Curriculum vitae

I use statistics and modelling to understand biological systems and the main processes that shape them. In particular, I am interested in predicting how behaviour, ecological interaction, phenology, etc. respond to changing environments. I work on various biological systems to answer questions in disciplines such as biological control, ecology, conservation, animal welfare, and psychology.
 

CURRENT POSITIONS

Coordinator, Lecturer, Consultant in Statistics at Graduate School HIGRADE, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ (Leipzig, Germany).

  • Course coordination
  • Course building and teaching
  • Statistics consultancy for researchers

RESEARCH SKILLS

Designing and conducting studies

  • Designing studies with large datasets
  • Designing and conducting experimental studies
  • Behavioural observation using videos or live observations

Analyzing data using statistics

  • Analyzing spatio-temporal data
  • Modeling hazard or survival in time series data
  • Model selection and model averaging using information criteria (AIC, BIC, QIC, etc.)
  • Analyzing structured data using various statistical models (e.g. GEE, GLMM, GAMM, phylogenetic GLS)
  • Classification using cluster analysis, ordination, and trees
  • Implementing robust statistics using bootstrapping and other resampling methods
  • Implementing Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian models
  • Using and teaching statistical software: R, SAS, SPSS, and JMP

Programming

  • Building models of networks, population dynamics, food webs, and evolution based on first principles and biological processes
  • Mining text, automated data extraction and manipulation
  • Programming languages: proficient with R (>10 years of experience), experience with Visual Basic, learning Python and C++

 

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Post-doctoral fellow
Behavioral Ecology and Evolution Research Group & Pest Management, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, Canada).
Projects:
‘Ecosystem responses to perturbations at multiple spatial scales’,
‘Long-term efficacy of sterile male releases for the control of codling moths’.

Ph.D. Entomology
Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Thesis: On handling costs and host choice in aphid-parasitoids: from individual behavior to evolutionary patterns (2004-2010). [pdf]

M.Sc. Biology
Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. Thesis: An empirical investigation of risk-sensitivity in foraging flocks of Nutmeg mannikins (Lonchura punctulata) (1998-2001). [pdf]

B.Sc. Ecology
Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1994-1997).
 
 

PREVIOUS RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • Biostatistician at Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology,
    University of St Andrews (St Andrews, UK).
  • Statistical Consultant at Meaningful Statistics (stats.mickwu.com).
  • Sessional lecturer in biostatistics, Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada (2012).
  • Research assistant in the Entomology lab, (G. Boivin), Horticultural Research and Development Center (HRDC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada (2009).
  • Teaching assistant for Statistical Methods I (P Dutilleul and B Pelletier), Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (2004-2006).
  • Research assistant in the Behavioral Ecology lab, LA Giraldeau, Department of Biology, UQAM, Montreal, Canada (2003-2004).
  • Laboratory technician in the Behavioral Ecology lab (LA Giraldeau), Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1999-2000).
  • Teaching assistant for Behavioral Ecology, Population Ecology, Introduction to Biostatistics, Organismal Biology (LA Giraldeau, E Maly, M Maly, J Grant). Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1998-2001).
  • Referee for scientific journals: Behav Ecol, Behav Process, Biol Control, Biol J Linn Soc, Environ Entomol, Evol Ecol, Insect Sci, J Insect Behav, Physiol Entomol.

 

REPORTS

  • C Sparling, D Gillespie, G Hastie, J Gordon, J Macaulay, C Malinka, GM Wu and B McConnell (2016). Scottish Government Demonstration Strategy: Trialling Methods for Tracking the Fine Scale Underwater Movements of Marine Mammals in Areas of Marine Renewable Energy Development. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science [Report] 7(14) [link]
  • B McConnell and GM Wu (2015). Harbour seal haulout transition rates in and around the Sound of Islay. Sea Mammal Research Unit, Report to Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Government.

 

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

  • MMH Roos, GM Wu, PJO Miller (2016). The significance of respiration timing in the energetics estimates of free-ranging killer whales (Orcinus orca). Journal of Experimental Biology. 219:2066-2077. [link]
  • A Stansbury, M de Freitas , GM Wu and VM Janik (2015), Can a seal generalize call signal classes? Journal of Comparative Psychology. 129(4):412-420. [link]
  • J Moran-Ferron, GM Wu, and LA Giraldeau (2011). Persistent individual differences in tactic use in a producer-scrounger game are group-dependent. Animal Behaviour, 82:811-816. [link]
  • GM Wu, M Barrette, G Boivin, J Brodeur, LA Giraldeau, T Hance (2011). Temperature affects handling efficiency of an aphid parasitoid through body size-mediated effects. Environmental Entomology, 40, 737-742. [link]
  • GM Wu, G Boivin, J Brodeur, LA Giraldeau, Y Outreman (2010). Altruistic defense behaviors in aphids. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10:19. [pdf]
  • M Barrette, GM Wu, J Brodeur, LA Giraldeau and G Boivin (2009) Testing competing measures of profitability for mobile resources. Oecologia, 158, 757-764. [link]
  • GM Wu and LA Giraldeau (2005) Risky decisions: a test of risk sensitivity in socially foraging flocks of Lonchura punctulata. Behavioral Ecology, 16, 8-14. [link]

