Degrees

• B.A., University of Chicago, Biology, 1996
• Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Animal Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2003

Academic Experience

• Assistant Professor, Tulane University, 2012-
• Adjunct Faculty, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 2010
• Associate Scientist, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 2009

Distinctions

• National Science Foundation, “Research Experience for Undergraduates Supplement” S. Van Bael, 2012
• Arizona State University – Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) Collaborative Research “Drivers of Microbial Community Structure and Function in Tropical Soils” F. Garcia-Pichel, E.Herre, B. Turner, S. Van Bael, 2011
• Smithsonian Restricted Endowment Program, “Mechanisms of fungal-mediated protection in tropical plants” S. Van Bael, C. Estrada, W. Wcislo, 2011
• National Science Foundation (NSF), “Conflicts among members of interacting symbioses: How do symbiotic fungi influence plant defense against leaf-cutting ants?” S. Van Bael, W. Wcislo, S. Rehner, 2010
• Panama’s Secretary of Science and Technology, “National Investigator,” S. Van Bael, 2010

Languages

• Spanish

Overseas Experience

• Australia
• Thailand
• Papua New Guinea
• Brazil
• Peru
• Costa Rica
• South Africa

Related Experience

• The Burk-Kleinpeter Inc. Professor in Science and Engineering, Tulane University, 2016
• Research Associate, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 2015
• Professor, Field Courses, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 2004-2012

Selected Publications

• 2017. “Fungal diversity in galls of baldcypress trees.” With Washburn, G. Fungal Ecology 29: 85-89.
• 2016. “Selective elimination of microfungi in leaf-cutting ant gardens.” With Mighell, K. Fungal Ecology 24:15-20.
• 2016. “Red coloration in young tropical leaves associated with reduced fungal pathogen damage.” With Tellez, P. H. Biotropica, 48(2)150-153.
• 2015. “An endophyte-rich diet increases ant predation on a specialist herbivorous insect.” With Hammer, T. J. Ecological Entomology, 40: 316-321.
• 2013. “Bird communities in forested and human modified landscapes of Central Panama: a baseline survey for a native species reforestation treatment.” With R. Zambrano and J. E. Hall. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Mana

Recently-Taught Latin American-Related Courses: 

• EBIO-6110: Tropical Ecology