People

Prof. Alejandra Echeverri

(She/Her/Ella)

Prof. Echeverri is an interdisciplinary conservation scientist whose research explores human–wildlife interactions, cultural values of nature, and the impacts of people on biodiversity. Her current work examines biodiversity, tourism, and cultural diversity in Latin America, while also advising governments on environmental policy. She is a National Geographic Explorer, a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, a Stanford Rising Environmental Leader, a UCLA Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award Nominee, and former youth representative to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

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Dr. Chase Niesner

(He/Him/His)

Dr. Chase Niesner is an anthropologist, filmmaker, and artist whose work bridges ecology, multispecies anthropology, and the moving image. He has studied human–coyote relations in Los Angeles and is now leading projects on human–river relationships in the Trinity River and the role of documentaries and television in shaping environmental narratives and conservation action. His current scholarship redefines cultural keystone species as “Species of Passionate Interest,” highlighting the ways people form deep connections with the more-than-human world.

Eric Heisey

(He/Him/His)

Eric Heisey is a biologist and avid birder from the University of Guelph, now pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley. His research examines how private sector certification standards influence biodiversity conservation and farmer well-being, with a focus on understanding the role of markets and governance in shaping conservation outcomes.

Isabela Tapia Jaramillo

(She/Her/Ella)

Isabela Tapia Jaramillo is a PhD student in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley. A Chancellor’s doctoral Fellow, and a WWF Fonseca Fellow. Isabela is born and raised in the Galápagos Islands, she works at the intersection of conservation science, data science, environmental justice, and community-based management. Her research spans ecological restoration, giant tortoise population management, spatial planning for protected areas, marine bird conservation, and invasive species, with a focus on developing inclusive and sustainable strategies that support both ecosystems and local communities.

Alex Boren

(She/Her/Hers)

Alex Boren is a lab research assistant in the Echeverri Lab at UC Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 2025 and is currently studying how environmental media shapes public attitudes and behaviors toward conservation. Her research background ranges from using genomics to study host–pathogen interactions to applying qualitative methods to evaluate conservation messaging. She is broadly interested in conservation biology, disease ecology, and the role of human behavior in shaping ecological outcomes.

Minyu Dou (窦敏毓)

(She/Her)

Minyu Dou is a PhD student at Peking University with a background in forestry. She earned her BSc in Agriculture from Beijing Forestry University in 2021 and is pursuing doctoral research on forest restoration. As a visiting scholar in the Echeverri Lab, she is advancing research on forest policy mixes in China and forest management practices for ecological restoration.

Mel Badino

(She/Her)

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Join our dynamic research team and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries at the forefront of biodiversity conservation science.

You?

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Join our dynamic research team and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries at the forefront of biodiversity conservation science.

You?

(?)

Join our dynamic research team and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries at the forefront of biodiversity conservation science.