Fordham Science and Justice Consortium Directors
Dr. Steven Franks is a Professor in the Biology department at Fordham University. He studies plant ecology and ecological genetics and is particularly interested in rapid, contemporary evolution. He works on topics such as evolutionary responses to climate change and evolution in invasive species. One of the main approaches he uses for studying evolution is the resurrection approach of comparing ancestors and descendants under common conditions. His research combines field work, greenhouse and lab experiments, and quantitative and molecular genetics and genomics. He focuses on testing key components of contemporary ecological and evolutionary theory with the goal of attaining a more complete understanding of evolution in natural systems.
Jason Munshi-South is a Professor in the Biology department at Fordham University, and runs a lab at Fordham's Louis Calder Center dedicated to understanding the behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary impacts of large-scale human disturbance on wild vertebrate populations. Current lab projects are primarily focused on understanding the evolutionary implications of urbanization for wildlife in the New York City metropolitan area. For these studies, we employ complementary approaches from field ecology, population genomics, landscape genomics, and computational biology. The lab studies urban populations as model systems of rapid microevolution, but also aims to provide data for urban conservation and restoration efforts. To this end, the lab collaborates with local government agencies and non-profits.