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2025 Candidate Mario Muscarella

Mario Muscarella (CV)
Assistant Professor
University of Alaska Fairbanks

Candidate for: Member of the Governing Board

Mario Muscarella is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology and Wildlife and at the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where his research group investigates microbial communities in boreal and arctic ecosystems. Before joining UAF, Muscarella was a postdoctoral fellow in Aquatic Microbial Ecology at the Université du Québec à Montréal and a postdoctoral researcher in Theoretical Ecology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his PhD from the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior program at Indiana University. Previously, he was dual-enrolled in the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Biology PhD programs at Michigan State University (transferring to Indiana University in his third year of doctoral studies). Before his graduate work, Muscarella was a research technician at the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

Throughout his career, Muscarella has studied the ecology of microorganisms in various ecosystems, including coastal marine, lake, boreal, and Arctic environments. He has actively participated in the LTER program, working at three distinct sites: the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems, Kellogg Biological Station, and Bonanza Creek. At each location, he has engaged with a wide range of ecologists at all career stages to gain a deeper understanding of communities and ecosystems.

While early in his career, Muscarella has held numerous leadership roles. In addition to his roles in the ESA Microbial Ecology section, Muscarella serves on the leadership teams of the Institute of Arctic Biology and the Bonanza Creek LTER program. He also has past leadership experience in other professional societies and has organized conference symposia, as well as planned a regional ecology and evolution conference. More recently, Muscarella has recognized the importance of leadership skills and completed a yearlong leadership training program through the UAF Academic Leadership Institute.

What interests, experience or skills would you bring to this position?

Muscarella will bring practical experience and leadership to the ESA Governing Board. Although still early in his career, Muscarella has held numerous leadership roles and actively sought opportunities to strengthen his leadership skills. This includes several leadership positions at his university and within ESA. He has been an ESA member since 2012 and has participated in various ESA leadership activities. He served as the student liaison for the Microbial Ecology Section (2013-2015), as an officer for the Microbial Ecology Section (2018-2022), and currently serves as a Council Member representing the Microbial Ecology Section As a leader, Muscarella’s strengths are in the structural and human resources frames of leadership. He values the organization and its procedures, and he makes decisions based on rational, data-driven methods. He also recognizes the strengths that individuals bring to teams and organizational success, and he is committed to investing in individual growth and professional development. As an ESA governing board member, he will apply these leadership skills to fulfill his duties to the society and advocate for all members. Specifically, he will work with the governing board to support all ecologists and to promote the advancement of ecology within the society and the broader public.

How would you support ESA’s mission, including the career aspirations and full inclusion of all ecologists?

Throughout my career, I have recognized the value of professional societies, especially ESA. ESA journals have been the source of cutting-edge research and innovative ideas. As a graduate student, ESA was the main conference where I presented my research and networked with other scientists. I became involved in ESA activities through membership in various sections and later in section leadership. I firmly believe in the role of professional societies—they provide a scientific community for sharing ideas and networking, and they advocate for advancing science at all levels. This is what has motivated me to serve within ESA—not just to give back, but to expand these opportunities for everyone. If elected to the governing board, I will work with the board to fulfill the society’s mission and continue providing transformative experiences that engage all ecologists. I will work to support ecologists at every career stage, including actively engaging students and early-career ecologists from all backgrounds, not only during the annual meeting but throughout the year. I will support our diverse sections and the innovative ways that they are engaging with and expanding membership. I will work to ensure that ESA continues to provide opportunities for disseminating research and advocating for the science of ecology.