Rodney Dyer - rodneydyer

rodneydyer

Rodney Dyer

EcoConnect

By combining structured reflection with relevant quantitative data collection, EcoConnect seeks to increase learning and accomplishment in and outside the classroom.

Sometimes, the Universe tells you it is quitting time.

Sometimes, the Universe tells you it is quitting time.

It's Friday afternoon; apparently, we've only paid for the 925TB storage option. It's time to go home.

Why I’m Closing My Research Laboratory

Why I’m Closing My Research Laboratory

After 20 years, I've decided that the economics of modern academic life no longer support maintaining a large genetics laboratory. Here are my thoughts on this and perspectives for the next stage of my career.

The Linguistic Covariance Space of Undergraduate STEM Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University

Intentional Curriculum Design

The Linguistic Covariance Space of Undergraduate STEM Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University

Conditional covariance is a statistical concept that describes the extent to which two variables change together, given the presence of a third variable. Here, I extend this approach to define the covariance structure among STEM curricula at VCU.

RStudio to Ulysses to Ghost

RStudio to Ulysses to Ghost

In much of my work, I use the R statistical programming language and the RStudio IDE to create quantitative aspects of my content. R is a great platform, and the lingua Franca is used for collaborative analyses in biological and ecological studies. It is also an excellent platform for creating

Decorative image of a microphone as would be used in a podcast.

Artificial Intelligence

An AI-Derived Podcast of The Environmental Studies Academic Program Review

Here is an AI-derived conversational podcast based on the Academic Program Review conducted by the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

A digital second brain

Personal Knowledge Management: Building Your AI-Supported Second Brain.

I am offering a course on building an AI-Supported Second Brain in Spring 2025. Here is the current working syllabus.

Frequency-Dependent Linguistic Embedding of Course Descriptions

Intentional Curriculum Design

Frequency-Dependent Linguistic Embedding of Course Descriptions

Mapping textual input into quantitative spaces facilitates statistical analyses supporting decision analytics. Here, university course descriptions are mapped onto numerical spaces and used to define the landscape of academic offerings.

Linguistic Taxonomies of STEM Programs: Parsing Course Descriptions

Intentional Curriculum Design

Linguistic Taxonomies of STEM Programs: Parsing Course Descriptions

This post is a data component of the work going into the Intentional Curriculum Design: A Data-Centric Approach for STEM Curricula. This contributes to the section defining The Curricular Landscape, where I define undergraduate STEM programs at VCU and from across the Commonwealth of Virginia, using a quantitative linguistic approach

Photo of a student in a raft going through some rapids.

Intentional Curriculum Design

Intentional Curriculum Design: A Data-Centric Approach for STEM Curricula

From 2015-2025, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of serving as Director of the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. During this time, the faculty and I conducted a complete revision of the undergraduate and graduate curricula. These changes resulted in: * A marked increasing the quality,

A picture of Backflow.Studio user interface on MacOS.

Backflow.Studio

An app to assist in developing course content using Backward Design principles. The audience for this is the instructor/teacher/professor who wishes to incorporate the following into their curriculum development: * Learning Objective focused. * Visual Mapping of Assessments & Assets onto Learning Objectives and Outcomes. * Automatic syllabus creation. Design Philosophy

Tripartite mapping of assessments, objectives, and outcomes.

Intentional Curriculum Design

Backwards Design

Backward design is an approach to curriculum development that starts with the end in mind. It identifies the desired learning outcomes and then works backward to develop the curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods. 1. Identify Desired Learning Outcomes: The first step in backward design involves clearly defining the knowledge and

Module learning objectives and assessment tool mappings.

Intentional Curriculum Design

A Learning Module Approach to Course Development

A compartmentalized approach to course content development that emphasizes backward design and assessment mapping, forming the rationale for the BackflowStudio application.

A light blueish background with some puzzle pieces on it; eight red ones in a group and one black one separated.

Characteristics of Successful Academic Leadership

Academic leadership requires a unique blend of skills and qualities. Here are some key traits that I associate with leaders who have had transformational impacts on their units, faculty, students, and academic programs.

