S. Luke Flory, Ph.D. (PI)
Director, Invasion Science Institute
Professor and Associate Chair
- UF/CALS Graduate Advisor/Teacher of the Year (2024)
- Fulbright U.S. Scholar (2022-2023)
- Florida Climate Institute Distinguished Faculty Fellow (2021)
- Research Foundation Professor (2019-2022)
- UF/CALS Undergraduate Teacher of the Year (2020)
- UF International Educator of the Year (2017)
Agronomy Department
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
Affiliate:
UF SNRE Interdisciplinary Ecology
UF Tropical Conservation and Development Program
UF Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
UF Latin American Studies
UF Environmental Horticulture
Email: flory@ufl.edu
Office: 3127A McCarty Hall B
Lab: 3128 McCarty Hall B
Current lab members
Jason Sckrabulis, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Jason Sckrabulis is a disease ecologist working at the intersection of experimental and quantitative/theoretical approaches. His scientific approach and philosophy are to conduct well-designed experiments that can be used to simultaneously describe biological patterns empirically and be useful for developing/validating predictive models. He is also an advocate for open data and pushes for open-source software and hardware solutions and code availability.
Jason’s previous work utilizes metabolic theory as a framework for directly modeling temperature-dependent ectotherm host-parasite interactions, which has been used to successfully predicted experimental infection data from a variety of host (amphibians & snails) and parasite taxa (trematodes & fungi). He also has extensive field experience in the distribution and management of both snail-borne parasites and toxic cyanobacteria in lakes.
Seokmin Kim, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
He oversees using literature-based assessment tools to evaluate the invasion risk of non-native species that occur in the state, new species proposed for introduction, and novel agricultural and horticultural selections, hybrids, and cultivars. More broadly, he is interested in studying the consequences of anthropogenic disturbances in ecosystems and assessing the effectiveness of conservation and management strategies. His PhD dissertation from the University of Miami focused on the mutualistic relationships between frugivorous animals and plants, particularly seed dispersal and recruitment in the Lesser Antilles. Previously, he studied the effects of megafauna exclusion on arthropods in Kenya and have also helped calculate the seed dispersal potential of African forest elephants in Gabon. Aside from being an ecologist, he is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Fiji), and therefore a firm believer in working directly with local communities to solve relevant problems.
Drew Hiatt, M.Sc.
Ph. D. Student
I’m interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying plant invasions, with an emphasis on how phenotypic plasticity as well as how post introduction evolution / hybridization can impact spread and range expansion.
Email: dhiatt@ufl.edu
Yukti Taneja, M.Sc.
Ph. D. Student
I have been fascinated with the persistence of highly abundant local populations and the species interactions that enable it. Through my PhD, I look forward to studying this problem in the context of biological invasions. I will be exploring the role played by the acquisition, maintenance, and reorganization of mutualisms in aiding the success of invasive plants and decline of natives.
Email: ytaneja@ufl.edu
Christian Wanamaker, B.Sc.
M.Sc. Student
I’m broadly interested in botany and plant ecology, especially in understanding the distributions of invasive species and their impacts. My research looks at how native and invasive grasses are responding to heat and drought stress, and how those stressors may constrain their distributions. In addition to my Master’s research, I have worked for the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants since 2018.
Email: cwanamaker22@ufl.edu
Cameron Deelstra, B.Sc.
M.Sc. Student
I am primarily focused on riparian and wetland ecology. My research examines the community dynamics between plants, animals, and the natural biogeochemical processes that shape these unique, vital, and often fragile ecosystems. I am particularly interested in how invasive species exploit disturbances caused by agricultural practices and livestock grazing in Florida’s wetlands to establish and spread throughout their invaded ranges.
Before joining the Flory Lab, I earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Florida. Prior to that, I served for several years in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman (medical technician), working in immunizations and public health. I currently work with the University of Florida IFAS Assessment of Nonnative Plants, where I evaluate nonnative plants and their invasion risks to Florida’s ecosystems.
