Welcome to the Zanne Lab
Our research group focuses on interactions among plants, microbes and insects, and how they affect carbon cycling and global change under current and future projected climates. To explore these questions, we also study ecological, evolutionary, and biogeographic determinants of species distributions by measuring physiological, morphological, and anatomical functional traits. We explore ecosystem-level consequences of differences in species and trait distributions, for instance, traits of plants, microbes and insects that most affect rates and forms of C release with feedbacks to the earth system.
We ask these biogeochemical and macroevolutionary questions at the Department of Biology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, with continuing members at George Washington University based in Washington, DC.
In COVID times, we have kept up collaboration on many different projects, spanning from termites and fungi to lignin and solar radiation. With the pandemic preventing many of our classic in-person lab activities, we have gotten creative in staying connected and inspired to learn more about the ecological systems around us. We have been running weekly Zoom lab meetings, discussing current literature in ecology as well as diversity and inclusion. Additionally, we have taken to the lab Slack channel to share photos of our latest creations in the kitchen, as well as lighthearted science humor that is oh so necessary in these times!
While classes take on a different form, we have been cleverly adapting to the online learning format, pursuing interactive R programming sessions as well as bringing in a diverse array of invited speakers from all different scientific backgrounds. Even while some of our international collaborations are on hold when it comes to research, we are still working the best we can with local collaborators to continually ask questions about carbon cycling, forest nutrient dynamics, and decomposition.
We are located at the University of Miami, surrounded by plenty of tropical biology. Even after moving the lab from DC to Florida, we continue to work with our partners from The Smithsonian Institution, especially at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, as well as the Natural History Museum in London.
**If you are interested in joining the team please head to our vacancies page for more information**
News
6. May 2022Becca successfully defended her Doctoral Thesis, titled 'Australian Termite Diversity', and is now Dr. Clement! Thank you for all of your termite enthusiasm over the past 5 years, we can't wait to see where science takes you next.
5. May 2022Marc successfully defended his Masters Thesis, titled 'Carbon in the Capitol'! The lab is so proud of Marc for all he has worked on in the past few years. Way to go!
8. April 2022Check out this new paper from the Zanne Lab in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation on the hidden value of trees!
4. April 2022A huge congratulations to Leona for being selected as a NSF GRFP recipient! Leona will be continuing on in her scientific career at Stanford University where she is starting her Ph.D. next fall. We are so proud of you, Leona!
5. March 2022Amy gave a talk about Global Biodiversity in a Changing Climate as a keynote speaker at the CLEO Annual Climate Symposium. The talk was wonderful and inspiring, and stay posted for a link to the recording.
24. February 2022Amy and Abbey presented at the Fairchild Botanic Garden Environmental Careers Day and spoke with students about careers in science!
2. February 2022Congratulations to Abbey for passing her qualifying exam!
28. January 2022Amy was recently featured in News at the U in an article titled 'Researcher tackles the role of tree decay in climate change'! Check out the article here.
19. October 2021We are recruiting for graduate student and postdoc positions in the Zanne Lab at the University of Miami. Please check out our postdoc listing here and join us in the UM Department of Biology!