David.
I research and model ecosystems
PhD student at Aarhus University in Denmark. I model biodiversity and ecosystem restoration and its interactions with legislation.
Formerly at Natcap and Yale University. University College London graduate.
Hi, my name is
About Me
I’m an early career researcher modelling ecosystem services. I have a MSci degree in Biodiversity and Conservation from University College London, and an interest in the interactions between humans and ecosystems. I’m currently working as a spatial scientist with Natural Capital Research in London modelling ecosystem services to help incorporate nature dependency into the global financial system.
Some tools I've used in my previous work:
Some tools I've used in my previous work:
- R
- Python
- Microsoft Azure
- AWS
- Docker
- Slurm
- Metaflow
- QGIS
Experience
I was part of the Nature Engine team at Natcap, where I built models and metrics for double materiality analysis of agriculture and biodiversity and ecosystems. These models and metrics were core parts of the nature impact reporting product for compliance with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Taskforce for Nature related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and Science Based Targets Network (SBTN).
I developed metrics and methods for:
- Land use change
- Habitat fragmentation
- Remote sensing of land impact
- Value chain analysis of nature impact
I was part of a large team effort to produce high-resolution, 1km2 maps of biodiversity across North America for over 4000 species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, ants, butterflies and dragonflies. These maps will be used to inform US governmental conservation strategies as part of the 30 by 30 project.
- Contributed additions to the modelling workflow
- Helped containerise the workflow using Docker
- Massively parallelised the workflow using Slurm and Microsoft Azure to run models for hundreds of species at once
- Also member of the centre seminar committee
Education
2024 - Present
PhD in Biology
Aarhus University
Thesis title: Enabling large scale nature restoration under the EU Nature Restoration Law
- Chapter 0: Nature restoration legislation means redefining targets and forecasting progress (Perspective paper in preparation for submission)
- Chapter 1: Mapping the biodiversity potential of Europe
- Chapter 2: Spatial prioritisation of nature restoration in Europe
- Chapter 3: Predicting restoration outcomes and uncertainties
Teaching assistant for Statistics and Geospatial Modelling (Master’s level)
2017 - 2021
Master in Science in Biodiversity and Conservation
University College London
Result:
First Class Honours
Courses include:
- Computational Biology
- Evolutionary Genetics
- Ecological Patterns and Processes
- Dynamic Biological Systems
- Plant Evolution and Ecology
Extracurricular Activities:
- Academic secretary for UCL Biology Society
- ChangeMakers project member
- Social secretary for UCL Karate Club
2019 - 2020
Study Abroad Exchange Program
University of Queensland
Courses include:
- Landscape Ecology
- Conservation and Wildlife Biology
- Macroecology and Biogeography
- Tropical Marine Biology
Publications
Potential decline in the distribution and food provisioning services of the mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina) in southern Africa
My first first-author paper, published in Frontiers of Biogeography, a peer-reviewed journal by the Internaional Biogeography Society. This was based on research I conducted as part of my final year project at UCL.
Contributed to an article written about my work in Mongabay
Mongabay is a non-profit conservation and environmental science news platform. They wrote an article about my work modelling the mopane worm, and the potential impacts of climate change on its distribution and food provisioning services.
Get In Touch
If you’re interested in my work, or want to collaborate on a project, get in touch below!