Research interests

I am interested in the ecology of species invasions and zoonotic diseases, and in the underlying population ecology of small populations. My research addresses several questions including:

1. How can integrating processes at multiple scales improve predictions of species invasion and disease emergence, particularly the pattern of spatial spread?

2. What are the mechanisms driving dynamics of small populations, and how do they influence the opposing outcomes of extinction and invasion?

I link theory with empirical data to produce general insights and work across scales from the microscopic to continental. My research aims to make effective use of increasingly powerful computational tools, and I use machine learning tools and network approaches to develop predictive models for the spread of invasive species and emerging infectious diseases. I also develop dynamical models and conduct laboratory, mesocosm and whole-lake experiments with crustacean zooplankton to better understand the dynamics of extinction, invasion, and species coexistence.

I teach the following courses:

• Fall 2024: Biodiversity BSC 2011
• Spring 2025: Biometry PCB 6456
• Fall 2025: Mathematical Modeling BSC 6932
• Spring 2026: Biometry PCB 6456

• amkramer@usf.edu
• andrew.m.kramer
• Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida
• Email for appointment