Group Members

Amy E. Zanne

Senior Scientist
email: aezanne@gmail.com

• Research interests include ecology, evolution and physiology, especially that of plants, termites and microbes, decomposition, carbon cycling
• Favorite species? An impossible question! Probably a Proteaceae - Conospermum ericifolium
• Favorite things to cook? Fermented foods. Dishes that include lemon, mushrooms, rosemary, farro, cumin, zatar, tempeh, arugula, hot sauce, garlic, corn - usually of my own creation.
• Find me at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

Baptiste Wijas

Postdoctoral researcher
email: bwijas@gmail.com

• I am an ecosystem ecologist interested in decay processes of organic matter and the role that animals play in that process. My research focuses more particularly on termites, which some could say rule the carbon cycling dynamics of the tropics!
• Favorite species? So many, but some cute Australian ones are the Spotted pardalote and the Echidna (even though they eat termites, they're too cute not to like...).
• Favorite thing to cook or bake? Vegan tofu, asparagus and mushroom quiche.

Paulo Bernardino

Postdoctoral researcher
email: paulo.nbernardino@gmail.com

• I am interested in understanding abrupt changes in ecosystems, what causes them, and how they can be predicted. To do so, I use remote sensing and advanced time series analyses.
• Favorite species? Philcoxia minensis! (Have you ever seen a plant with underground leaves?!)
• Favorite thing to cook or bake? All sorts of pasta. I would eat pasta every day if I could.

Bruna Hornink

2nd Year PhD Student
email: bhornink@gmail.com

• I am interested in studying how wood traits respond to climate and atmospheric changes over time, specifically within various environmental conditions. Also, my interests extend to tropical forest management and the diverse applications of dendrochronology in multidisciplinary settings.
• Favorite species? Handroanthus impetiginosus
• Favorite thing to cook or bake? Any kind of pasta, with or without sauce.

Larissa Verona

Research Assistant
email: larissasverona@gmail.com

• I am interested in understanding how ecosystems function and how plants influence these processes. Additionally, I aim to apply this knowledge in applied efforts such as restoration ecology. Recently, I have been focusing on carbon dynamics in wetlands and am passionate about these incredible ecosystems!
• Favorite species? Loudetiopsis chrysothrix. This small grass has amazing golden colors and an inflorescence that looks like an earring.
• Favorite thing to cook or bake? Brazilian pão de queijo — a small bread filled with lots of cheese.

Guilherme Macedo de Alencar

Undergraduate student
email: guimacedoa283@gmail.com

• I am interested in understanding how plant diversity affects ecological processes and how environmental filters shape the distribution of species in wetlands in Brazil.
• Favorite species? Stachytarpheta glazioviana. A small plant with almost white leaves and black flowers.
• Favorite thing to cook or bake? Zucchini lasagna.

Rafael Correia

Technician
email: rafaa.corr@protonmail.com

• I am a electromechanical technician interested in the behavior of honey bees in Orgone beehive and the influence on their navigation. I also have experience with working with Renewable Energy.
• Favorite species? Honeybee, Native Bees and Black Soldier Larva. In general, social insects.
• Favorite thing to cook or bake? Eggs with cassava flour and bread. Fast and easy to make.

Jade Guimarães

PhD Student
email: jade.guimaraes@ufv.br

• I feel a genuine happiness when I am surrounded by a tropical forest. In my PhD, I study how forests respond to climate change and to the alterations caused by humans, mapping the health of the inner wood of living trees in the Amazon. My main questions are: how do organisms — especially termites and fungi — influence forest resistance and resilience, and how do carbon and methane flow in this process?
• Favorite species? Lobo-guará (Chrysocyon brachyurus) and ariranha (Pteronura brasiliensis)
• Favorite thing to cook or bake? Broa de fubá with orange, guava paste and cinnamon — a traditional Brazilian cornmeal cake, my grandmother Nely's recipe

Donna Davis

Artist-in-residence
email: donnadavisartist@gmail.com

• I am a multi-discipline artist intrigued with the idea of connection; my work explores intersections between art and science with a particular focus on natural and social ecosystems.
• For more on Donna's work, check out her website here, or take a look at her feature in our photo gallery!

Abbey Yatsko

Zanne Lab member from 2020 to 2025, now working as an Environmental Scientist at ArborMeta.
Role: PhD student studying Australian termites hollowing of living trees and methane emissions from termite mounds
email: ayatsko1@gmail.com

Yuri Souza

Zanne Lab member from 2023 to 2025, now working as a Data Analyst - INCAB/IPÊ.
Role: MSc student studying termite diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado
email: desouza.s.yuri@gmail.com

Rebecca Clement

Zanne Lab member from 2017 to 2022, now working on a postdoc studying aphids with the USDA.
Role: PhD student studying Australian termites from evolutionary and biogeochemical perspectives
email: rebeccaclement@gwu.edu

Marc Rosenfield

In the Zanne Lab from 2019 to 2022, now a researcher in Denver working on carbon emissions and nature based solutions.
Role: Masters student studying carbon cycling in urban systems, patchy ecosystems and marine-terrestrial interfaces
email: mrosenfield@gwmail.gwu.edu

Rose Cheney

Role: Undergraduate Student
email: cheneyr@gwu.edu

Kelsey Bartlett

Role: Undergraduate Student studying the mechanisms and predictors of flower phenology shifts as well as the implications of global change on plant distribution and ecosystem function
email: kbartlett99@gwmail.gwu.edu

Nora Cavanaugh

Role: Undergraduate Student studying how plants develop strategies for survival, growth and reproduction, plant diversity and adaptive radiation
email: noracavanaugh@gwmail.gwu.edu

Leona Neftaliem

In the Zanne Lab from 2018 to December 2020, now a PhD student at Stanford University.
Role: Honors Undergraduate student, studied wood decomposition and its influence in carbon cycling within various biomes
email: lneftaliem@gwmail.gwu.edu

Habacuc Flores-Moreno

In the Zanne Lab March 2018 to December 2020, now a Data Curation Analyst at TERN.
Role: Postdoc stationed in Cairns, Australia, collaborated and deployed the wood, termite, and fungi (WTF) project
email: habacucfm@gmail.com

Marissa Lee

In the Zanne Lab until 2020, now a postdoc in Christine Hawkes’ new lab at NC State University
Role: Postdoc
email: marissaruthlee@gmail.com

Brad Oberle

In the Zanne Lab 2012 to 2015, now a Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at New College of Florida
Role: Postdoctoral Scientist & Adjunct Instructor
email: boberle@ncf.edu

Postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students

Marc Rosenfield

Rebecca Clement

Rose Cheney

Kelsey Bartlett

Nora Cavanaugh

Leona Neftaliem

Habacuc Flores-Moreno

Marissa Lee

Amy Milo

Tania Fort

Justin Hachey

Henry Betts

Oyomoare Osazuwa-Peters

Brad Oberle

Roy Rich

Luke McCormack

Mike Boyher

Justin Collins

Bryan Cordes

Maranda Evans

Andrew Harrington

Haris Lalic

Andrew Miller

Rachel Milner

Payal Patel

Mariya Shcheglovitova

Laura Bader

Juan-Carlos Penagos

Chris Riggs

Gonzalo Rivas

Shannon Shanafelt

Sheila Strickland

John Sweeney

Mandy Terry

Vania Torrez

Elvis Valderrama

Nicole Butler

Neeki Ahmadi