About

The Youngflesh Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University works at the intersection of ecology and data science to understand the processes that structure population and community dynamics. We take a cross-scale perspective to this research, working from local to global scales, to understand how ecological dynamics vary across space and time and when and why ecological theory generalizes across systems. We view these questions largely through the lens of global change, asking how biological and environmental properties shape the vulnerability of natural systems to change.

Research in the lab connects theory to ecological 'big data' through the development of statistical approaches, reproducible analytical pipelines, and data resources for the broader community. We use tools such as hierarchical Bayesian and AI-based models to integrate information from a variety of sources, including participatory science projects, satellites, and field-based monitoring. While we work across taxonomic groups, much of this research uses birds and marine mammals to investigate these ecological questions.

The Youngflesh Lab is led by Dr. Casey Youngflesh, an Assistant Professor at Clemson University. We are looking to build a diverse, collaborative team with a shared interest in applying leading-edge quantitative approaches to understand ecological systems. Prospective Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers should check the Opportunities page for more information.