Dr. Kimberly Komatsu (she/her) - lead investigator

Dr. Komatsu is an ecologist who investigates how community dynamics are being altered by human-caused global change in ecosystems around the world, including grasslands, forests, and agro-ecosystems. Her research focuses on plant competitive dynamics, plant-herbivore interactions, and the legume-rhizobia mutualism. She utilizes long-term experiments, observational data collection, and broad scale data synthesis to uncover the consequences of climate change, nutrient pollution, and biodiversity loss.               CV​               Google Scholar

Rachael Brenneman (she/her) - graduate student

Rachael is a PhD student interested in studying global change in grasslands, especially as it pertains to rangeland management and conservation. Understanding how our grasslands are changing is vital to finding the balance between conservation and proper management for grazing. 


  ​

Zachary Bunch (he/him) - graduate student

Zachary is a Master's student with broad interests within the scope of ecology. These interests include: global change ecology, biodiversity, pollinators and plant-pollinator interactions, grassland/rangeland ecosystems, insect ecology and invasive species. Zachary also has an interest in science outreach/education and believes that science dies when adequate science education dies.​

​

Sarah Alley (she/her) - technician

Sarah is a technician interested in botany, molecular genetics, and ways to safeguard the productivity of our agricultural systems into the future. She contributes to projects investigating ways to mitigate the effects of global change on soybean production and rangeland health. 

  ​

Sarah Gora (she/her) - technician

Sarah is interested in plant physiology, plant molecular biology and understanding plant trait responses to global change drivers and how this will alter large scale ecosystem services. Her master's work (completed at UNCG in Summer 2022) in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem in Kansas focused on the need for study of intraspecific trait variation in plants, particularly in belowground traits.
    

Jayda Gresham (she/her) - undergraduate researcher

Hello, my name is Jayda Gresham and I am currently a Biology Major at UNCG. I decided to join the Community Dynamics Lab because I would love to learn more about the consequences of climate change, nutrient pollution, and biodiversity. I aspire to make an impact on this earth, not only for the environment but future generations to come, and what better way to do that than by being a part of a community that aspires to educate the masses about real environmental issues?

Zion York (she/her) - undergraduate researcher

I am a Biology major wanting to concentrate in Ecology. I am interested in Botany and entomology. I am joining this lab to learn and experience a new way of learning and navigating my academic career and interests. 


​

​

Holly Cha (she/her) - undergraduate researcher

My name is Holly Cha, and I'm an undergraduate at UNCG. I am currently a Sophomore, and my major is Biology. My interests are aligned with the medical field, and I hope to one day attend medical school. Undergraduate research is interesting to me and something that I have wanted to be a part of, and I was lucky enough to have a chance with this lab.

Milan Toomer (she/her) - undergraduate researcher

Milan is an undergraduate student who plans to get her degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. She is a plant mom who hopes to contribute to research surrounding plants and climate change.



​

Kyla Grant (she/her) - undergraduate researcher

Kyla is an undergraduate currently studying biochemistry at UNCG. She has always been interested in humankind’s impact on the environment, and hopes to use her degree to eventually participate in habitat rehabilitation. She joined this lab to get some much needed experience in plant wellness and the factors that affect it.


​
​

Wudeh Saidykhan (she/her) - undergraduate researcher

Hello my name is Wudeh Saidykhan I am a senior biology student. I am interested in learning about insects and the impact that they have on our environment. I also hope to learn more about research as career.

​
​
​

You?

If you are interested in joining our lab as a graduate student (masters or PhD), postdoc, or technician, please get in touch!

​

Past Graduate Students, Postdocs, and Technicians​
Shelley Bennett (head technician)
Dr. Amy Hruska  (post-doctoral fellow)
Dr. Tim Ohlert  (graduate research fellow)
Smriti Pehim Limbu (graduate research fellow)
Alyssa Young  (graduate research fellow)
Caitlyn Dittmeier (communications fellow)
Kathryn Bloodworth (graduate research fellow)
Dr. Benton Taylor (post-doctoral fellow)

Past Undergraduate Interns
Nadeeah Flemming (McDaniel)
Calisa Myrie (Howard U)
Mia Gaughan (Vassar)
Annika Munson (U Chicago)
Elizabeth Blake (U Michigan)
Marcela Morassi (U Texas, Austin)
Rachael Brenneman (Eastern Mennonite)
Skye Austin (Shenandoah U)
Julia Smith (U Chicago)
Ashley Boyette (Bryn Mawr)
Alitzel Villanueva (Middlebury)
Nicole Esch (North Carolina State)
Brian Pfau (Seattle Pacific)

Past Teacher Externs
Jessica White (South River High School)
Kimberly Cox (Baltimore County Public Schools)

2020: Amy Hruska, Kim Komatsu, Skye Austin, Shelley Bennett, Marcela Morassi, Sarah Alley, Rachael Brenneman

2018: Kim Komatsu, Nicole Esch, Kathryn Bloodworth, Ben Taylor

2019: Alitzel Villanueva, Amy Hruska, Kim Komatsu, Kathryn Bloodworth, Ashley Boyette, Ben Taylor

2017: Kathryn Bloodworth, Kim Komatsu, Jessica White, Brian Pfau