Ariel Greiner (http://arielgreiner.com/)
NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford and Pennsylvania State University
ariel.greiner@biology.ox.ac.uk / akg6325@psu.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0471-8031
https://github.com/arielgreiner
Canadian + American Citizen
Research Interests
Theoretical Ecology, Conservation Biology, Network Analysis, Socio-Ecological Models, Decision Theory, Coral Reef Biology, Epidemiology
Education
University of Toronto 2017-2023
Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Thesis: “Consequences of Multiple Stability and Connectivity in Coral Reef Ecosystems”
Supervisors: Martin Krkošek, Marie-Josée Fortin, Emily Darling
Committee: Chelsea Rochman, Péter Molnár, Benjamin Gilbert (Candidacy), Cassidy D’Aloia (Defence)
McGill University 2012-2017
Honours in Quantitative Biology (Minor in Mathematics and Statistics), GPA: 3.95, Dean’s List
Honours Supervisors: Andy Gonzalez, Patrick Thompson
Honours Thesis: “Exploring the Effects of Habitat Connectivity Loss on Ecosystem Functioning and Species
Viability”
Publications
Press Coverage: Hakai Magazine, Conservation Corridor, WCS, University of Toronto Arts + Sci,
National Champion of Canada in Inaugural Frontiers Planet Prize Competition
Press Coverage: BBC Earth, Frontiers in Ecology + the Environment Dispatches, Technology Networks, Science Daily, Phys.org, SciTech Europa, etc.
Submitted Manuscripts
Employment
2024 - present NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow, Katrina Davis + Katriona Shea, Oxford University
2023 - present NSF Postdoctoral Researcher, Katriona Shea + Matthew Ferrari, Penn State University
2017-2022 Teaching Assistant, University of Toronto
Winter 2020 Internship at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Fiji
Developed Data Legacy Upload Protocol, uploaded all WCS Fiji Coral + Fish legacy data
Helped develop research paper on current status of Fiji’s reefs + identification of reef conservation priorities
2015-2017 NSERC USRA Student Researcher in Gonzalez Lab + Nguyen Lab, McGill University*
2012-2014 Student Researcher in the Spetch Lab, University of Alberta*
Fall 2014 Research Volunteer in the Larsson Lab, McGill University*
2014 Student Researcher in the Reader Lab, McGill University*
2013-2014 Research Volunteer in the Hendry Lab, McGill University*
Summer 2011 WISEST Highschool Researcher in Bayne Lab, University of Alberta*
*More details on activities in these labs can be found here
Awards
International Awards
2023 National Champion of Canada Frontiers Planet Prize 2023 for Greiner et al. 2022
National Awards and Research Grants
2024-2025 NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, $70,000 CAD/yr
2021-2023 Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Doctoral Research Grant, $15,000 CAD/yr
2022 Canadian Society of Ecology & Evolution Excellence in Doctoral Research Award, $1500 CAD
2020 Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement, $6,000 CAD
2018-2021 NSERC CGS-D, Doctoral Research Grant, $35,000 CAD/yr
2018-2021 NSF GRFP, Doctoral Research Grant, $46,000 USD/yr - Declined
2017-2018 NSERC CGS-M, Masters Research Grant, $17,500 CAD
Graduate Scholarships and Awards (Departmental Level)
2022 Harold H. Harvey Prize for Academic Leadership, $500 CAD
2020-2021 EEB Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Award (for BREWS)
2019-2022 University Of Toronto Fellowship, Faculty Of Arts And Science
2019-2021 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program Award
2017, 2021 Faculty of Arts and Science Program-Level Fellowship
2017-2018 Faculty Of Arts And Science Graduate Admission Awards
2018 Donald A. Chant Scholarship In Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
2017 University Of Toronto Fellowship, Faculty Of Arts And Science
Undergraduate Scholarships
2013-2017 Dean’s Honour List
2016-2017 Penhallow Scholarship in Biology, $1000 CAD
2015, 2016 NSERC USRA, $6000 CAD/yr
2015-2016 Richard Adams Award, $950 CAD
2013-2014 Bubar Family Scholarship, $750 CAD
2012-2013 Mary Powell Culver Scholarship, $3,000 CAD
Presentations and Posters
Invited Talks
2025 Can tourism lead to effective coral reef management? A modelling study
Research-in-Progress Talks, University of Oxford, February 2025
2024 Value of Information on Networks
Value of Information Workshop, University of Queensland, November 2024
2024 Using Mathematical Models to Inform Management Practices in Coral Reefs and Beyond
Mathematical Biology Seminar Series, University of Leeds, May 2024
