Dr. Wilfried Thuiller stands as a preeminent figure in ecological modeling and biodiversity science, holding the distinguished position of Director of Research at the National Center for Scientific Research within the Alpine Ecology Laboratory at Université Grenoble Alpes. As Deputy Director of LECA, a joint research unit of CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, and Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, he oversees one of France's leading centers for mountain ecosystem research. His career has been dedicated to understanding the complex relationships between species distributions, environmental factors, and anthropogenic impacts across diverse landscapes. Dr. Thuiller's leadership extends to coordinating the Evolution, Modeling and Analysis of Biodiversity research group, where he has fostered interdisciplinary approaches to ecological challenges.
Dr. Thuiller's groundbreaking contributions to species distribution modeling have fundamentally transformed predictive ecology, with his methodological innovations enabling unprecedented accuracy in forecasting biodiversity responses to climate change. His seminal work on ensemble modeling approaches has generated tools now standard in conservation planning worldwide, with applications spanning protected area management, invasive species tracking, and climate adaptation strategies. With over 119,000 citations according to Google Scholar, his research output represents one of the most influential bodies of work in contemporary ecology. His development of spatially explicit models that integrate remote sensing data with field observations has provided critical insights into how alpine biodiversity is reshaping in response to global warming, offering concrete guidance for conservation practitioners.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Thuiller has been instrumental in establishing collaborative networks that bridge ecology, computer science, and conservation practice, most notably through the ORCHAMP project, which creates a spatio-temporal observatory of mountain biodiversity and socio-ecosystem functioning. His mentorship has cultivated a new generation of ecological modelers, many of whom now lead research groups across Europe and beyond. Currently spearheading initiatives that apply deep learning to biodiversity modeling, including convolutional neural networks for species distribution prediction, he continues to push the boundaries of ecological forecasting. As the recipient of prestigious honors including the CNRS Silver Medal and the Integrative Biology Medal from the French Academy of Sciences, Dr. Thuiller's work remains pivotal in addressing the urgent challenges of biodiversity conservation in an era of rapid environmental change.
