Vita
Dr. Jörg Albrecht
Data Scientist in Ecological Statistics and Modelling
Study systems: My research spans from individual organisms, populations, species, and communities to entire ecosystems, including plants and animals as well as associated ecosystem processes across diverse biomes.
Statistical & Computational techniques: I develop custom statistical models from first principles in various frameworks tailored to specific research needs. My toolbox includes diverse methods, such as Bayesian models, frequentist models, structural equation models for causal inference, process-based models for time series data, state-space models for imperfect detection, meta-analysis models, data imputation models, permutational null-models, missing data models & uncertainty propagation, machine learning models (e.g. gradient boosting, random forest, conditional inference trees, Bayesian stochastic variable selection), and deep learning models (e.g. convolutional neural networks for species identification in acoustic data); methods for dimensionality reduction (e.g. PCA, NMDS, RDA, CCA); network analysis.
Statistical training and support: I provide statistical support to researchers at SBiK-F and SF. Sessions are held on Thursdays by appointment via email. I can provide guidance on data analysis, including Bayesian, frequentist, and machine learning methods, as well as help with developing and streamlining analysis workflows.
Moreover, I offer statistical workshops for Senckenberg researchers on an annual basis. Topics include for example Bayesian hierarchical modelling, evidence synthesis and meta-analysis, machine learning methods, and scientific applications of large language models. Workshops also cover reproducible workflows, project setup, and version control using GitHub.
External links
Publikationen
Selected Publications
Hertel, A.G., Albrecht, J., Selva, N., Sergiel, A., Hobson, K. A., Janz, D. M., Mulch, A., Kindberg, J., Hansen, J. E., Frank, S. C., Zedrosser, A. & Mueller, T. (2024) Ontogeny shapes individual dietary specialization in female European brown bears (Ursus arctos). Nature Communications 15:10406. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54722-z
Albrecht, J., Wappler, T., Fritz, S. A. & Schleuning, M. (2023) Fossil leaves reveal drivers of herbivore functional diversity during the Cenozoic. PNAS 120:e2300514120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2300514120 (highlighted in Commentary Section of PNAS: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2311010120)
Junker, R. R.*, Albrecht, J.*, Becker, M., Keuth, R., Farwig, N. & Schleuning, M. (2023) Towards an animal economics spectrum for ecosystem research. Functional Ecology 37:57-72. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14051 (*Shared first authorship; Special Focus: Animal Functional Traits)
González-Varo, J. P., Albrecht, J., Arroyo, J. M., Silveira Bueno, R., Burgos, T., Escribano-Ávila, G., Farwig, N., García, D., Illera, J. C., Jordano, P., Kurek, P., Rösner, S., Virgós, E. & Sutherland, W. (2023) Frugivore-mediated seed dispersal in fragmented landscapes: compositional and functional turnover from forest to matrix. PNAS 120:e2302440120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2302440120
Albrecht, J.*, Peters, M. K.*, Becker, J. N., Behler, C., Classen, A., Ensslin, A., Ferger, S. W., Gebert, F., Gerschlauer, F., Helbig-Bonitz, M., Kindeketa, W. J., Kühnel, A., Mayr, A. V., Njovu, H. K., Pommer, U., Röder, J., Rutten, G., Schellenberger Costa, D., Sierra-Cornejo, N., Vogeler, A., Vollstädt, M. G. R., Dulle, H. I., Eardley, C. D., Howell, K. M., Keller, A., Peters, R. S., Kakengi, V., Hemp, C., Zhang, J., Manning, P., Mueller, T., Bogner, C., Kleyer, M., Leuschner, C., Kuzyakov, Y., Nauss, T., Tschapka, M., Fischer, M., Hemp, A., Steffan-Dewenter, I. & Schleuning, M. (2021) Species richness is more important than species turnover for ecosystem functioning along an elevational gradient. Nature Ecology & Evolution 5:1582-1593. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01550-9 (*Shared first authorship)
Albrecht, J., Classen, A., Vollstädt, M. G. R., Mayr, A., Mollel, N. P., Schellenberger Costa, D., Dulle, H. I., Fischer, M., Hemp, A., Howell, K., Kleyer, M., Nauss, T., Peters, M. K., Tschapka, M., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Böhning-Gaese, K. & Schleuning, M. (2018) Plant and animal functional diversity drive mutualistic network assembly across an elevational gradient. Nature Communications 9:3177. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05610-w (part of Focus collection related to Alexander von Humboldt Anniversary in Nature Ecology & Evolution)
Albrecht, J., Hagge, J., Schabo, D. G., Schaefer, H. M. & Farwig, N. (2018) Reward regulation in plant–frugivore networks requires only weak cues. Nature Communications 9:4838. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07362-z