My name is Fez and I am an ecologist. As a field scientist, I am interested in collecting and analysing data to further understand terrestrial ecosystems, with a particular focus on the role of insects in soil biodiversity and ecosystem function.

I am hugely excited about observing biotic patterns in situ and evaluating abiotic components, such as soil type or El Niño. How will environmental and ecological systems respond to climate change and global warming?

As a current PhD student at the University of Waikato, I am investigating species traits, interactions, and ecosystem services of novel dung beetle communities in New Zealand grasslands.

The lab-based skills I have learned include identifying insects to species, genetic techniques to understand resistance management in pest insects using RIDL, and detection of chemical pesticides in the environment using NMR and IR spectroscopy. As well as this, I am interested in learning new quantitative methods, and am keen to improve my coding skills in R-studio!

I am passionate about scientific research and teaching. As a former outreach student from East London, I am a strong advocate for equality in education (women, ethnic diversity, LGBTQ) and learning. In my spare time I enjoy being in nature and hiking, as well as cooking and playing the violin!

Here is an interactive map of where ecology has taken me so far!