About Me:

I am a postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I am a 2024 Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellow as well as a 2024 UC Santa Cruz Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow. I am an ecologist developing approaches incorporating ecological theories, quantitative methods, and large ecological datasets to inform management and conservation at multiple scales. Within this scope, I customize machine learning and Bayesian approaches and extend their utilization to meet ecological assumptions, incorporate spatiotemporal scales and efficiently analyze large datasets. I use remote sensing and geospatial analysis to investigate relationships between ecosystem structure, patterns, and trends in biological communities.

Besides my research interests, I am committed to using my role to enhance equity, diversity, and accessibility in STEM fields for underrepresented groups. I pursue these objectives through advocacy, mentorship, and outreach.

For more details please find my latest CV here!

Education:

  • 2017-2023: Ph.D. Biological Sciences, University of South Dakota, SD, USA.
  • 2014-2017: M.S. Wildlife Science, Minor in Applied Statistics, New Mexico State University, NM, USA.
  • 2007-2009: M.S. Natural Resources Engineering- Biodiversity and Habitat, Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
  • 2001-2005: B.S. Natural Resources Engineering, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.

Honors & Awards:

  • 2024: Chancellor`s Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California Santa Cruz, $5000 and UC faculty hiring incentive
  • 2024: Smith Conservation Research Fellowship, Cedar Tree Foundation, Society for Conservation Biology, Washington, DC, $135,000
  • 2023: Distinguished PhD Dissertation Award, University of South Dakota
  • 2021: Cable Fellowship, University of South Dakota, $20,000
  • 2021: Award, Husmann Memorial Scholarship, South Dakota Ornithology Union, $800
  • 2019: Summer Graduate Research Fellowship, Jornada Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, $6000
  • 2018: Travel award, University of South Dakota`s Graduate Research and Creative Scholarship Grant, $750
  • 2017: Travel award, Bernice Dillon Memorial Foundation, $1070
  • 2016: New Mexico View Geospatial Scholarship, $250
  • 2016: Travel award, 6th Natural History of the Gila Symposium, Western New Mexico University: $200
  • 2012: Scholarship, International Visitor Leadership Program on Wildlife Conservation and Habitat Management in the United States of America, United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs: $6000