2024 Allocating Limited Surveillance Effort for Outbreak Detection of Endemic FMD
CIDD Seminar Series, Pennsylvania State University, January 2024
2024 Using Mathematical Models to Inform Management Practices in Coral Reefs and Beyond
Dalhousie University, February 2024
2024 ENVS 2100: Introduction to R
Dalhousie University, February 2024
2023 Using Mathematical Models to Inform Management Practices in Coral Reefs and Beyond
Ecology Seminar Series, Pennsylvania State University, October 2023
2023 Using Mathematical Models to Inform Management Practices
Theory Tea Seminar at Princeton University, October 2023
2023 World Ocean’s Day Panel Discussion on Coral Reef Conservation
Patagonia Toronto, June 2023, link
2022 Consequences of Multiple Stability and Connectivity to Coral Reef Ecosystems
CSEE/ESA Joint Meeting 2022 - Invited Award Talk [link, slides]
2021 Coral Reefs through the Lens of Mathematical Modelling
EEBU (EEB undergraduate union UofT) Mini Grad Talks Winter 2021
Invited Conference Workshops
2022 How do Scientists Study Coral Reefs
Girls in STEM Conference (gr. 5-8), Mathematics Engagement Office Uni of Toronto, May 2021
2022 Co-Organizer of the Diversity Forum at ESA/CSEE 2022
Contributed Conference Talks
2024 Prioritizing Stepping Stone Reefs to Maintain Connected Reef Networks Worldwide
BES (British Ecological Society) Annual Meeting 2024
2024 Dispersal spreads management benefits: Insights from a modeled Fijian coral reef network
Reef Conservation UK 2024 Meeting [link]
2024 Allocating Limited Surveillance Effort for Outbreak Detection of Endemic Foot and Mouth
Disease ESA (Ecological Society of America) Annual Meeting 2024
2021 Changes to Coral Reef Connectivity Affect Coral Reef Resilience
CSEE (Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution) Meeting [link]
2021 Incorporation of Coral and Macroalgal Dispersal Adds Novel Stable States
ESA (Ecological Society of America) Annual Meeting [link]
2021 Changes to Coral Reef Connectivity Affect Coral Reef Resilience
University of Toronto Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Atwood Colloquium [link]
2019 Impact of Climate Change on Global Coral Reef Networks
CSEE (Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution) Meeting
2019 Elevator Talk: Multiple Stability and Connectivity in a Two Reef System
University of Toronto Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Atwood Colloquium [link]
2018 The Spatial Dynamics of Alternative Stable States in Coral Reefs
CSEE (Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution) Meeting [link]
2016 Habitat Connectivity Impacts Ecosystem Functioning
QCBS (Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science) Symposium [http://tinyurl.com/2016QCBS]
2016 Exploring the Extinction Debt in Simulated Metacommunities
McGill Integrative Bioscience Undergraduate Research Symposium [Photos, Schedule, Link]
McGill Biology Honours Research Symposium [Link, Presentation]
Contributed Conference Posters
2024 Allocating Limited Surveillance Effort for Outbreak Detection of Endemic Foot and Mouth
Disease EEID (Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease) 2024 [link, poster]
2022 Connectivity Spreads Management Benefits in a Modelled Fijian Reef System
BES (British Ecological Society) Annual Meeting [link, poster]
2022 Connectivity Spreads Management Benefits to Nearby Reefs in a Modelled Fijian Reef System
Fields Institute: Workshop on Advances in Mathematical Ecology [Link]
2021 Limited Spatial Rescue Potential for Coral Reefs Lost to Future Global Warming
BES (British Ecological Society) Annual Meeting [link]
2021 Changes to Reef Connectivity Affect Coral Reef Bistability and Resilience
ICRS (International Coral Reef Symposium) [link]
2019 Impact of Climate Change on Global Coral Reef Networks
13th GCC (Graduate Climate Conference) [link]
2018 Connectivity and Multiple Stability in Marine Protected Area Network Design
NACCB (North American Congress on Conservation Biology) [Link]
2018 Multiple Stability and Connectivity in Coral Reef Ecosystems [Link]
Fields Institute: Workshop on Human-Environment Systems: Feedback and Management [Link]
2016-2017 Habitat Connectivity Impacts Ecosystem Functioning [Link]
CSEE (Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution) Meeting 2017[http://tinyurl.com/CSEE2017poster-sched]
2016 QCBS (Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science) Symposium [http://tinyurl.com/2016QCBS]
12th Annual McGill Undergraduate Research Conference (2016) [Link]
