Demetra Kandalepas
Summary
Interdisciplinary researcher and educator with expertise in plant and fungal ecology, herbarium curation, and science communication. While some candidates may focus primarily on molecular biology, I bring a broader perspective that integrates collections-based research, public engagement, and curatorial leadership to advance institutional impact.
I am a public-facing scientist with a proven record of curating biodiversity, mentoring emerging scientists, and engaging global audiences through innovative outreach programs. By illuminating the hidden ecological networks of plants and fungi, my research advances our understanding of biodiversity while directly supporting the ROM’s mission to understand the past and interpret the present. This work inspires a collective future grounded in scientific curiosity and cultural connection. I bring expertise in collections revitalization, public outreach, applied field research, and nearly a decade of experience managing both vascular and mycological herbaria.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Instructor of Biological Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2016 - Current
- Graduate faculty member since 2018
- Undergraduate and graduate research advisor
- Curator of the Glen Montz Vascular Plant Herbarium, Southeastern Louisiana University
- Founding Curator of the Mycological Herbarium, Southeastern Louisiana University
- Developed and currently teach a wide range of courses, including Introduction to Botany, Plant Ecology, Arboriculture, Organic Gardening, and Mycology.
- Developed engaging curriculum aligned with academic standards to enhance student learning outcomes.
- Facilitated interactive discussions to foster critical thinking and collaboration among students.
- Mentored junior instructors, guiding teaching methodologies and classroom management.
- Mentored junior instructors, guiding teaching methodologies and classroom management.
- Mentored junior instructors, providing guidance on teaching methodologies and classroom management.
- Implemented innovative assessment strategies to measure student performance and improve instructional techniques.
- Collaborated with faculty to integrate technology into lesson plans for enhanced educational experiences.
- Evaluated student progress through formative assessments, adjusting instruction as needed for optimal learning.
- Organized departmental workshops focused on pedagogical best practices and professional development opportunities.
- Led initiatives aimed at increasing student engagement and retention in academic programs through targeted support services.
- Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and maintaining consistent classroom management techniques.
- Initiated new learning methods, eliminating instructional gaps and improving comprehension.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Tulane University
05.2013 - 11.2014
- Investigated shifts in microbiome communities in coastal plants following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
- Through this research, I demonstrated that pollution—specifically crude oil contamination—profoundly alters fungal and bacterial endophyte communities in both leaves and roots.
- Provided training in field collections, molecular and statistical techniques, as well as in experimental design, wetland ecology, and fungal endophyte research to undergraduate and graduate students in the Van Bael lab.
- Contributed to NSF grant development and experimental design.
Intern, Water Enforcement
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
01.2001 - 01.2002
- Supported U.S. Army Corps of Engineers enforcement of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act by evaluating permits, preparing enforcement letters, and ensuring restoration compliance for unlawful wetland alterations.
- Advised on revisions to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, offering evidence-based recommendations to guide federal wetland conservation and protection efforts.
Wetland Specialist
Ministry of Natural Resources
01.1999 - 12.1999
- Conducted field surveys and wetland delineations to inform habitat management, contributing findings and recommendations to provincial government reports supporting wetland conservation and regulatory enforcement.
Research Mentor
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2019 - Current
- Mentor several underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students in research projects, providing guidance in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication.
- Support students through the full research process from hypothesis development to conference presentations and manuscript preparation.
Curator, Glen Montz Vascular Plant Herbarium
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2016 - Current
- Rescued and revitalized a 16,000-specimen vascular plant collection slated for decommission, successfully advocated for its historical, educational, and scientific value to university leadership.
- Directed the complete reorganization of the haphazardly stored collection, supervising a student volunteer to restore taxonomic order and research viability.
Founder & Curator, Mycological Herbarium
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2016 - Current
- Founded and established the university’s first mycological herbarium to support a new mycology curriculum and preserve overlooked regional biodiversity, growing the collection to 300+ specimens within nine months.
- Demonstrated exceptional resourcefulness by building the collection with no dedicated funding, securing donated cabinets, and sourcing equipment from departmental resources.
