Colloquium & Dissertations

Ecology & Evolution Colloquium Speaker Series

The department of E&E brings together leading experts in their fields to share groundbreaking research and insights. Our series offers a dynamic platform for faculty, students, and the broader community to engage with cutting-edge ideas in ecology and evolution. Through these presentations, we aim to foster intellectual growth, inspire future research, and contribute to a deeper understanding of our natural world.

Colloquium

Dissertation Defenses

Our doctoral students culminate their academic journeys with a rigorous defense of their original research. This formal presentation offers an opportunity for students to showcase their expertise, engage in scholarly dialogue, and receive valuable feedback from faculty and peers. These events are open to the public and provide a glimpse into the cutting-edge research being conducted within our department.

Dissertations


Ecology and Evolution Colloquium

Fall 2026 | Wednesdays at 2:15PM

8/26/2025,  Welcome & Introductions 

After the colloquium, please join us for our annual welcome back reception, 3:45pm - 5:00pm.
We’ll be gathering under the bridge between both buildings to greet your colleagues
and welcome all the new students for the new academic year.

 

How De-Stabilizing Academic Science Culture Can Embolden Change in the Discipline of Science 


Dr. Desiree Forsythe, Santa Clara University

9/2/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Jackie Lee Weissman

WEBSITE

From fossil to genomes: integrative approaches for reconstructing major evolutionary transitions across scales

Dr. Tiago Simões, Princeton University


9/23/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Pascal Title

WEBSITE

Connecting Dynamic Landscapes, Climate, and Life Across Space and Time


Dr. Tara Smiley, Stony Brook University

10/14/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Joshua Rest

WEBSITE

TBD

TBA

11/4/2026, (In-Person)
Host: TBD

WEBSITE

TBD

Justin Bernstein,Postdoctoral Fellow, American Museum of Natural History

12/2/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Pascal Title

WEBSITE

Scaling the Study of Shape: Biology-guided machine learning for robust 3D morphometrics


Dr. Arthur Porto, University of  FLorida

9/9/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Nitasha Vitek

WEBSITE

From Genomes to Islands: Unraveling the Evolutionary History of Caribbean Freshwater Fishes

Dr. Sheila Rodriguez-Machado, Yale University

9/30/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Luis Santiago Rosario

WEBSITE

Got Milk? New Windows into Mammal Life History Evolution





Dr. Greg Funston, Stony Brook University

10/21/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Joshua Rest

WEBSITE

TBD

Dr. Britt Bertolet, Rutgers University

11/11/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Jackie Lee Weissman

WEBSITE

 

TBD






Stony Brook University

9/16/2026, (In-Person)
Host:

WEBSITE

Linking Microbial Diversity to Carbon Cycling





Dr. Elaine Luo, Stony Brook University


10/7/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Jackie Lee Weissman 

WEBSITE

Stepping stone or Stumbling Blocks? Habitat Gaps and Models of Green Space Connectivity for Urban Insects

Dr. Mathew Lundquist, North Eastern University

10/28/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Hope Kenmore

WEBSITE

TBD

SACNAS EVENT

11/18/2026, (In-Person)
Host: Raisa Camps Rizziera

WEBSITE

 

 

Spring 2027 | Wednesdays at 2:15PM

 

TBD

Stony Brook University

1/27/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Pascal Title

WEBSITE

TBD

Carla Staver, Princeton University

2/17/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Derek Fuchich/HL

WEBSITE

TBD

Stony Brook University

3/10/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Pascal Title

WEBSITE

TBD

Ashley Bulseco, University of New Hampshire

4/7/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Beth Watson

WEBSITE

TBD

Carl T. Bergstrom, University of Washington

4/28/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Jackie Lee Weissman, Rest, Sprayberry, Tammy (Sir Run Run Shaw)

WEBSITE

TBD

Mathew Smith, Illinois Tech

2/3/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Pascal Title

WEBSITE

TBD

Stony Brook University

2/24/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Pascal Title

WEBSITE

TBD

Joshua S. Wietz, University of Maryland

3/24/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Jackie Lee Weissman, Rest, Sprayberry, Tammy (Sir Run Run Shaw)

WEBSITE

TBD

Todd Lajeunesse, Penn State University

4/14/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Sheila Kitchen

WEBSITE

TBD

Stony Brook University

5/5/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Pascal Title

WEBSITE

TBD

Yash Sondhi, Case Western Reserve University

2/10/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Jordanna Sprayberry

WEBSITE

TBD

Stony Brook University

3/3/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Pascal Title

WEBSITE

TBD

M Sanjayan, New York Climate Exchange

3/31/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Joshua Rest

WEBSITE

TBD

Leslie Babonis, Cornell University

4/21/2027, (In-Person)
Host: Aki Ohdera

WEBSITE

 

 

 


Dissertation Defenses

Group shot of dissertation defenses


Fall 2026

TBD

TBA

DATE TBA

More info to come.