Members

Albert Kao
Assistant Professor & PI

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Google Scholar
ORCID: 0000-0001-8232-8365
email: albert.kao@umb.edu
twitter: albert_kao

Fritz Francisco
Postdoctoral Researcher

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ORCID: 0000-0002-8258-2221
github: fritzfrancisco
website: fritzfrancisco.thekaolab.com

Fritz has always been drawn towards water and anything that may inhabit these intricate ecosystems. However, bridging across all natural systems are the complex interactions and mechanisms governing a single organism, groups of animals, or even our own societies. His goal is to shed light on these underlying rules in order to add to a more holistic view on the world and what surrounds us. The goal should be to uncover manipulative and maladaptive characteristics in our own behavior in order to work towards a reflected and better way we interact with our own environment as a people.

Shoubhik Banerjee
PhD student (Integrative Biosciences program)

Shoubhik is interested in exploring leadership in animal groups and identifying situations that determine when group members choose to follow a group leader or not. He believes that this is crucial in understanding the workings of several socio-political systems and also in making better choices in our own lives. To answer these questions, Shoubhik uses mathematical models, behavioral experiments, and spatio-temporal data. In addition to his scientific interests, he loves reading fantasy novels and playing the piano.

Joseph Bednarik
Masters student

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Joseph is an aspiring marine ecologist who is enthralled and passionate towards all subfields that fall within that category. His current work focuses on behavioral ecology and the interplay between environmental contaminants and collective behavior.

Lab Alumni

Tony Thang
Undergraduate Researcher (UMass Boston '24, biology)

Tony is interested in biology, particularly in animal behavior and aquatics. He loves science that is tangible; things that he can see and interact with. He hopes to achieve a deeper understanding of the world around us through science and behavior. Outside of biological interests, he enjoys rock climbing and discovering new board games.

Juliette Kirker
Undergraduate Researcher (UMass Boston '26, biology)

Alieza Inam
Undergraduate Researcher (UMass Boston '24, biology)

Alieza is a senior biology student at UMass Boston with an interest in human psychology and its impact on group decision-making. Alieza aspires to attend PA school after graduation, combining her love for biology with a desire to make a meaningful impact in patient care. Outside of her studies, Alieza enjoys photography, capturing beauty that is often overlooked. She also finds joy in the art of balloon animal-making and grass-whistling, bringing smiles to others with her whimsical creations.

Benno Rodemann
Research Fellow (UMass Boston '23, biology)

Benno is an alumnus of UMass Boston and is interested in animal behavior with experience working with birds and Entomophthora. He is particularly interested in the communication and social lives of animals as well as the systems used to track animal behavior.

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