2011 How does sound travel through different habitats?
WISEST Celebration of Research [Website, Poster] (2011)
Contributed Conference Workshops
2024 Encouraging Women and Girls to Pursue A Career in Fieldwork
Women in Science Conference [link]
2017-2022 Lead Organizer (2019, 2022) and Co-Organizer (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021) of SWEEET
(Section Working for Equity in Ecology and Evolution Today at CSEE)
Organized Annual DEI Seminar at National Eco Evo Conference for gaining DEI skills and community building -
Fundraised, Planned Event Logistics (Organized Scheduling + Found Speakers), Pushed for increased funding for
DEI initiatives from CSEE, 100s of attendees each year
Working Groups
2025- Value of Information for Environmental Management (link)
Australian Research Council - link (Leads: Matthew Holden, Hugh Possingham, Katriona Shea, Kate Helmstedt)
2023-2025 Future Fish Wars: Chasing Ocean Ecosystem Wealth
Minerva Research Inititative - Description (Lead: James Watson, Oregon State University)
2023-2025 Model Enabled Machine Learning (MnML) For Predicting Ecosystem Regime Shifts
NSF #2233982 - Description (Leads: James Watson (OSU), Lisa McManus (HIMB), Jorge Arroyo-Esquivel (DFW)
Teaching + Mentorship Experience
University of Oxford
Winter 2025 Led + Designed a Tutorial for ‘Ecosystems, Conservation and Sustainable Development’
Fall 2024 Guest Lecturer for ‘Ecological Footprints and Global Patterns in Supply and
Demand’ Lecture in ‘Ecosystems, Conservation and Sustainable Development’
2024-2025 Co-Supervised a Masters Student (Matthew Morecroft) Helped Matthew design and
develop a meta-analysis of coral connectivity estimates around the world. (with Katrina Davis)
Pennsylvania State University
Summer 2024 Mentored an NSF REU student (Sigurdur (Diddi) Ari Ragan Steinsson) Helped Diddi design and
develop a research project designing models to simulate endemic disease (FMD) spread across a network. (with
Katriona Shea, Katie Jane Yan, Hidetoshi Inamine)
Winter 2024 Guest Lecturer for ‘Explicit Space Models’ Lecture in ‘Ecological and Environmental Problem
Solving’ (BIOL 419)
Winter 2024 Co-Wrote an NSF REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) to fund an Undergraduate
summer research project in the Shea Lab at Pennsylvania State University
Fall 2023 Guest Lecturer for ‘Logistic Population Growth’ Lecture in Honours ‘Populations and
Communities’ (BIOL 220) (alongside Deepit Bhatia)
University of Toronto
2021-2022 TA EEB 320H1 Dynamics of Ecosystem Processes
Fall 2021, Fall 2022: Lab TA + Course Development work
Designed/Coordinated/Led/Marked: computer labs on downloading + analysis of NEON datasets
(research paper style final report), fieldwork labs using arduinos to measure gas exchange
2021 Mentor Ryan Denniston. Helped Ryan design and develop a research project designing marine reserve
networks by looking at coral larval connectivity patterns via network metrics. Ryan also
developed a python package. (with Marie-Josée Fortin)
2020 Mentor Teagan Smith. Helped Teagan code and develop a research project looking at carbon
footprint of coral reef field research (with Emily Darling)
Summer 2020 Mentor Animesh Ghose. Helped Animesh learn Github and RStudio techniques for data analysis.
