Ying CHEN

Currently, I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Global Change and Tropical Conservation Lab, where I am passionate about conducting research that holds significant value for conservation efforts. Over the past few years, I have utilized multi-scale, multi-variable species distribution modeling to identify suitable habitats and estimate the carrying capacity for Asian elephants, the largest terrestrial mammal species, in the tropical forests of southwest China. Additionally, I have analyzed genomic datasets from multiple populations of a model species, the nine-spined stickleback, to study the genomic consequences of small populations experiencing prolonged isolation. These valuable learning experiences have prepared me to embrace new challenges and tasks. Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to receive guidance from exceptional supervisors and mentors. With great luck, I am now embarking on a new journey to study pangolins, a unique and fascinating family of species that urgently require attention and action to prevent their extinction. However, our current knowledge is insufficient to effectively conserve these species. I am hopeful that, after years of collaborative efforts, the achievements from existing and potential projects focused on pangolins will enable us to better understand their past, present, and future, and to develop effective strategies to protect them and slow their decline.