A New Path

So, the end of my administrative role at VCU has necessitated reconfiguring my activities, output, and duties. Here is a short timeline. * Act I (2004-2015): Primarily as a tenure track faculty member, teaching and doing my research. You can see my research activities from my Google Scholar Profile. * Act II

FOTJ In the App Store

FOTJ In the App Store

The first deployed application aimed at helping develop teamwork, participation, and belonging for STEM field students.

A picture of the main 3-pane window for the Administravia application.

Administravia

Here is the first beta description of the academic program analysis software named Administravia.

Académie Confidential

In his inspiring book, Kitchen Confidential, author and chef Anthony Bourdain crafted a text which deftly described a breadth of…

Refining Environmental DNA (eDNA) Protocols developed for the James River Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina)

Refining Environmental DNA (eDNA) Protocols developed for the James River Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina)

Dyer RJ, Roderique BA, Deadwyler MC. 2021. Refining Environmental DNA (eDNA) Protocols developed for the James River Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina). VTRC General Technical Report. Abstract Molecular genetic techniques provide tools that may be used to locate, monitor, and survey the presence of cryptic aquatic species such as the endangered James

Genetic Diversity and Connectivity in Plant Species Differing in Clonality and Dispersal Mechanisms in Wetland Island Habitats

Genetic Diversity and Connectivity in Plant Species Differing in Clonality and Dispersal Mechanisms in Wetland Island Habitats

Abstract In plants, long-distance dispersal is both attenuated and directed by specific movement vectors, including animals, wind, and/or water. Hence, movement vectors partly shape metapopulation genetic patterns that are, however, also influenced by other life-history traits such as clonal growth. We studied the relationship between area, isolation, plant-species richness,

Evolutionary stability, landscape heterogeneity, and human land usage shape population genetic connectivity in the Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspot.

Evolutionary stability, landscape heterogeneity, and human land usage shape population genetic connectivity in the Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspot.

Tassone EE, Miles LS, Dyer RJ, Rosenberg MS, Cowling RM, Verrelli BC. Evolutionary stability, landscape heterogeneity, and human land usage shape population genetic connectivity in the Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspot. Evol Appl. 2021; 14: 1109–1123. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13185 Abstract As human-induced change eliminates natural

Wide outcrossing provides functional connectivity for new and old Banksia populations within a fragmented landscape.

Wide outcrossing provides functional connectivity for new and old Banksia populations within a fragmented landscape.

Ritchie, A.L., Dyer, R.J., Nevill, P.G. et al. Wide outcrossing provides functional connectivity for new and old Banksia populations within a fragmented landscape. Oecologia 190, 255–268 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-019-04387-z Abstract Habitat fragmentation affects landscape connectivity, the extent of which is influenced by

Population assignment reveals low migratory connectivity in a weakly structured songbird.

Population assignment reveals low migratory connectivity in a weakly structured songbird.

DeSaix MG, Bulluck LP, Eckert AJ, et al. Population assignment reveals low migratory connectivity in a weakly structured songbird. Mol Ecol. 2019; 28: 2122–2135. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15083. Abstract Understanding migratory connectivity is essential for determining the drivers behind population dynamics and implementing effective conservation strategies

Evolutionary genomics of gypsy moth populations sampled along a latitudinal gradient

Evolutionary genomics of gypsy moth populations sampled along a latitudinal gradient

Friedline, C. J., Faske, T. M., Lind, B. M., Hobson, E. M., Parry, D., Dyer, R. J., Johnson, D. M., Thompson, L. M., Grayson, K. L., & Eckert, A. J. (2019). Evolutionary genomics of gypsy moth populations sampled along a latitudinal gradient. Molecular Ecology, 28(9), 2206-2223. https://doi.org/

Functional connectivity and home range inferred at a microgeographic landscape genetics scale in a desert-dwelling rodent.

Functional connectivity and home range inferred at a microgeographic landscape genetics scale in a desert-dwelling rodent.

Flores-Manzanero, A., Luna-Bárcenas, M. A., Dyer, R. J., & Vázquez-Domínguez, E. (2019). Functional connectivity and home range inferred at a microgeographic landscape genetics scale in a desert-dwelling rodent. Ecology and Evolution, 9(1), 437-453. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4762 Abstract Gene flow in animals is limited or facilitated