Education
Ph.D. - Biological Sciences
Louisiana State University
01.2012
M.S. - Biological Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2004
B.Sc. - Honours Botany; Minor in Environmental Biology
University of Toronto
01.2001
Skills
- Collections Management
- Digitization & Databases
- Scientific Communication
- Grant Writing & Fundraising
- Research Expertise
- Statistical Analysis
Timeline
Research Mentor
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2019 - Current
Instructor of Biological Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2016 - Current
Curator, Glen Montz Vascular Plant Herbarium
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2016 - Current
Founder & Curator, Mycological Herbarium
Southeastern Louisiana University
01.2016 - Current
Postdoctoral Fellow
Tulane University
05.2013 - 11.2014
Intern, Water Enforcement
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
01.2001 - 01.2002
Wetland Specialist
Ministry of Natural Resources
01.1999 - 12.1999
Ph.D. - Biological Sciences
Louisiana State University
M.S. - Biological Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University
B.Sc. - Honours Botany; Minor in Environmental Biology
University of Toronto
Mentorship And Student Leadership
Southeastern Louisiana University, 2019-01-01, present, Mentor several underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students in research projects, providing guidance in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication., Support students through the full research process from hypothesis development to conference presentations and manuscript preparation., Academic Advisor, Horticultural Club, Southeastern Louisiana University, Present, Serve as faculty advisor for student-led Horticultural Club, fostering student leadership and engagement with plant sciences., Guide club activities and initiatives that connect students with practical applications of botanical knowledge.
Herbarium Curatorial And Collections Leadership
- Curator, Glen Montz Vascular Plant Herbarium, Southeastern Louisiana University, 2016-01-01, present, Rescued and revitalized a 16,000-specimen vascular plant collection slated for decommission, successfully advocated for its historical, educational, and scientific value to university leadership., Directed the complete reorganization of the haphazardly stored collection, supervising a student volunteer to restore taxonomic order and research viability.
- Founder & Curator, Mycological Herbarium, Southeastern Louisiana University, 2016-01-01, present, Founded and established the university’s first mycological herbarium to support a new mycology curriculum and preserve overlooked regional biodiversity, growing the collection to 300+ specimens within nine months., Demonstrated exceptional resourcefulness by building the collection with no dedicated funding, securing donated cabinets, and sourcing equipment from departmental resources.
Public Engagement And Outreach
- TEDx Speaker, Fungi Matter, This talk explored the role of fungal endophytes in ecosystem health.
- National Geographic Expert, Featured as the on-screen endophyte expert on the series 'Atlas of Cursed Places' in the episode 'Cypress Save the World.'
- Community Science Communicator, Invited speaker at popular local outreach events, such as 'Science on Tap,' where I delivered the talk 'Hidden Fungi – Plants’ Secret to Success.'
Professional Services And Scientific Leadership
- Ecological Society of America Oral Session Co-Organizer, 2021, Plant-microbe interaction in wetland ecosystems.
- Guest Editor, Forests, Biodiversity and Ecology of Forest Ecosystems: A Multitrophic Perspective.
- Associate Editor, The Maple Society of North America
Research Interests
- Plant–fungal interactions and the hidden biodiversity of endophytes
- Uncovering hidden microbial extinction through herbarium endophyte analysis
- Herbarium-based microbiome research using preserved plant specimens
- Biodiversity shifts and microbial indicators of climate and environmental stress
- Ethnobotany and the microbial dimensions of medicinal and toxic plants
- Conservation applications of endophyte-assisted plant resilience
- Assisted migration and sustainable paludiculture for wetland restoration
- Expanding the scientific and public impact of museum collections
Innovations And Applied Research
- Co-Founder, Wetland Resources, LLC, New Orleans, LA, Co-founded an organization that integrates applied research with large-scale swamp restoration.
- Co-Inventor, U.S. Patent 10,820,534 B2, Co-invented and patented a specialized planting system that increases tree planting efficiency.
Selected Skills
- Collections Management
- Digitization & Databases
- Scientific Communication
- Grant Writing & Fundraising
- Research Expertise
- Statistical Analysis
Invited Talks And Lectures
- 2005, Society of Wetland Scientists Meeting, Providence, RI, The role of Endophytic Fungi as Early Ecological Indicators.
- 2025, Garden Club of Madisonville, Madisonville, LA, The Forgotten Kingdom.
- 2012, Southeastern Louisiana University Seminar Series, Effects of coastal dynamics on colonization of Louisiana wetland plants by fungal endophytes.
- 2006-2011, Louisiana State University, Guest Lecturer for various courses: Hurricane Ecology, Conservation Biology, Geology.
- 2008, Louisiana State University, Tri-Beta Society, Guest Speaker.