2018-2019 Mentor Madeleine Prater. Helped Madeleine design and develop her honours research project (won an
award for her research poster!) looking at beta diversity of coral reef fishes inside and outside
Marine Protected Areas in Australia. Madeleine’s research poster (with Marie-Josée Fortin)
Fall 2017 TA EEB 319H1 Population Ecology
Lab: Led computer labs on excel, Aided in designing an experiment with beetles, coordinated and
led a field trip out of town to perform a diversity assessment of a nearby river system
Grading: Assignments (scientific paper style lab report, Q+A lab report), Midterm and Final
McGill University
2015-2016 SUS Peer Tutor for Calculus II (MATH 141) + Linear Algebra (MATH 133)
2014 Grader for ‘Principles of Statistics’ (MATH 203) Course
DEI, Service and Outreach
DEI Work
2024 Encouraging Women and Girls to Pursue A Career in Fieldwork
Women in Science Conference [link]
2022 Co-Organizer of the Diversity Forum at ESA/CSEE 2022
2021-2022 Member of the Allyship Network at EEB UToronto
2020-2022 Student Organizer of BREWS (Broadening Representation & Equity with Science)
Organized Monthly Inter-disciplinary DEI Seminars + community-building tea breaks, Spearheaded Initiatives for
increased pay for DEI initiatives in the departmen, created a DEI resource database for the department
2017-2022 Lead Organizer (2019, 2022) and Co-Organizer (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021) of SWEEET
(Section Working for Equity in Ecology and Evolution Today at CSEE)
Organized Annual DEI Seminar at National Eco Evo Conference for gaining DEI skills and community building -
Fundraised, Planned Event Logistics (Organized Scheduling + Found Speakers), Pushed for increased funding for
DEI initiatives from CSEE, 100s of attendees each year
Invited Departmental Talks + Panels
Winter 2022 Introduction to Github Talk in the Rollinson Lab, University of Toronto
Fall 2021 EEB448 Panel on Applying + Experiences in Graduate School, University of Toronto
Fall 2021 Second Year Learning Community Panel about Applying + Experiences in Graduate
School, University of Toronto
Winter 2021 BIO220H1 Panel about Work in Conservation + Sustainability, University of Toronto
Winter 2021 Invited to Talk about Coral Restoration Project, Green Lab, University of Alberta
2018, 2019 Panel on Applying to NSERC Doctoral Awards, University of Toronto
Fall 2019 Invited to Talk about Coral Research, McCann Lab, University of Guelph
Winter 2019 Invited to Talk about Theoretical Ecology Research, Lewis Lab, University of Alberta
2017, 2018 Panel on Applying to NSERC Masters Awards, University of Toronto
2017 Panel on Applying to Graduate School, University of Toronto
Departmental Service
University of Oxford
2025- OxReefs Seminar Series Co-Organizer
2024-2025 BioRSN Representative on Space & Facilities Committee, Department of Biology
Summer 2024 Change Collaborator Network
University of Toronto
2019-2020 Wellness Committee Helper
2018-2019 University of Toronto EEB Graduate Student Association
Journal Club Co-Organizer. Led weekly seminar series.
Mental Health Committee (MHC). Designed and ran Resources workshop, Disasters Workshop,
Imposter Phenomenon Peer to Peer Workshop; Led Bi-weekly coffee breaks, Organized Yoga Sessions.
2019-2021 Trash Team. Helped organize and facilitate the annual urban litter clean up.
McGill University
2016-2017 VP Events of MIBS (McGill Integrative Biology Society). Organized + Developed Research
Symposium, Introduction to MIBS Seminar and monthly pizza community building events, etc.
Outreach Work
Winter 2025 ‘How do scientists study coral reefs?’ presentations to Middle School Students at
The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) in Montagnola, Switzerland
Summer 2023 Invited Lead Panelist at Patagonia Toronto World Ocean’s Day Panel Discussion on
Coral Reef Conservation [link]
Spring 2021 Invited to design + give a workshop “How do Scientists Study Coral Reefs?” @ the
annual Girls in STEM conference (gr.5-8) organized by the Mathematics Engagement
Office at University of Toronto
2017, 2019 ‘Life of a Coral Reef Researcher’/’Coral Reefs + Humans’ presentations to Grade 4
Class at Ross Drive Elementary School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada [2017, 2019]
2016 Student Research Ambassador for McGill Science Undergraduate Society (SUS)
Talked at SUS Presents: How to Get Involved in Research
2011 Ambassador for the WISEST Program
Fieldwork Experience
05/2024 Helped Facilitate Discussion with Fishers and the Marine Management Organization of
the UK in Harwich, Alongside Dr. Claire Tanner, Isabelle Black, Wing Yi Chung
05-06/2018 Scuba Diving to Assess Sea Cucumber Dynamics around Bamfield, BC - transects + quadrats
05/2017 Ocean Water Sampling, Bird Diversity Surveys in Broughton Archipelago (SCFS)
