Introducing the 2025-2026 Group Leaders

From 2024-2025, we ran our flagship Group Leadership Programme, a 1-year programme where members of the community can lead subgroups on WILDLABS and curate vibrant spaces of connection, collaboration, and meaningful engagement. The programme empowers community members to help build a network of engaged communities and create a more interconnected, sustainable, and well-resourced field! 

This year, we saw triple the applications for the 2025-2026 cohort. After a competitive review process and orientation period, we're excited to introduce the community members who will be leading 12 groups on WILDLABS. Over the course of the next 12 months, these leaders will inspire engagement on the platform, build community by organizing and facilitating in-person and virtual events, and communicate with the WILDLABS community team to ensure we're meeting the needs of the community as best we can. Meet the group leaders below:

Acoustics

Tessa Rhinehart @tessa_rhinehart: Tessa is a PhD student in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Biology. Her research focuses on developing methods to survey animals at large scales using autonomous sensors and AI tools. Her expertise includes tracking animal behavior by acoustically "triangulating" sounds, studying pesticide impacts using nocturnal "photo booths" for moths, and minimizing bias when applying AI classification tools to study ecology and conservation.

Arky @arky: Arky's a techie-turned-explorer, passionate about using AI to protect wildlife. He's traveled Southeast Asia, capturing stunning images featured in The Guardian and Asia Sentinel. As an open source contributor, he's committed to digital equity and open-source tech. His work combines art, science, and technology to inspire and empower.

AI for Conservation 

Josh Seltzer @jyseltz: Josh is passionate about supporting researchers and conservation scientists to better understand our world using open-source technology. His work has largely focused on building AI-powered software for data collection and analysis, including camera traps and acoustic monitoring, and leading R&D for a conversational AI company, which he co-founded. 

Anna Vallery@annavallery: Anna is a biologist specializing in seabird ecology and coastal conservation. With a focus on integrating innovative technologies into coastal bird research and monitoring, Anna has spent the past four years working with a team to develop machine learning tools for colonial waterbird monitoring along the Texas coast. Currently, she is adapting these tools for broader application across seabird nesting colonies. 

Viktor Domazetoski @ViktorDo: Viktor is a PhD student within the Biological Sciences (QUEX) programme, a joint degree between the University of Exeter (UK) and the University of Queensland (Australia). His research focuses on responsible AI for biodiversity monitoring, aiming to understand the biases of such models, how these biases affect ecological downstream task performance, and how they can be mitigated by integrating ecological knowledge into the model.

Share your thoughts and ideas with the AI group leaders!

Animal Movement

Marianna Chimienti @MariKimi: Marianna is a quantitative ecologist and lecturer in Marine Top Predator Ecology at Bangor University, UK, with a PhD from the University of Aberdeen on the foraging behaviour of common guillemots (Uria aalge) and razorbills (Alca torda). Using GPS, time-depth recorders and accelerometers, she characterised their above- and below-water foraging strategies, revealing both shared behaviours and species-specific differences. Since then, she has studied a wide range of species, including Arctic seabirds and terrestrial mammals, Mediterranean marine turtles, and Antarctic wildlife, focusing on how movement processes respond to environmental change and influence population dynamics. Her work combines biologging data with statistical and individual-based modelling, and she is equally passionate about coding, analysis, and hands-on fieldwork.

Muhammad Rais @sahil: Muhammad is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, PMAS-AAUR, serving since 2007. His research focuses on the ecology and conservation of amphibians, reptiles, water birds, mammals, and invertebrates across wetlands, forests, and arid rangelands, with expertise in occupancy analysis, species distribution modelling, morphometry, molecular taxonomy, population monitoring (including eDNA), and method development. He founded Pakistan's first fully functional Herpetology Lab in a public university, securing numerous national and international awards and funding. 

Share your thoughts and ideas with the Animal Movement group leaders!

East Africa

Susan Reuben @chege: Susan works with Tanzania People and Wildlife (TPW) as a Conservation Outreach Officer in Northern Tanzania. She has expertise in community-based conservation, conservation technology from WiCT 2023, and primate research. 

Agriphina Cletus @Agripina: Agriphina is a passionate conservationist and emerging expert in human-wildlife coexistence, with experience spanning community engagement, conflict mitigation, and conservation technology. Currently serving as the Human-Elephant Coexistence Coordinator for the Frankfurt Zoological Society in the Katavi/Mahale Ecosystem, she leads the development and management of conflict monitoring systems, rapid response strategies, and stakeholder collaborations in 23 villages. Her consultancy work with ADAP focuses on wildlife roadkill impact assessment, integrating GIS mapping, statistical analysis, and community training to inform mitigation strategies.

Share your thoughts and ideas with the East Africa Community group leaders!

Edge Computing

Youssef Bayouli @Earthman: Youssef is a technologist based in Tunisia with a background in IoT, advanced robotics, and AI systems. He has worked on AI-powered camera trap projects and is currently involved in a bioacoustic AI bird mapping initiative with the Tunisian Association for Wildlife. Youssef is an open-source contributor, a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (2021–2025) within the Young Professionals Task Force (YPTF), and an alumnus of the National Geographic and Nature Conservancy externship program focused on marine and community conservation.

