About Laura Eierman, Ph.D.

I use genetic tools as part of an integrated approach to answer questions about species that are essential to ecosystem function, typically in marine habitats, in order to improve restoration and management. Through mechanisms such as climate change, the introduction of non-native species, and habitat fragmentation, humans have impacted ecosystems across the globe. In order to improve management decisions, it is necessary to understand how environmental change impacts critical species. Additionally, successful conservation management requires interdisciplinary research that incorporates multiple fields of biology along with human dimensions. As a broadly-trained biologist, I investigate important conservation research questions from multiple perspectives. My work has included ecology, physiology, behavior, and acoustics along with citizen science and stakeholder involvement. As a passionate educator, I design my research to incorporate undergraduate student participation and to serve as an instructional tool that models strong experimental design and implementation.

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Research Interests

Generally: Marine biology (particularly invertebrates); marine ecology; conservation genetics; ecological genetics

Specifically: Population connectivity across environmental heterogeneity; Population structure

SUNY Cortland

I am currently a faculty member at SUNY Cortland located in central New York and the beautiful Finger Lakes region.

In the Biological Sciences Department, we prepare students for a career in science while their broader general education requirements help them to make connections between biology and many other fields of knowledge. Our students are prepared for a lifetime of learning, and they gain a flexible education to help them navigate their future endeavors. Our program includes four majors: Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Conservation Biology, and Adolescent Education: Biology.