Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability

Education
Post-doctoral Fellow, Michigan State University Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability
PhD in biological sciences, University of Notre Dame -- 2013
B.S. in environmental science, eco-toxicology, chemistry minor. Wester Washington University, Huxley College -- 2003

Bio
My primary interests lie at the intersections of global freshwater fisheries, invasive species, and food.  Global freshwater fisheries are far more important to economies and nutrition than is apparent from past and current policies governing their sustainable management.  Meanwhile, introduced species are having wide-ranging effects, positive and negative, on freshwater fisheries and the ecosystems that support them.  My research aims to develop better understandings of these coupled human and natural systems to bolster sustainable resources now and in the future.  I received my PhD from the University of Notre Dame in 2013 under David M. Lodge, where my research focused on the effects of the introduction of Nile tilapia to the Kafue River, Zambia.  

My post-doctoral projects included developing models of global inland fisheries production to better estimate the contribution of these under-described fisheries to the local and global economies.  I generally take three approaches to my research:

1. Quantitatively documenting and synthesizing global patterns in freshwater fisheries and human interactions.  I've used this approach, including meta-analysis techniques, to describe global crayfish, grass carp and tilapia introductions (both in review), and the relationship between aquatic primary production and fisheries production (in prep).
2. Modeling is a major component of my research including simulation models of species invasion and spread and quantitative models of artisanal fisheries production on the Kafue.  Random effects mixed models and Bayesian hierarchical modeling are increasingly important tools in my ongoing work.
3. Outreach and education are an essential part of modern science.  Scientists are increasingly obligated not only to conduct research that is in the public interest, but share that research in meaningful ways with the public that in many cases funded that work.

My main outlets for science communication, in addition to this site, include twitter (@andydeines).