Invasion Science Institute Staff:
Diane Sturgeon Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
I am the conservation social scientist, shaping foundational research on the social dimensions of invasion science. My work is driven by the belief that understanding how people perceive, respond to, and engage with invasive species challenges opens pathways to more effective solutions. I integrate human dimensions and computational social science approaches, using surveys, interviews, topic modeling, and content analysis (R, Atlas.ti, Qualtrics) to understand public perceptions, media representation, and policy implications of invasive species management. My current projects assess public opinions and the impacts of framing and communication approaches on management strategies, media analysis of invasion science, and community perspectives on emerging management technologies, across topics including outdoor domestic cats, biocontrol, and invasive freshwater fish. Each investigates how stakeholder groups understand and interact with invasion science, building bridges between research and practice. Before joining ISI, I completed my PhD in Interdisciplinary Ecology at UF, focusing on charismatic species conservation and pet trade management. My interest is in making research accessible and useful for all stakeholder groups. One thing working in social science has reinforced for me: good science requires listening as much as researching.
Email: dsturgeon@ufl.edu
Current Research Assistants
- Owen McCool
- Ellie Whitaker
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Research Associates
- Amy Kendig, Ph.D.
- Susan Canavan, Ph.D.
- Whalen Dillon, Ph.D.
- Christina Alba, Ph.D.
- Kerry Bohl Stricker, Ph.D.
Graduate Students
- Emily Pappo, Ph.D.
- Jesse Borden, Ph.D.
- Gio Tomat-Kelly, M.Sc.
- Sam Scherneck, M.Sc.
- Tabitha Petri, M.Sc.
- Cathy Fahey, Ph.D.
- Jules NeSmith, M.Sc.
- James Estrada, Ph.D.
- Chris Wilson, Ph.D.
- Bryan Tarbox, Ph.D.
Lab Managers
- Drew Hiatt (2022-current)
- Kristin Hinkson (2019)
- Taylor Clark (2017 – 2019)
- Jules NeSmith (2013 – 2017)
- James Estrada (2011 – 2013)
Visiting Graduate Students
- Dïnia Cartry, M.Sc. Student and International Graduate Student Intern (University of Rennes 1)
Undergraduate Researchers
- Elise Williams (University Scholars)
- Callie San Antonio (University Scholars)
- Amaleah Mirti (University Scholar, Lombardi Scholar)
- Stanley “Will” Dezern (University Scholar, Honors Thesis)
- Katie Nickerson (University Scholar, Honors Thesis)
Undergraduate Research Assistants
- Gianna Arcuri
- Zobia Chanda
- Laney Davidson
- Zadok Jollie
- Shannon Regan
- Mariam Higginbotham
- Trevor Green
- Avery Schmmeur
- Jacob van der Zee
- Trisha Mutisya
- Amanda Bishop
- Gabrielle Seminara
- David Notman
- Ryan Truesdell
- Penny Reif
- Daniela Menendez
- Lili Benitez (REU program)
- Vida Svahnstrom (REU program)
- Austin Young (Lombardi Scholar, IFAS Assessment)
- Christina Wiley (Lombardi Scholar, IFAS Assessment)
- Hannah Borchelt
- Anbinh Ho
- Alex Garcia (undergraduate research volunteer)
- Hannah Moore
- Zach Higginbotham
- Nick Johnson (Lombardi Scholar)
- Ethan Landrum (Lombardi Scholar)
- Gabriel Smith (State University of New York, REU program)
- Amy Conant (Post University, Connecticut, REU program)
- Bruna Trentin (Brazil Scientific Mobility Program)
- Ananda Van Doornik Christo (Brazil Scientific Mobility Program)
- Wesley Lewis
- Sheila Scolaro
- Andrea Sakelson
- Micah Weiss
- Sarah Morris (IFAS Assessment)
High School Research Assistants
- Mily Gandhi (Student Science Training Program)
- May Zhou (Student Science Training Program)
- Jasleen Kahlon (Student Science Training Program)
- Joanne Zhao (Student Science Training Program)
IFAS Field Experiment Station Interns
- Brooke Tanguay (2024)
- Ashley Schuler (2022)
- Kevin Scheiber (2017)
- Matthew Akers (2015)
- Ben Sperry (2014)
- Jules NeSmith (2013)
- Erin Hamilton (2012)