I have always loved islands and plants. Since my undergraduate work on islands in the Gulf of Maine, USA, I have had a strong passion for studying the unique characteristics of island ecosystems and associated botanical diversity. I continued this while working towards my Ph.D. in biology from Syracuse University by conducting two large-scale field surveys of the floras and ecosystems on over 50 islands in eastern North America. These research projects have given me over eight years of experience analyzing ecological data.

One of my greatest professional interests is using data to tell stories that help us better understand our natural world. The position as a biostatistician at the Galapagos Verde 2050 project allowed me to pursue and expand on my interests and experience while contributing towards the important conservation work of Galapagos Verde 2050. I simply could not describe a more ideal position.

Luka held the position of biostatistician in the Galapagos Verde 2050 project until October 2021.