07/2016 Setting up + Assessing Mesocosm Experiment (LEAP) at Gault Nature Reserve
05/2014 Snorkelling to Assess Coral Cover and Herbivore Abundance in Barbados - transects + quadrats
06/2011 Pilot Testing Novel Bird Diversity Measurement Techniques in Forests of Alberta
Lab Experience
05-08/2015 Assessing Competition/Collaboration Proclivities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Different
Network Structures in Microfluidic Devices (Level II Lab)
01-08/2014 Worked with Trinidadian Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to explore whether personality traits
influence performance in individual learning tasks
09-12/2014 Sorted and Organized samples of Three-Spine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
09-12/2014 Cleaned and Organized Dinosaur Fossils
07-08/2014 Ran and Designed Experiments with Pigeons (field) and Humans (computer assessments)
01-04/2013 Worked with Three-Spine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
06-08/2013 Comparative Cognition Experiments with Pigeons (field) and Humans (computer assessments)
05-08/2012 Ran and Designed Experiments with Pigeons (field) and ants (outside field)
Other Professional Activities
2025- Board Member of The Next Swell Non-Profit Providing Scholarships to Students
working on Marine Conservation Projects
Referee
PLOS ONE, Diversity and Distributions, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Oecologia, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Ecological Applications
General Audience Articles
2024 Wrote ‘Maintaining Reef Connectivity is Crucial to Protect Reefs Worldwide’ for Frontiers
Planet Prize series
08/2022 Helped write ‘New Science Shows Connected Coral Reef “Hope Spots” Can Shelter Ocean
Biodiversity Despite Climate Change’, a WCS Press Release to accompany Greiner et al. 2022
Global Ecology and Biogeography (link)
08/2022 Helped write ‘Researchers reveal how invisible coral reef networks can help restore ocean
biodiversity in the face of climate change’, a Uni of Toronto Faculty of Arts and Science Press
Release to accompany Greiner et al. 2022 Global Ecology and Biogeography (link)
08/2022 Helped write ‘Reef 'hope spots' may help rescue coral habitats damaged by climate change:
Researchers’, a Uni of Toronto Press Release to accompany Greiner et al. 2022 Global Ecology
and Biogeography (link)
Society Activities
2022 Chaired ‘Conservation and Policy’ Session at BES 2022 Conference
Skills and Training Received
Programming Languages
Fluent: R, MATLAB, Bash, Github
Proficient: Python, C++, Java, LATEX2ε, JWatcher
Languages: English (Fluent), French (Proficient), Latin (Beginner), Hebrew (Beginner)
Scuba Diving
NAUI Certifications: Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Dry Suit Diver
NAUI/DAN: Emergency Oxygen Provider
CAUS Level I (Bamfield May 2018) - transects, quadrats, roves, specimen collection, rugosity, fish and invertebrate ID
Commercial Dive Medical (April 26, 2018) (available upon request)
Experience: 53 dives - 14 warm water (Barbados, GBR, Hawai’i), 39 cold water (38 dry suit)
General Training (certificates available upon request)
Science Communication Workshop at University of Toronto in 2019 with Jenny Carpenter
Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C (Valid from: 2/18/2018)
WHMIS Training (2018 - University of Toronto)
Fire Extinguisher Training (2017 - University of Toronto)
EHS002 Basic Health and Safety Awareness Training (2017 - University of Toronto)
Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC) training (2015 - McGill University)
Hazardous Waste Disposal Training (2015 - McGill University)
Animal Care Training (CCAC) (2012 - University of Alberta, 2014 - McGill University)
MRI Training (2013 - University of Alberta)
General Skills
Lab Skills Invertebrate DNA isolation, PCR, Gel Electrophoresis, growth curves + dilution plating
+ transformation of bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), pigeon training + handling
Computer Skills Designing ecological simulations on R, behavioural analysis using Jwatcher
Field Skills Positioning and using transects + quadrats in forests + oceans, ocean chemistry analyses
Transcripts and Reference Letters available upon request
2017 Oxfam Steward at Glastonbury Festival 2017
2007 4th Place at Halloween Rock Climbing Competition at Urban Uprising, Edmonton
Pre-2012 Volunteer. Habitat for Humanity, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Diabetes
Association, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, Annual Mitzvah Day Collection.
Extra-Curriculars. Gymnastics, Fencing, Ballet, Irish dancing, Acting, Musical Theatre, Soccer, Skiing,
Roller-blading, Photography
Other School Activities. High School Model United Nations, Alberta Speech + Debate Competition.
Last update: March 16th, 2025