People

Current CHES Members (by time of entering CHES)

• Li An, Professor and founding director of The Center for Complex Human-Environment Systems (CHES), San Diego State University (prior to 2023); Solon & Martha Dixon Endowed Professor, Professor of Ecosystem Modeling, & Director of International Center for Climate and Global Change Research (ICCGCR) (2023 ~ present; Biosketch), Auburn University
  
  
• Ren Cao, PhD student (2020 ~ present; CV) at San Diego State University and Auburn University
  
  
• Xiaoxiao Wei, PhD student, Auburn University (2023 ~ present)
  
  
• Eve T. Bohnett, postdoctral research fellow, Auburn University (2023 ~ present; part-time)
  
  
• Rong Zhang, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Auburn University (2024 ~ present)
  
  
• Emma Williams, undergraduate intern, Auburn University (2024 ~ present; CV)
  
  

CHES Alumni

• Marcus Chiu, Data and Technical Analyst (2013 ~ 2023; CV) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Huijie Zhang, PhD Student (2018 ~ 2024; CV) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Candra M. Young, project administrator (2018 ~ 2023) at San Diego State University
  
  
• My Thu Tran, PhD student (2022 ~ 2023) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Jinghua Xie, visiting scholar from the Norwegian School of Hotel Management, University of Stavanger, Norway (2023)
  
  
• Daniel Ochoa, Master's student (2021 ~ 2023) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Eve T. Bohnett, postdoctral research fellow at San Diego State University (2020 ~ 2022; joint appointment with Dr. Rebecca Lewison at SDSU Biology; CV)
  
  
• Yanjing (Tracy) Liu, Master's student (2020 ~ 2022; CV) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Peng Qin, visiting scholar from Qingdao Agricultural University, China (2022)
  
  
• Jie Dai, PhD (2013 ~ 2020; CV) at San Diego State University
  • Dissertation title: "Community forestry in Chitwan Valley, Nepal - Challenges with the invasion of Mikania micrantha"
    
    
• Bo Xiong, visiting graduate student from East China Normal University (2020 ~ 2021; CV)
  
  
• Alexandra Yost, M.S. Student (2017 ~ 2020) at San Diego State University
  • Thesis title: "Assessing effects of a PES program on species richness over time and space"
    
    
• Jeanne Patton, M.A. Student (2015 ~ 2020; co-advised with John O'Leary) at San Diego State University
  • Thesis title: "Seedling survivorship following post-fire reforestation in a mixed conifer forest in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Southern California"
    
    
• Dr. Haiyan Wang, Visiting Scholar from Beijing Forestry University, China (2017 ~ 2018; CV)
  
  
• Judy Mak, M.S. student (2016 ~ 2018) at San Diego State University
  • Thesis title: "Agent-Based Modeling of Rhinopithecus Brelichi Population and Movements in the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve"
    
    
• William Orihuela, M.S. Candidate (2014 ~ 2016; CV) at San Diego State University
  • Thesis title: "Spatiotemporal analysis of ambient air pollution in the greater Tokyo area"
    
    
• Shuang Yang, PhD Candidate (2011 ~ 2018) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Dr. Guangming He, Research consultant (2016 ~ 2017)
  
  
• Dr. Hsiang Ling Chen, Postdoctoral Fellow (2015 ~ 2017; joint appointment with Dr. Rebecca Lewison at SDSU Biology) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Dr. Xuan Tian, Visiting Scholar from Beijing Forestry University, China (2016 ~ 2017; CV)
  
  
• Mengen Lyu, Undergraduate Assistant (2014 ~ 2017) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Curtis Battle, M.S. Student (2012 ~ 2016) at San Diego State University
  • Thesis title: "Sex-specific habitat models for bengal tigers (panthera tigris) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal" Abstract
    
    
• Qingyun (Rick) Zhang, Research Assistant (2015 ~ 2016) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Evan Casey, Undergraduate Assistant (2014 ~ 2016) and technical assistant (2018 ~ 2020) at San Diego State University
  
  
• Yuejin Deng, Visiting Scholar from Wuhan University, China (2014 ~ 2015; CV)
  
  
• Kristin Meseck, M.S. Student (2011 ~ 2013) at San Diego State University
  • Thesis title: "Habitat distribution for non-native Amazona viridigenalis within San Diego County using Maxent predictive model" Abstract
    
    
• Ninghua Wang, PhD (2009 ~ 2013) at San Diego State University
  • Dissertation title: "Statistics for time-Series spatial data: Applying survival analysis to study land-use change" Abstract
    
    
• Jennifer Vaughan, M.S. Student (2008 ~ 2010) at San Diego State University
  • Thesis title: "Local geographies of the coastal cactus wren and the coastal California gnatcatcher on marine corps base camp Pendleton California" Abstract
    
    
• Sarah Wandersee, PhD (2008 ~ 2013; CV Blog) at San Diego State University
  • Dissertation title: "Land cover and land use change in human environmental systems: Understanding complex interactions among policy and management, livelihoods, and conservation" Abstract
    
    
• Alex Zvoleff, PhD (2008 ~ 2013; CV) at San Diego State University
  • Dissertation title: "Understanding the dynamics of changing land-use and land-cover, population, and climate in the Chitwan Valley, Nepal" Abstract

*** All collaborators Dr. An has worked with are listed under NSF PES project, NSF Nepal project, NASA Ghana project, NSF CDI project, NIH Ghana project, and NSF PIRE Project ***

*** All students Dr. An has mentored or served as committee member ***