Susanna Messinger

Hello!

I am a first year PhD student at the University of Michigan. I am interested in studying the evolution of community interactions with the ultimate goal of understanding community level emergent properties, like species richness and relative abundances.

I am originally from Utah, where I did both my undergraduate and master's degree at Utah State University. I like skiing, running, biking, photography, eating, and reading. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone!

This website gives a little more detail about my interests and background:

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1. What topics do you have some expertise in and would you be willing to help others learn them?

I used cellular automata extensively for my master's thesis, so could probably help others in that area. I have studied self-organization, emergent behavior, and non-linear dynamics. I have a good working knowledge of the typical biological models of population dynamics, both deterministic and stochastic. I have a good handle on programming in visual basic, c++, and Matlab.

2. What do you want to learn at the CSSS?

I am interested in getting some ideas for how to approach modeling the evolutionary dynamics of multiple interacting species in a spatial context. I am particularly curious about agent based models and how they are typically used. Basically, I would like to see as many different approaches to modeling complex systems as possible!!

3. Do you have any projects or research interests that would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach?

I am currently interested in evolutionary dynamics in a spatial context. In some cases, the Evolutionary Stable Strategy predicted by a mean-field model is different than that predicted by a spatial model. In particular, I think interpreting the spatial ESS would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach. Knowledge of game theory and the evolution of social systems could be useful.

4. Do you have any ideas for what sort of project you would like to do work on with other CSSS students this summer?

I am working on developing a spatial, stochastic model of predator prey dynamics. One possibly interesting project for me would be to work on incorporating evolutionary dynamics and exploring the predator's ESS. I would also be interested in modeling mutualistic interactions in the same way. Or, I would be interested in exploring the evolution of food web structure. I am also open to any other interesting ideas!

5. Suppose you could travel one-hundred years in the future and ask researchers any three questions. What would those questions be?

In progres...

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A picture of me below with my puppy Charlie.

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