Stefano Allesina
allesina at nceas.ucsb.edu
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
735 State St., Suite 300
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 USA
Phone: (805) 892-2517
Fax: (805) 892-2510
Reverse Engineering of Ecological Networks: From the Disassembly to the Construction of Robust Networks
Molecular biologists study how a gene works in an organism by switching it off, engineers try to replicate the functioning of a device by taking it apart and studying how its components are wired together, archaeologists reconstruct ancient machinery by examining fragments buried for centuries: these are all examples of reverse engineering. This approach is usually precluded to ecologists given the potentially dramatic consequences of disturbing ecosystems, except in mathematical models and `in silico' simulations of scenarios. I intend to study the patterns of secondary extinctions in ecological networks using mathematical and simulation models. In particular, I will try to identify which building blocks or network motifs confer robustness to ecological systems. The research on networks robustness has been so far dominated by the study of `hubs' or most connected species, and has typically included only static analyses. I will focus not only on predator-prey interactions, but also on other major constituents of ecological networks, such as parasitism, pollination and mutualism in a dynamic context, with the ultimate goal of understanding how to assemble robust networks. The `hubs' based approach will be substituted by a functional approach in which the relative importance of the components of a network is explicitly evaluated.
News
June 2009. Looking for a postdoc
Stefano Allesina (University of Chicago) and Mercedes Pascual (University of Michigan) are seeking a postdoc to work
on theoretical aspects of food webs and other ecological networks. In particular, the postdoc will work on simple models for food web
structure and their interface to data, including likelihood approaches. The successful candidate is expected to develop new
models, analyze and improve current ones, and investigate the basic biological properties underlying network structure (e.g. phylogeny,
allometry, trophic levels).
The position requires training in theoretical or mathematical
ecology, probability/statistics, and excellent programming skills. It
is available for two years (one year with the possibility of a
renewal). Salary and benefits are very competitive. The postdoc will be
based at the University of Chicago and is expected to spend time at the
University of Michigan as well.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue
until the position is filled. The anticipated starting date is October
1, 2009.
Application
To apply, please send to Stefano Allesina (at sallesina@uchicago.edu),
a cover letter, a CV, a statement of research, and
two names and contact information for letters of recommendation.
June 2009. The special issue on food web assembly and collapse is online!
Feb 2009. Our paper on finding groups in food webs has been accepted in Ecology Letters!
August 2008. I have accepted a position at the University of Chicago. I will be starting in fall 2009. My appointment will be split between the Department of Ecology and Evolution and the Computation Institute. I will be looking for postdocs and grad students very soon. If you feel you'd be a good candidate please send me an email. I am looking for quantitative people with a background in applied math/computer science and an interest in ecology (or viceversa, ecologists with an interest in computer science and applied math).
August 2008. The talk I gave at ESA has been covered by Emma Marris for Nature News Google tool identifies linchpin species
July 2008. The proposal Mercedes and I put together for studying food webs using likelhoods has been funded by NSF: The Spider and the Web: Inference in Ecological Networks
May 9 2008 Our paper on food web models has been reviewed for 'Faculty of 1000' by J. Bascompte: This is a very important paper because it sets up a robust scheme with which to assess which model best reproduces the complexity of real food webs.[...]
Apr 3 2008: Giulio De Leo, Antonio Bodini and I are organizing a summer school on network analysis. It will be held on June 16-20 in Parma (Italy). For more info visit the website.
Mar 26 2008: Our paper on food web stability has been reviewed for 'Faculty of 1000' by M. Holyoak: Food web theory just got really interesting again![...]
Mar 2008: Our paper on likelihoods for food webs models has been accepted in Science!
Feb 2008: New paper accepted in Ecology letters: are parasites to be included in food webs? And how?