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Head of the MESSY Lab

Oscar Godoy

Researcher in EBD-CSIC

My research focuses on how species interactions—both among organisms and with their environment—shape the maintenance of biodiversity. I integrate theoretical approaches with experimental and observational studies, primarily in grassland and forest ecosystems, while increasingly expanding into marine systems. My work places particular emphasis on the demographic and functional drivers of multitrophic coexistence, as well as on the non-stationary dynamics of highly diverse ecological communities that encompass both positive and negative interactions.

Before establishing the MESSY Lab, I worked extensively on competitive exclusion theory and network ecology, with the goal of bridging the gap between abstract ecological theory and actionable conservation strategies.

Dr. Oscar Godoy

Current Members

Álvaro Perez

Álvaro Perez

Postdoctoral Researcher

My research interests include different aspects of arthropod diversity, taxonomy and ecology. I am keen to understand the interactions of arthropods with their environment to help determine the conservation status of this fascinating – but frequently overlooked – group of animals.

Sergio Pico

Sergio Pico

Predoctoral Researcher

I am an evolutionary ecologist focused on multitrophic interactions. Im am developing predictive models to forecast how climate-altered precipitation patterns shift the competitive balance between native flora and invasive insect species across Iberian landscapes.

Herlander Lima

Herlander Lima

Research Technician

My main interests lie at the intersection between ecology and informatics. My work focuses on data analysis, simulations, and network science, as well as developing software tools and testing methodological approaches in ecological systems. I am also interested in using web interfaces to communicate and present scientific results.

Lucia Acevedo

Lucia Acevedo

Postdoctoral Researcher

I am broadly interested on how disturbance and habitat fragmentation has shaped plant communities in chronically fragmented and managed landscapes. My research focuses on plant-animal interactions and, particularly, on how seed dispersal by frugivorous animals can be maintaining biodiversity under global change scenarios.

Violeta Callejas-Solana

Violeta Callejas-Solana

Postdoctoral Researcher

My research has focused, so far, on ecological and social systems within an ecological framework. I humbly address one of the central questions in ecology: understanding how ecological interactions shape species' coexistence and long-term persistence. To explore this, I integrate data from field observations and experiments with theoretical frameworks and computational modeling, from agent-based models to nonlinear ODEs and, primarily, Network Science.

Elena Huerta

Elena Huerta

Research Technician

My research focuses on the social and cultural processes involved in the in situ maintenance of agricultural diversity. I study local knowledge, perceptions, and representations, as well as heritage processes and other biocultural expressions such as food and culinary practices. Currently, I am working in socio-economic approaches as a means of supporting the transition toward sustainable agriculture.

Jawad Sakarchi

Jawad Sakarchi

Visiting Scholar

I am a NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow based in McGill working with Drs. Jennifer Sunday and Oscar Godoy. My work primarily focuses on the role of competition on the origin and maintenance of biodiversity. I did my PhD with Dr. Rachel Germain at UBC where he focused on the interface between ecology and evolution, examining how coexistence theory can help us better understand speciation, coevolution, life history theory, and population genetics.

Want to join the MESSY Lab?

We are always looking for passionate PhD students, postdocs, and visiting researchers to join our fieldwork and expand our models.

Join the Lab