Jenna Kline @jennamkline: Jenna is a PhD candidate in computer science and engineering at The Ohio State University, where her research focuses on multi-modal, autonomous remote-sensing systems, with an emphasis on drone platforms and edge AI. Passionate about conservation and the environment, Jenna combines her technical expertise in AI and robotics with a deep love for nature, shaped by her upbringing near Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Northeast Ohio. She is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to support ecological research and conservation efforts.

Share your thoughts and ideas with the Edge Computing group leaders!

eDNA/Genomics

Nabil Amor @nabil.amor : Nabil is an Assistant Professor at the Higher Institute of Applied Biological Sciences of Tunis (ISSBAT), University of Tunis El Manar. He earned his PhD in bioinformatics from the University of Monastir, in collaboration with the University of Vigo (Spain) and the University of Naples Federico II (Italy), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), CNRS Montpellier, France. His current research centers on biodiversity, conservation genomics, and microbiome studies, with particular emphasis on endangered carnivores, bats, and lizards. He applies Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) approaches to investigate genetic diversity, population structure, and epigenetics.

Sarra Farjallah @Sarra: Sarra is a researcher and professor specializing in parasitology, molecular biology, and genetic diversity. Her scientific work focuses on the study of parasites in aquaculture, wildlife, and human health, with a particular interest in their diversity, phylogeny, and epidemiology. She has led and participated in several national and international projects, particularly on fish parasites in the Mediterranean, protozoan parasites in rodents, and helminths of veterinary and medical importance. Her research combines morphological and molecular tools, with emphasis on phylogenetic analysis, genetic diversity, and host–parasite interactions. Through her work, she aims to contribute to the advancement of parasitology in Africa and beyond, promoting aquaculture sustainability and wildlife conservation.

Ranya Chebbi @Ranya: Ranya is an early-career ecologist passionate about biodiversity conservation, species identification, and ecological monitoring. She holds a Master's degree in Biology of Organisms, Populations, and Environment, with a specialization in Evolutionary and Functional Ecology, completed through a joint program between the University of Tunis El Manar and the University of Tlemcen (Algeria). Her research focuses on freshwater macroinvertebrates, particularly Trichoptera, and their role as bioindicators. She is also interested in molecular approaches, especially the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) for detecting and monitoring aquatic communities. Ranya has taken part in several field-based ecological projects and international scientific events, combining research, environmental awareness, and science communication. Actively involved in local conservation NGOs, she is committed to outreach, fieldwork, and promoting ocean literacy.

Ahmed Junaid @ahmedjunaid: Ahmed is a Zoologist, Ecologist, Herpetologist, and Conservation Biologist from Pakistan. He completed his Master of Philosophy in Zoology from the Department of Zoology, Wildlife & Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan, in 2023. During his master's program, he engaged in various research activities. He is working with different national and international organizations for biodiversity conservation. He has been a Research Associate at the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, Pakistan, since November 2023. He is also a member of SAVE THE FROGS!, Herpetologists' League, and IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. Currently, he is working as a Research Assistant on a project under IUCN Pakistan. He is very much interested in reptiles' ecology and conservation. His ongoing work reflects a strong commitment to protecting and studying Pakistan's rich and underrepresented herpetofauna.

Funding & Finance

Frank van der Most @Frank_van_der_Most: Frank has a mixed background in IT and the study of science, technology, and society, where he did his PhD research on how funding works in science. A few years ago, he realized that the planet and nature needed more help, so he decided to quit his job and change his career. Now, he is aiming his interests towards funding in nature conservation. He lives in a forest in Costa Rica.

Aurelie Pollack @Aurel: With a background in International Relations, Aurelie now works in Sustainable Finance based in Switzerland. Throughout her studies and career, she has become increasingly concerned about the limited attention given to biodiversity conservation. Through financial innovation, she aims to bridge the gap between conservation technology and finance, recognizing the mutual benefits of stronger ties. She believes WILDLABS can play a crucial role in achieving this goal.

Henry Rees @HRees : Henry has worked as a trainer in planning and fundraising for conservation projects for four years. His experience in capacity building, grant writing, and impact assessment enables him to support community members in delivering their projects effectively. Henry works out of Cambridge, UK.

Human-Wildlife Coexistence

Mandy Eyrich @MandyEyrich : Mandy is a UX and product leader with experience in conservation science. She has applied her expertise in AI, machine learning, and business analytics to develop solutions that empower biodiversity and sustainability-focused teams. She earned an MS in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation with a Concentration in Wildlife Forensic Science from the University of Florida.

Geospatial

Elsa Carla de Grandi @elsa : Elsa is an experienced remote sensing specialist with over a decade of expertise in the application of remote sensing, particularly in vegetation mapping and monitoring. She holds a BSc in Physical Geography and an MSc in Remote Sensing from Aberystwyth University, as well as a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, UK. Her doctoral research focused on developing innovative methodologies for detecting changes in forest structure within the tropical forests of Indonesia and Central Africa. In 2022, Elsa joined Fauna & Flora (F&F), focusing on the use of remote sensing for Nature-based Solutions projects across F&F's portfolio. She was also one of the 2024 – 2025 Geospatial Group co-leaders, where she helped to inspire conservationists and technology enthusiasts alike to harness the power of remote sensing for tackling critical conservation challenges.

