Martha Torstenson

Postdoctoral Researcher at Dartmouth College

martha.s.torstenson [AT] dartmouth.edu

Bio

I am an ecological theorist broadly interested in using mathematical models to understand the natural world in an era of massive anthropogenic change.

I'm currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College, mentored by Theresa Ong. I am working on modelling transitions to agroforestry in New England.

I received my Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in 2025 advised by Allison Shaw. I built models to understand how animal migration affects population response to climate change and pathogen evolution.

I am passionate about teaching, with instructor of record experience at Macalester College and Carleton College. I particularly enjoy helping students learn to use mathematical tools to address environmental questions.

Outside of work, I enjoy cross-country skiing, running (especially on trails), and knitting.

Publications

Most recent publications on Google Scholar.
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Population response to extreme climate events depends on population spatial distribution

Martha Torstenson, Allison K. Shaw

Ecosphere, 2025.

Paper Code

Strength of seasonality and type of migratory cue determine the fitness consequences of changing phenology for migratory animals

Martha Torstenson, Allison K. Shaw

Oikos, 2025.

Paper Code

Six personas to adopt when framing theoretical research questions in biology

Allison K. Shaw, Ave T. Bisesi, Chris Wojan, Dongmin Kim, Martha Torstenson,Naven Narayanan, Peter Lutz, Ruby Ales, Cynthia Shao

Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 2024.

Paper

Pathogen evolution following spillover from a resident to a migrant host population depends on interactions between host pace of life and tolerance to infection

Martha Torstenson, Allison K. Shaw

Journal of Animal Ecology, 2024.

Paper Code

Aligning tools and terminology to integrate movement ecology with conservation science

Tana Verzuh, Martha Torstenson, Yun Tao, John Fryxell, Christian Rutz, Roxanne Beltran

Conservation Biology, 2026.

Paper

Population response to extreme climate events depends on population spatial distribution

Martha Torstenson, Allison K. Shaw

Ecosphere, 2025.

Paper Code

Perceived and Observed Biases within Scientific Communities: A Case Study in Movement Ecology

Allison K. Shaw, Leila Fouda, Stefano Mezzini, Dongmin Kim, Nilanjan Chatterjee, David Wolfson, Briana Abrahms, Nina Attias, Christine E. Beardsworth, Roxanne S. Beltran, Sandra A. Binning, Kayla M. Blincow, Ying-Chi Chan, Emanuel A. Fronhofer, Arne Hegemann, Edward R. Hurme, Fabiola Iannarilli, Julie B. Kellner, Karen D. McCoy, Kasim Rafiq, Marjo Saastamoinen, Ana M. M. Sequiera, Mitchell W. Serota, Petra Sumasgutner, Yun Tao, Martha Torstenson, Scott W. Yanco, Kristina B. Beck, Michael G. Bertram, Larissa T. Beumer, Maja Bradaric, Jeanne Clermont, Diego Ellis-Soto, Monika Faltusova, John Fieberg, Richard J. Hall, Andrea Kölzch, Sandra Lai, Larisa Lee-Cruz, Matthias-Claudio Loretto, Alexandra Loveridge, Marcus Michelangeli, Thomas Müller, Louise Riotte-Lambert, Nir Sapir, Martina Scacco, Claire S. Teitelbaum, Francesca Cagnacci

Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 2025.

Paper

Effect of Resistant Compartment on Pathogen Strategy in Partially Migratory Populations

Cynthia Shao, Martha Torstenson, Allison K. Shaw

PLOS One, 2025.

Paper

Strength of seasonality and type of migratory cue determine the fitness consequences of changing phenology for migratory animals

Martha Torstenson, Allison K. Shaw

Oikos, 2025.

Paper Code

Conservation of North American migratory birds: insights from emerging technologies

Martha Torstenson, David W. Wolfson, Samuel M. Safran, Desiree J. Walton, Andrew B. Hallberg, Dongmin Kim, Yi Fang Tan, Gunnar R. Kramer, David Eric Andersen

Avian Conservation and Ecology, 2024.

Paper

Six personas to adopt when framing theoretical research questions in biology

Allison K. Shaw, Ave T. Bisesi, Chris Wojan, Dongmin Kim, Martha Torstenson,Naven Narayanan, Peter Lutz, Ruby Ales, Cynthia Shao

Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 2024.

Paper

Pathogen evolution following spillover from a resident to a migrant host population depends on interactions between host pace of life and tolerance to infection

Martha Torstenson, Allison K. Shaw

Journal of Animal Ecology, 2024.

Paper Code

Gaps in modelling animal migration with evolutionary game theory: infection can favour the loss of migration

Allison K. Shaw, Martha Torstenson, Meggan E. Craft, Sandra A. Binning

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 2023.

Paper
Media

Jeremy Fox interviewed the team that worked on 'Six personas to adopt when framing theoretical research questions in biology' for this nice feature in Dynamic Ecology.

Teaching

BIOL/ENVI 359: Big Date in Ecology

Macalester College

Fall 2024, Spring 2025

BIOL 210: Global Change Biology

Carleton College

Winter 2025

EEB 5053: Ecology: Theory and Concepts

University of Minnesota

Fall 2023

BIOL 1961: Foundations of Biology Lab 1

University of Minnesota

Fall 2021

MATH 120: Calculus 2

Carleton College

Winter 2017

MATH 321: Real Analysis

Carleton College

Spring 2017

ENVS 22/ EEES 181: Coupled Human Natural Systems

Dartmouth College

Dr. Theresa Ong

Winter 2026

BIOL 362: Arctic Ecology

Macalester College

Dr. Mary Heskel

Spring 2024

BIOL 261: Ecology

St. Olaf College

Dr. Jake Grossman

Spring 2024

Algebra 2

The Conserve School

Teaching Fellow

Fall 2018, Spring 2019

Pre-Calculus

The Conserve School

Teaching Fellow

Fall 2018, Spring 2019

Simulating Animal Migration

The University of Minnesota

Nature of Life Instructor

Summer 2024

Published Educational Resources

Torstenson, M. S., Balstad, L., Shaw, A. K. (2024). Simulating selection on migration. QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/G89V-6533

Media

While I was teaching at Carleton, a student journalist wrote this nice profile about my teaching. Thanks, Josey!

Vitæ

Full Resume in PDF.

Acknowledgement

This website uses the website design and template by Martin Saveski.
Martha Torstenson
martha.s.torstenson [AT] dartmouth.edu