Chair's Welcome

I have the privilege of guiding a thriving community of scholars brought together by our passion for ecology and evolutionary biology.

The Department and the University of Chicago as a whole have a long tradition of free, rigorous inquiry---following ideas, data and theories wherever they might lead. I cherish the sense of independence and freedom I was granted when I moved to Chicago as an assistant professor in 2009. I want to provide our new members with the same exhilarating experience of discovering a lively community of scientists dedicated to making substantial progress on some of the most pressing issues facing humanity today.

The research focus of our laboratories covers substantial ground, ranging from the microscopic to the macroscopic, touching all levels of biological organization, and combining approaches from the purely theoretical to bench- and field-based. What unites us is a keen interest in the interface between ecological and evolutionary dynamics, the mastery of rigorous quantitative methods, and the questioning of foundational concepts in the discipline.

Ecology and evolutionary biology have historically attracted talent from a variety of disciplines, and our department has been strengthened by the work of countless researchers coming from all over the world. It is evident, however, that the ranks of our discipline as a whole, and our department in particular, have so far failed to reflect the rich diversity of the US population. One of my priorities is therefore to recruit talented students, postdocs and faculty members from diverse backgrounds, and help them thrive as scientists, teachers and mentors. I strongly believe that we can advance science only when scientists reach their fullest potential: this requires an atmosphere that fosters open discussion, as well as a sense of equity and inclusion that we need to constantly promote and grow.

While we are brought together by science, through collaborations and interactions in class, in the laboratory, and in the field, we come to realize that we have much more in common than the love for our discipline.