Tanner Smith @tcsmith: Tanner is a PhD student at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, where he models the spatial patterns of human and wildlife interactions. He has a background using earth observation technology, GIS, and machine learning techniques to understand ecological problems, including invasive plants, wildlife interactions, and zoonotic diseases.

Catherine Breen @cbreen : Catherine is a Research Scientist on contract to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the Hydrological Sciences Lab. Her work focuses on improving global snow monitoring and water modeling using machine learning and geospatial datasets. Her PhD is in Environmental and Forest Sciences from the University of Washington, where she developed models to automate snow extraction from time-lapse camera imagery to better understand satellite accuracy for snow and wildlife movement in relation to changing winters. In her free time, she "attempts" to grow vegetables (has successfully grown some snap peas and exactly one beet) in her community garden plot in Washington, DC.

Share your thoughts and ideas with the Geospatial group leaders!

Latin America Community

Vane Reyes @vanereyes: Vane is a bioacoustics research analyst at WILDLABS, based at the Wildlife Conservation Society in Argentina, where she leads and coordinates our bioacoustics horizon scan. She holds a Bachelor's and PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, with her doctoral research focusing on the acoustic behavior of Commerson's dolphins and the impact of anthropogenic noise in Patagonia, Argentina. In addition to her research, Vanesa teaches a seminar on Underwater Acoustics in the Sound Engineering Program at the National University of Tres de Febrero, and she is also a backend developer.

Juan Sebastian Ulloa @jsulloa : Juan is a researcher at the Center for Socio-Ecological Studies and Global Change at the Humboldt Institute in Colombia. With a Master's degree in Electronics Engineering and a Doctorate in Life Sciences, he has dedicated his research to developing innovative tools for biodiversity conservation. His expertise spans signal processing, artificial intelligence, acoustics, and ecology. Over the past decade, his research has focused on creating innovative tools for monitoring tropical ecosystems through acoustics. This work involves active collaboration with ecologists, sociologists, and local communities to ensure biodiversity conservation while addressing social development needs.

Jaqueline Garcia-Yi @jgaryi: Jaqueline is a researcher and co-founder of Ecosonus, a startup incubated at Harvard Innovation Labs that develops AI-powered tools combining bioacoustics, remote sensing, and geospatial modeling to monitor biodiversity and ecosystem services. Originally from Peru and currently based in Vienna, Austria, she holds a PhD in Environmental Economics (University of Hannover, Germany) and an MSc in Ecology (University of Maine, USA). She is completing a Master's in Data Science at Harvard University. Her capstone, sponsored by NASA, integrates acoustic data and eDNA with PACE satellite imagery to identify global biodiversity hotspots.

Share your thoughts and ideas with the Latin America Community group leaders!

Open Source Solutions

Brianna Johns @briannajohns : Bri has years of experience working in open source and community science spaces, previously serving as the community coordinator for the Gathering for Open Science Hardware (GOSH). In this role, Bri supported a global network of artists, researchers, activists, and hardware developers with a clear mission: to make open science hardware ubiquitous. With a background in both Zoology and International Studies, Bri is interested in examining the intersections of science, technology, and society within the context of conservation. Bri is currently a Fulbright student researcher and SEEKCommons fellow studying the Mothbox, a low-cost and open-source insect monitor. In doing so, they're taking a deeper look at the role of emerging open source technologies in biodiversity monitoring efforts.

Shannon Rankin @srankin : Shannon is a Wildlife Research Biologist who has led the Southwest Acoustic Ecology Lab at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center for over 25 years. She holds a master's degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University.

Pen-Yuan Hsing @Nycticebus_scientia : Pen-Yuan Hsing ("Pen", he/they) has a background in ecology and conservation research, such as joining the initial group of scientists assessing impacts from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Later, Pen co-founded MammalWeb, a citizen science project working with local communities in north-east England to monitor wildlife with motion-sensing camera traps. Pen is an advocate for open science and the need to adopt open source technologies. To that end, Pen has contributed to the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and the NASA TOPS mission, co-edited a Guide to Reproducible Code, co-created community governance for the Gathering for Open Science Hardware, and serves on the board of the Open Science Hardware Foundation.  Pen is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, conducting "research on research" (also known as "meta research"), tackling systemic issues in academic institutions to enable open research. Check out their WILDLABS profile here.

Share your thoughts and ideas with the Open Source Solutions group leaders!

Software Development

Margaux Armfield @margauxarmfield: Margaux is a Senior Software Engineer at Wildlife Protection Solutions. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Computer Science from Tulane University.

Scot Nielsen @tscotn: Scot Nielson is a Database Engineer at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In his free time, he enjoys playing heavy and historical board games, listening to music, and pondering SQL queries.

Kevin Okomba @kevin.okomba : Kevin is a full stack developer from from Kenya with 5+ years’ experience creating mobile, web, and desktop applications.