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Zach Miller

Postdoc

Yale University

About me

I am an ecologist using mathematical, statistical, and computational methods to understand natural systems. In my research, I look for simple models to explain and predict complex ecological patterns and dynamics. I am particularly interested in using theory and models to understand how biodiversity is generated and maintained in species-rich ecosystems.

Currently, I am a postdoc at Yale University working with Pincelli Hull and David Vasseur. I completed my PhD in Stefano Allesina's lab at the University of Chicago, and then joined James O'Dwyer's group as a postdoc at the University of Illinois. Previously, I studied ecology, evolution, and applied mathematics as an undergraduate student at Yale University.

Working with other researchers to tackle interesting questions is my favorite part of science, so please feel free to reach out!

Interests

  • Theoretical ecology
  • Diversity and coexistence
  • Ecological networks
  • Statistics and data analysis

Education

  • PhD in Ecology & Evolution, 2022

    University of Chicago

  • BSc in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Applied Mathematics, 2017

    Yale University

Projects

Modeling environmentally-mediated interactions

Many interactions between organisms occur indirectly, through modifications made to a shared environment. Competition for resources is …

Inferring species interactions and their structure in empirical communities

I develop statistical methods to infer species interactions from data. Most traditional approaches rely on time-series data, which can …

Assembly of large communities with structured interactions

One can find dozens of plant species in an acre of grassland, and thousands of microbial taxa in a gram of soil. In such communities, …

Linking ecological and evolutionary dynamics

Ecology and evolution are intimately connected in nature, but linking the theory of these two fields has been an ongoing challenge for …

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