Aura Mariela is a PhD candidate at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and a Gund Institute fellow. She is broadly interested in applying ecological research to solving real-world problems in tropical landscapes. At UVM, Aura’s research focuses on assessing how ecological and agricultural systems respond and adapt to large-scale disturbances such as hurricanes. By collaborating across disciplines and sectors, she hopes to help build more resilient and equitable socio-ecological systems that work to improve rural livelihoods without threatening conservation efforts.
Before coming to UVM, Aura's research had mainly focused on evaluating effects of land use change and habitat disturbance on tropical insect communities, with a special focus on moths and their role as pollinators. She also worked for the US Forest Service in Puerto Rico as project manager for a climate change experiment (TRACE) that focused on understanding the effects of increased temperatures on tropical forest plants and soils.
In her free time, Aura enjoys reading science fiction, watching movies, arts and crafts, exploring the outdoors, and salsa dancing.
Advisor: Taylor Ricketts
