The Emery Lab is a vibrant and collaborative group

We are motivated by a genuine curiosity about the natural world and prioritize responsible, careful, and respectful science. We embrace different perspectives and value the unique strengths that each person brings to our lab.

Nancy C. Emery, Ph.D.

I am a plant evolutionary ecologist, Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and PI of the Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research Program. My research focuses on understanding the evolutionary processes that shape how organisms respond to ecological change. I love novels and mysteries, long (slow) runs with my dog at sunrise, coffee, and traveling with my family. (she/her)

Meet the Team

  • Alec Chiono (he/him)

    I am a PhD candidate and Ford Foundation Fellow. I am interested in various aspects of population differentiation across relatively small spatial scales and am focused currently on life history evolution of Androsace septentrionalis at the Niwot Ridge LTER. In my free time, I plug myself into a wall to recharge my batteries.

  • Sam Rothberg (she/her)

    I am a PhD student in the Emery and Gil labs at CU Boulder. I am interested in understanding how animals' social lives affect their evolutionary and demographic trajectories, and in understanding how human politics shape the way we study ecology and evolution. In my free time, I like to climb, XC ski, and take care of my many named house plants.

  • Katie Bardsley (she/her)

    I am a PhD student in the EBIO department and Interdisciplinary Quantitative Biology certificate program. I am interested in exploring how plants respond and adapt to environmental change, particularly by applying computational tools. Outside of my studies, I enjoy hiking, biking, playing the saxophone, and baking (especially when sourdough and/or chocolate are involved).

  • Miles Moore (he/him)

    I am PhD student and DOE Computational Sciences Graduate Fellow in EBIO. My research focuses on understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of alpine vegetation, leveraging advanced technologies like satellite imagery, high performance computing, and climate models. In my free time, I love climbing, snowboarding, cycling, film photography, reading, and cooking with my wife.

  • Anna Gaw (she/her)

    I am a research technician studying endangered Lasthenia species in vernal pools in California. For this project, our research is focused on germination and seed bank communities. In my free time I enjoy baking, climbing, hiking, and dabbling in too many arts and crafts.

  • Eliza Clark (she/her)

    I am an evolutionary ecologist and an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biology in INSTAAR. I’m excited make the switch to studying plant eco-evo dynamics after my PhD on insect range expansions. My postdoc research focuses on how adaptations to microclimates influence larger-scale range shifts in an alpine annual plant. In my spare time, I enjoy reading novels, baking, hiking, and traveling with my husband.

ECOLOGY
EVOLUTION
EDUCATION
CONSERVATION

Our Lab in Action!

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Let’s Collaborate!

Our lab takes a unique approach to asking fundamental questions about life history evolution in variable environments. If you love field experiments, statistics, and working at the interface of ecology, evolution, genetics, and conservation, our lab might be the place for you!