Conference Presentations
- Lindy J. Muse, Kenzie Pereira, Sarah Woodley, Clifford Fontenot, Brian Crother, Demetra Kandalepas., 2021, Chytrid fungus growth inhibition by skin mucus peptides in the aquatic salamanders Siren intermedia, Necturus beyeri, and N. maculosus., Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (SEPARC) meeting.
- Lindy J. Muse, Kenzie Pereira, Sarah Woodley, Clifford Fontenot, Brian Crother, Demetra Kandalepas., 2020, Chytrid growth inhibition in two fully aquatic salamanders., SEPARC meeting.
- David A. White, Demetra Kandalepas., 2018, Understanding plant community dynamics of the delta cycle in the Balize birdfoot Delta, Louisiana, USA: A near 3-decade study., ESA Annual Meeting.
- Stephen K. Formel, Kimberly L. Mighell, Demetra Kandalepas, Elizabeth Jarrell, Brittany M. Bernik, Vijaikrishnah Elango, John H. Pardue, Michael J. Blum, Sunshine A. Van Bael., 2018, Spatial and temporal comparisons of salt marsh soil microbial communities in recovery after oil exposure., ESA Annual Meeting.
- Sunshine A. Van Bael, Demetra Kandalepas, Candice Lumibao, Stephen K. Formel., 2017, Shifts in grass endophyte communities due to petroleum pollution of the past, present, and future., ESA Annual Meeting.
- Demetra Kandalepas, M. J. Blum, S. A. Van Bael., 2015, Shifts in symbiotic endophyte communities of coastal grasses following crude oil exposure from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill., ESA Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Demetra Kandalepas, M. J. Blum, S. A. Van Bael., 2014, Bacterial and fungal endophyte response to crude oil exposure., ESA Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA.
- Demetra Kandalepas, M. J. Blum, S. A. Van Bael., 2014, Important symbionts of Spartina alterniflora are sensitive to restoration status., Conference on Ecological and Ecosystem Restoration, New Orleans, LA.
- Demetra Kandalepas, M. J. Blum, S. A. Van Bael, J. H. Pardue., 2014, Fungal Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: What can fungi tell us about our environment?, Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference, Mobile, AL.
- Demetra Kandalepas, A. E. Arnold, G. P. Shaffer, and W. J. Platt., 2012, Hurricane effects of cryptic fungi in wetland plants., Ecological Society of America, Portland, OR.
- Demetra Kandalepas, A. E. Arnold, G. P. Shaffer, and W. J. Platt., 2010, Cryptic fungi in coastal plants respond to sea-level rise and storms., Society of Wetland Scientists, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Demetra Kandalepas, A. E. Arnold, G. P. Shaffer, and W. J. Platt., 2009, Mycophylla communities are influenced by the interaction between plant host and environmental conditions., Botanical Society of America/Mycological Society of America joint meeting, Snowbird, Utah.
- Demetra Kandalepas, A. E. Arnold, G. P. Shaffer, and W. J. Platt., 2008, Coastal Processes May Affect Endophytic Fungal Diversity Within Coastal Wetland Plants., Ecological Society of America, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Demetra Kandalepas, K. J. Stevens, G. P. Shaffer, and W. J. Platt., 2008, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Dark Septate Endophytes in vegetation of a degrading Louisiana Marsh., Society of Wetland Scientists, Washington, D.C.
- Demetra Kandalepas and W. J. Platt., 2007, Seed Bank Plants May Require Mycorrhizas to Germinate After Severe Damage by Hurricanes., Natural Areas Association. Cleveland, Ohio (First Place: Best Student Presentation).
- Demetra Kandalepas and W. J. Platt., 2006, Mycorrhizal Fungi may help some marsh plant species re-establish after hurricanes., Ecological Society of America, Memphis Tennessee.
Awards
- Ton Damman Award, Ecological Society of America, 2012, Awarded for best graduate student oral presentation in vegetation science at the ESA Annual Meeting.