 

SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • GM Wu. Estimating sex-specific pup survival. NERC Special Committee on Seals, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK (2015).
  • GM Wu. The grass is always a different shade of green on the other side of the fence (a call for multidisciplinary science). Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK (2013).
  • GM Wu. Modelling the behaviour of creepy crawlies in higher levels of organisation. Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK (2013).
  • GM Wu, B Roitberg, G Judd. Not tonight honey, I need to diapause: Frequency-dependent evolution of diapause propensity in codling moths. Evolution, Ottawa, Canada (2012).
  • B Roitberg, GM Wu, A Chubaty, M Wogin, J Bannerman and E Jeffery. Models in ecology and evolution: Diverging problems, intersecting approaches. IRMACS Day, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada (2011).
  • GM Wu, D Gillespie, B Roitberg. Communities in crisis – effects of disturbance and perturbation on community structure and function. Insect Community Ecology Symposium, Entomological Society of Canada (ESC), Vancouver, Canada (2010).
  • GM Wu. The price of a meal and host choice in parasitoids: does it scale up to the community? Les Ecologistes, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada (2010).
  • GM Wu, J Brodeur, LA Giraldeau, G Boivin, and Y Outreman. Les defenses des pucerons : pour soi ou pour ses clones? Institut de Recherche en Biologie Vegetale, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Canada (2009).
  • GM Wu, J Brodeur, LA Giraldeau, G Boivin, and Y Outreman. Is resistance futile? Role of aphid cornicle secretions against parasitoids. ESC, Ottawa, Canada (2008).
  • GM Wu, J Brodeur, LA Giraldeau, and G Boivin. Effects of relative body size on the cost of parasitism and species associations in Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae). European Workshop on Insect Parasitoids X, Erice, Sicily (2007).
  • GM Wu, J Brodeur, LA Giraldeau, and G Boivin. The evolutionary relationship between relative body size and parasitism cost of aphid parasitoids. Ecology of Aphididophaga 10, Athens, Greece (2007).
  • M Barrette, GM Wu, LA Giraldeau, J Brodeur, and G Boivin. The challenge of estimating fitness: the case of an aphid parasitoid, Aphidius colemani. Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution, Toronto, Canada (2006).
  • GM Wu, M Barrette, G Boivin and T Hance. S’en prendre aux plus petits: L’effet de la taille du parasitoïde Aphidius colemani et du puceron Myzus persicae sur l’efficacite des defenses de ce dernier. Societe d’Entomologie du Quebec, Orford, Canada (2005). (Awarded best student presentation)
  • GM Wu and LA Giraldeau. La strategie d’approvisionnement des Damiers communs s’approvisionnant en groupe est-t-elle sensible au risque? Societe d’Etude Biologique du Comportement, Trois-Riviere, Canada (2001).
  • GM Wu and LA Giraldeau. L’effet de l’heure du jour et des reserves de nourriture sur la strategie d’approvisionnement social chez un oiseau granivore. Association Francophone d’Ethologie, d’Ecologie et d’Evolution, Renne, France (1999).

 

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

  • Introduction to Bayesian Statistics and MCMC. Highland Statistics, Southampton, UK (2015).
  • Instructional Skills Workshop. Teaching and Learning Centre, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada (2012).
  • Statistics and ecological modelling in R workshop “R.4.All”. Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (2009).
  • Behavioural ecology workshop « Decision making under uncertainty ». Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Comportementale et Animale (GRECA), Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM), Montreal, Canada (2008).
  • Effective teaching workshop. Teaching and Learning Services, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (2008).
  • Behavioural ecology workshop “Fitness: What Index for what goal?” GRECA, UQAM, Montreal, Canada (2006).
  • Biological control internship (observing and rearing parasitoids and aphids). Laboratory of Ecology of Interactions and Biological Control (T Hance), Unit of Ecology and Biogeography, Universite catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium (2005).
  • Teaching science workshop. Tomlinson Graduate Teaching Resources, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (2005).

 

OTHER SKILLS AND INTERESTS

  • Languages: fluent in English and French (English-French translations for the Entomological Society of Canada since 2006), basic German, basic Spanish.
  • Computer literacy: R, SPSS, Visual Basic, Noldus The Observer, EndNote, Procite, LATEX, MS Office, Blackboard Connect, MS Windows, OSX.
  • Mentoring in science: providing scientific consultation for elementary school teachers; animating classrooms and science fairs (Eclairs de Sciences, Montreal, 2006-2009).
  • Conference organization: poster judging, logistics, registration, finding sponsors (AAAS 2012, SEQ 2009, GRECA 2006, ESA 2005, Biocontrol Network of Canada 2005, and SQEBC 1999).
  • Environmental stewardship: reducing energy consumption and establishing composting at the HRDC, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Environment Committee, 2008-2009).