 2004 – Fall 2007)
Currently at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Underwood, J. G., Francis, J., & Gerber, L.R. (2011). Incorporating biodiversity conservation and recreational wildlife values into smart growth land use planning. Landscape and Urban Planning, 100, 136-143. doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.11.014. (link)

Robert Wildermuth (Fall 2010 – Spring 2012)
Currently in a postdoc position with the Future Seas team at the University of California Santa Cruz & the Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

Joint publications with Professor Gerber:

Wildermuth, R., Anadon, J. A., & Gerber, L.R. (2013). Monitoring behavior: Assessing population status through rapid behavioral assessment. Conservation Letters, 6(2), 86-97. doi:10.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00298.x. (link)

Undergraduate students

Madison Bolduc

Michael Britt

Kate Buenau

Sarah Coonrod

Christina Cressler

Celeste Delaune

Maria Eller

Kelsey Gerchar

David Green

Lauren Horowitz

Allison Hoynes-O’Conner