# Alexander Shenkin

> forest ecologist and entrepreneur

**Wikidata**: [Q56423108](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56423108)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alexander-shenkin

## Summary
Alexander Shenkin is an ecologist and software engineer currently serving as an assistant research professor at Northern Arizona University. He is also the founder and CEO of the technology companies Selva Flux and Floe. His career bridges the gap between electrical engineering, computer programming, and forest ecology.

## Biography
- **Born:** Oakland
- **Education:**
    - Doctor of Philosophy (Ecology), University of Florida (2006–2013)
    - Master's degree (Environmental Science), Yale University (2004–2006)
    - Master's degree (Electrical Engineering), University of Colorado Boulder (1998–2000)
    - Bachelor's (Engineering Physics / Solid-state electronics), University of California, San Diego (1989–1994)
    - Studies at Lund University (1991–1992) and Stanford University (1995–1996)
    - Diploma, Berkeley High School (1985–1989)
- **Known for:** Integrating software engineering and electrical engineering principles into ecological research; founding Selva Flux and Floe.
- **Employer(s):**
    - Northern Arizona University (2021–Present)
    - University of Oxford (2013–2021)
    - Conservation International (2002–2005)
    - Lockheed Martin (1995–1998)
- **Field(s):** Ecology, Electrical Engineering, Computer Programming

## Contributions
Alexander Shenkin has contributed significantly to the field of ecology through a unique blend of technical engineering and scientific research. His doctoral work at the University of Florida resulted in a dissertation titled *"Fates of Trees and Forests in Bolivia Subjected to Selective Logging, Fire, and Climate Change,"* completed in 2013.

Beyond academia, Shenkin has applied his software and engineering background to the private sector. He founded **Selva Flux**, a company where he serves as CEO, and **Floe**, another venture where he acts as founder and CEO. These companies likely leverage his expertise in data analysis and environmental systems.

During his tenure as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute (2013–2021), he conducted research supervised by Yadvinder Malhi. Prior to his ecological career, he worked as an electrical engineer for Lockheed Martin (1995–1998) and as a programmer. He has also been affiliated with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as a fellow (2011–2014).

## FAQs

### Q: What is Alexander Shenkin's current academic position?
A: He is currently an assistant research professor at Northern Arizona University, a position he started in 2021. He also directs the ecosci.nau.edu website.

### Q: What companies has Alexander Shenkin founded?
A: Alexander Shenkin is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of **Selva Flux** and **Floe**.

### Q: What is Alexander Shenkin's educational background?
A: He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Florida, a Master's in Environmental Science from Yale University, and a Master's in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. He also studied engineering physics at UC San Diego.

### Q: What was Alexander Shenkin's role at the University of Oxford?
A: He was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute from 2013 to 2021.

## Why They Matter
Alexander Shenkin represents a growing intersection between hard engineering disciplines and environmental science. His transition from a solid-state electronics and electrical engineering background—which included work at Lockheed Martin—to a leading role in tropical ecology demonstrates the increasing necessity of technical computation in understanding climate change and forest dynamics.

His work matters because it applies rigorous software and electrical engineering methodologies to complex ecological problems. By founding companies like Selva Flux and Floe, he is actively building tools and platforms that likely facilitate better environmental monitoring or data processing. His research on the fates of trees in Bolivia contributes to the global understanding of how forests react to human interference and climate shifts. Shenkin's career trajectory highlights the impact of cross-disciplinary expertise in solving modern environmental challenges.

## Notable For
- **Founder & CEO:** Founded two companies, **Selva Flux** and **Floe**, serving as Chief Executive Officer for both.
- **Academic Leadership:** Serving as an Assistant Research Professor at Northern Arizona University and formerly as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford.
- **Smithsonian Fellow:** Awarded a fellowship at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (2011–2014).
- **Interdisciplinary Expertise:** Holding advanced degrees in both Electrical Engineering (MS) and Ecology (PhD), with professional experience as a programmer and electrical engineer.
- **Doctoral Research:** Authoring the dissertation *"Fates of Trees and Forests in Bolivia Subjected to Selective Logging, Fire, and Climate Change."*

## Body

### Education and Early Career
Alexander Shenkin laid a strong technical foundation early in his life. Born in Oakland, he graduated from Berkeley High School in 1989. He pursued Engineering Physics with a focus on solid-state electronics at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), completing his studies in 1994. During this period, he also studied at Lund University in 1991-1992. He furthered his technical education with a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder (1998–2000) and studied at Stanford University in 1995-1996.

His early professional career was rooted in engineering. He worked as an electrical engineer for **Lockheed Martin** from 1995 to 1998. Following this, he worked as a programmer from 1998 to 2004.

### Transition to Ecology
Shenkin shifted his focus toward environmental science in the early 2000s. He worked with **Conservation International** from 2002 to 2005. Concurrently, he pursued a Master's degree in Environmental Science at **Yale University**, graduating in 2006.

He then pursued a Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology at the **University of Florida**. His dissertation, *"Fates of Trees and Forests in Bolivia Subjected to Selective Logging, Fire, and Climate Change,"* was submitted in April 2013. His doctoral advisor was Francis E. Putz.

### Academic and Professional Affiliations
Following his PhD, Shenkin joined the **University of Oxford** as a postdoctoral researcher at the Environmental Change Institute, a role he held from 2013 to 2021 under the supervision of Yadvinder Malhi. During this time, he was also a fellow at the **Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute** (2011–2014).

In 2021, he joined **Northern Arizona University** as an assistant research professor. He is a member of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.

### Entrepreneurship and Projects
Shenkin is an active entrepreneur in the eco-tech space. He is the founder and CEO of **Selva Flux** and **Floe**. He maintains a personal website at `al.shenkin.org` and is active on social media platforms including Twitter (`@ashenkin`) and Mastodon (`@ashenkin@ecoevo.social`). He speaks English and Spanish.

## References

1. [Source](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2358-9367)
2. [Source](https://resources.environment.yale.edu/alumni/classes/2006/)
3. [Source](https://directory.nau.edu/person/afs263)
4. [Source](https://ecosci.nau.edu)
5. [ORCID Public Data File 2020](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0_rc1/0000-0003-2358-9367/external-identifiers/749357)
6. [ORCID Public Data File 2020](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0_rc1/0000-0003-2358-9367/external-identifiers/1677291)
7. [ORCID Public Data File 2020](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0_rc1/0000-0003-2358-9367/external-identifiers/1398692)
8. [Source](https://twitter.com/ashenkin)