ALEX C. MCALVAY
Principal Investigator
Alex McAlvay is a Research Scientist in Center for Plants, People, and Culture at the New York Botanical Garden, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University, and Expert for Regen10 Experts Network. His research is focused on understanding the relationships between humans and their environments, the evolutionary and ecological impacts of humans on plants, and the traditional stewardship of plants by cultures. His work includes projects in Mexico, Ethiopia, the United States, and elsewhere with a focus on food sovereignty, agrobiodiversity, and the continuity and revitalization of traditions related to plants. He obtained a B.S. from Western Washington University, a Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed a postdoc at Cornell University before starting at NYBG.
STEFANIE RAMOS BIERGE
Postdoctoral Researcher - NYBG
Stefanie has an M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from the the University of Colorado at Boulder, prior to which she received an M.A. in Linguistics at the University of Sonora (Mexico) and a Bachelor’s degree in language teaching at the University of Querétaro (Mexico). The focus of her linguistic research is on Language documentation and description, particularly in morphology and syntax. Her research work is based on extensive empirical data on the Uto-Aztecan language family, more specifically on Huichol (Corachol) and Northern Tepehuan (Tepiman), both endangered and under-documented languages spoken in Mexico. She is a Postdoctoral Associate for the project “The language of land and life: connecting language and ecology in Wixárika.”
GIULIA MATTALIA
Postdoctoral Researcher NYBG/Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Giulia is an ethnobiologist interested in the complex relationship between people, plants and the surrounding environment. She has obtained an MSc in Agroecology and Organic Agriculture at Wageningen University (the Netherlands) and ISARA, Lyon (France) and a PhD in Environmental Sciences at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy) and Autonomous University of Barcelona (Catalonia). In the current postdoctoral project, Giulia explores the potential of the concept of cultural keystone species for culturally informed biodiversity conservation strategies. Over the past 10 years, Giulia has conducted ethnobotanical fieldwork in mountain regions of Italy, the Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Romania and Switzerland.
MAKENZIE E. MABRY
USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellow NYBG/Florida Museum of Natural History/University of Florida
Makenzie earned her PhD from the University of Missouri (2020), focusing on the domestication of Brassica oleracea. Her current research centers on exploring the genetic diversity and ecological roles of crop wild relatives, including feral crops—plants thriving outside cultivation. These feral crops offer untapped genetic diversity to bolster the resilience of domesticated counterparts, a critical need in the face of escalating climate challenges. Understanding the nuances of feralization, particularly in species like B. oleracea, holds great promise for innovative strategies to ensure future environmental sustainability and biodiversity.
TONI JOHNSON
Ph.D. Student - CUNY and NYBG
Toni Johnson received her BS from Howard University in 2020 had been working as a lab technician at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center for before coming to CUNY for a PhD in Plant Sciences. Her background lies in microbiology, chemistry, perennial agriculture, and grass seed shattering genetics. Her research interests lie in ethnobotany and phytochemistry as they relate to traditional agricultural practices, nutrition, and health.
KARAM SHEBAN
Ph.D. Student - Yale and NYBG
Karam has a B.S. from The Ohio State University and a master's in forestry from the Yale School of the Environment. He is currently a PhD student at Yale, where his work examines the ecological, social, and economic dynamics of agroforestry systems. He co-directs the Northeast Forest Farmers Coalition, a USDA initiative promoting forest farming research, education, and community building across the Northeast United States.
AMANI RODRIGUEZ
Master's Student - Columbia and NYBG
Amani Rodriguez is a Master's student in the Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology department at Columbia University. She has a background in molecular biology, printmaking, and environmental education. Amani is interested in invasive species management and traditional land stewardship methods.
MARCO ZANGHI
Master's Student - Columbia and NYBG
Marco has a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection with a concentration in Wildlife Biology as well as a minor in Indigenous Studies in Natural Resources and the Environment from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is currently a Master’s student in the Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology department at Columbia University. His research interests lie in ethnobotany and conservation as they pertain to indigenous foodways.