- Education Award, Louisiana Office of Environmental Education, 2007-2009, $4000
- Student Travel Award, Fungal Environmental Sampling and Informatics Network (FESIN), 2008, $975
- Carry Lynn Yoder Memorial Fellowship, 2008 & 2009, $8000
- Teaching Award, Daisy B. & William J. Luke Award, 2008, $400
- Best Student Presentation Award, Natural Areas Association, 2007, $200
- Travel Award, Society of Wetland Scientists, 2007, $1000
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Fellowship, LSU Scope on a Rope Program, 2006, 2007, and 2011, $25,000 per year
- LSU Biograds Award, 2004-2008, $1500
Publications
- Shaffer, Gary P; Parker, Taylor; Kandalepas, Demetra; Stevens, Nicholas., 2025, Restoration of Impounded Forests of Coastal Louisiana Using Spoil Bank Gapping., Forests, 16, 1, 99
- Formel, Stephen K; Mighell, Kimberly L; Kandalepas, Demetra; Jarrell, Elizabeth; Bernik, Brittany M; Elango, Vijaikrishnah; Pardue, John H; Blum, Michael J; Van Bael, Sunshine A., 2022, Spatial and temporal comparisons of salt marsh soil fungal communities following the Deepwater Horizon spill., Wetlands Ecology and Management, 30, 2, 239-256
- Shaffer, GP; Kandalepas, D; Stevens, N; Crockett, T; Curole, G., 2021, Hydrologic Restoration of the Lac des Allemands Swamp, Barataria, Louisiana., Forests, 12, 1074
- Day, John W; Conner, William H; DeLaune, Ronald D; Hopkinson, Charles S; Hunter, Rachael G; Shaffer, Gary P; Kandalepas, Demetra; Keim, Richard F; Kemp, G Paul; Lane, Robert R., 2021, A review of 50 years of study of hydrology, wetland dynamics, aquatic metabolism, water quality and trophic status, and nutrient biogeochemistry in the Barataria Basin, Mississippi Delta., Water, 13, 5, 642
- Lumibao, Candice Y; Bernik, Brittany M; Formel, Stephen K; Kandalepas, Demetra; Mighell, Kimberly L; Pardue, John; Van Bael, Sunshine A; Blum, Michael J., 2020, Rhizosphere microbial communities reflect genotypic and trait variation in a salt marsh ecosystem engineer., American Journal of Botany, 107, 6, 941-949
- Janowsky, Jennifer; Kimbrough, Elizabeth; Kandalepas, Demetra; Shaffer, Gary; Formel, Stephen K; Van Bael, Sunshine A., 2019, Bacterial and fungal endophyte communities differ in trees of natural versus wastewater-treatment wetlands., Wetlands Ecology and Management, 27, 5, 711-723
- Shaffer, Gary P; Day, John W; Kandalepas, Demetra; Wood, William B; Hunter, Rachael G; Lane, Robert R; Hillmann, Eva R., 2016, Decline of the Maurepas Swamp, Pontchartrain Basin, Louisiana, and approaches to restoration., Water, 8, 3, 101
- Hunter, Rachael G; Day, John W; Shaffer, Gary P; Lane, Robert R; Englande, Andrew J; Reimers, Robert; Kandalepas, Demetra; Wood, William B; Day, Jason N; Hillmann, Eva., 2016, Restoration and management of a degraded baldcypress swamp and freshwater marsh in Coastal Louisiana., Water, 8, 3, 71
- Kandalepas, Demetra; Blum, Michael J; Van Bael, Sunshine A., 2015, Shifts in symbiotic endophyte communities of a foundational salt marsh grass following oil exposure from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill., PloS one, 10, 4, e0122378
- Shaffer, Gary P; Day, John W; Hunter, Rachael G; Lane, Robert R; Lundberg, Christopher J; Wood, W Bernard; Hillmann, Eva R; Day, Jason N; Strickland, Eric; Kandalepas, Demetra., 2015, System response, nutria herbivory, and vegetation recovery of a wetland receiving secondarily-treated effluent in coastal Louisiana., Ecological Engineering, 79, 120-131
- Kandalepas, Demetra; Stevens, Kevin J; Shaffer, Gary P; Platt, William J., 2010, How abundant are root-colonizing fungi in Southeastern Louisiana’s degraded marshes?, Wetlands, 30, 2, 189-199
- Shaffer, Gary P; Wood, William B; Hoeppner, Susanne S; Perkins, Thais E; Zoller, Jason; Kandalepas, Demetra., 2009, Degradation of baldcypress–water tupelo swamp to marsh and open water in southeastern Louisiana, USA: an irreversible trajectory?., Journal of Coastal Research, (10054), 152-165
- Menzel, Timothy O; Keddy, Paul A; Kandalepas, Demetra; Campbell, Daniel., 2006, Grasshopper communities in relation to plant species and habitat type within the West Lake Pontchartrain Basin., Proc. Louisiana Acad. Sci, 68