
Past NE CASC Fellow
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Consortium Institution:
University of Massachusetts
Affiliations:
Department of Environmental Conservation
Education:
B.S.: Oswego State University, Oswego, NY, 2006
Ph.D.: University at Albany, Albany, NY, 2011
Website:
Experience:
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Massachusetts, 2014 to 2015
Visiting Assistant Professor, Utica College, 2011 to 2013
Research Fellow, New York State Museum, 2008 to 2011
Research Interests:
I am broadly interested in the ecology, evolution, and biogeography of birds. More specifically, my research focuses on how historic and ongoing climate change alter species’ abiotic and biotic environments, and how these changes influence community structure and intraspecific genetic diversity. Currently I am working on a project to identify potential spruce-fir forest refugia where spruce-fir obligate bird species may persist into the future despite ongoing climate change.
Joel Ralston is now an Assistant Professor at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN.