Invasive Species Collaborative welcomes four new faculty

Collage of the four new cluster-hire faculty for the Invasive Species Collaborative. — The four new Invasives Species Collaborative faculty cluster are from top left to right: Stacy Endriss, Robert Cooper; Bottom left to right: Dara Wald and Hannes De Deurwaerder. Photos courtesy of the Invasives Species Collaborative.

Over the last year, the Invasive Species Collaborative has been busy supporting an invasive species cluster hire. The Collaborative is excited to announce that four out of seven positions have been filled.

These new faculty positions are part of a university-wide interdisciplinary investment (Destination Area Phase 2) to make Virginia Tech a center of excellence in the science, policy, and management of invasive species at local, regional, and global scales.

Welcome to the newest members of the Hokie Nation!

Dara Wald - Associate Professor
Environmental Policy, School of Public & International Affairs

Wald’s research explores the drivers of conflict and the barriers to effective communication in environmental contexts, including issues of trust, identity, and power in the management of natural resources. You can learn more about Dara Wald's research by visiting her webpage.

Stacy Endriss - Assistant Professor
Invasive Species Research & Extension
Department of Entomology

Endriss is an evolutionary ecologist with a passion for understanding the evolution, ecology, and impacts of introduced plants, especially in the context of species invasion and dispersal. You can learn more about Stacy Endriss’ research by visiting her lab webpage.

Robert Cooper - Assistant Professor
Invasive Species Geneticist
Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Cooper aims to advance wildlife conservation through genomic and computational tools, which help uncover how human disturbances (e.g. invasive species, habitat destruction, and climate change) impact population health, structure, and movement across the landscape. You can learn more about Robert Cooper's research by visiting his webpage.

Hannes De Deurwaerder - Assistant Professor
Global Change Ecology
Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Deurwaerder is a quantitative plant physiologist and tropical ecologist. He is interested in understanding how vegetative ecosystems will shift in response to climate change and human encroachment, with a particular focus on lianas (long-stemmed woody vines). You can learn more about Hannes De Deurwaerder's research by visiting his webpage.