Erik K. Dean
PhD Candidate

I'm a member of the Mandrak Lab, a research lab focused on the ecology and conservation of freshwater fishes, based out of the University of Toronto Scarborough. I work in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences with a focus on population biology, climate change, and modelling. Broadly motivated by the vision of a sustainable future, I am interested in a variety of problems and strive to make a positive difference where I can.

Contact
Profile Picture

About me

A lifelong interest in nature led me to ecology, learning about the threats to nature led me to conservation, then seeing more of the big picture led me to environmental science. Meanwhile, my passion for computing gave me the means to engage with these topics that I was not only curious about, but felt a duty to explore.

The protection and fulfillment of basic human rights depends on the conservation of nature, and I believe an unconventional, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approach is needed to face the global environmental challenges of our time. I endeavour to explore new perspectives and establish relationships that could lead to solutions, while sharing knowledge and connecting with others to help them do the same.

Education

With a foundation in ecology and evolutionary biology, and training in scientific computing and climate change science, my research investigates how populations perform under changing environmental conditions. Using mathematical models to simulate invasive carps and their life-histories, my graduate work aims to support future conservation efforts by exploring how increasing temperatures could lead to biological invasions in Canada.

My CV

2018-2023
Doctor of Philosophy
Environmental Science
University of Toronto Scarborough

2016-2017
Master of Environmental Science
University of Toronto Scarborough

2010-2015
Honours Bachelor of Science
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Toronto St. George

Teaching

Fall 2018−2022
Freshwater Ecology and Biomonitoring
(EES 1111)
Teaching assistant — tutorials, field & laboratory demonstrations
↳ concepts, sampling techniques, benthic macroinvertebrate identification
Winter 2019−2023
Quantitative Applications for Data Analysis
(EES 1137)
Teaching assistant — assignment grading, feedback, tutoring
↳ data processing, analysis, visualization using BASH, R, & Python

Talks & Papers

American Fisheries Society - Ontario Chapter
Society for Canadian Aquatic Sciences
Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2022
International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species

Non-linear effects on the population performance of Bighead Carp under different maturation schedules

Biological Invasions, 2023
Erik K. Dean, D. Andrew R. Drake, Nicholas E. Mandrak

Read here
Non-linear effects on the population performance of Bighead Carp under different maturation schedules
Assessing space use in meadow voles: the relationship to reproduction and the stress axis

Assessing space use in meadow voles: the relationship to reproduction and the stress axis

Journal of Mammalogy, 2019
Phoebe D. Edwards, Erik K. Dean, Rupert Palme, Rudy Boonstra

Read here

Modelling invasion potential under climate change: effects of seasonal temperatures on a critical recruitment bottleneck

TBD, in progress...
Erik K. Dean, D. Andrew R. Drake, Nicholas E. Mandrak

Pending ✍︎
Modelling invasion potential under climate change: effects of seasonal temperatures on a critical recruitment bottleneck