About

Here is a smattering of facts about me. If you want a fuller picture of my professional background, take a look at my CV!

• Current position
  • Assistant Professor at Grand Valley State University
    • Department: Computer Science
    • College: College of Computing
    • Started August 2024
• Education
  • Ph.D. from Michigan State University.
    • Primary department: Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).
    • Secondary program: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program (EEB).
    • Advisor: Dr. Charles Ofria
    • Lab: The Digital Evolution Laboratory
    • Date finished: June 2024
  • Bachelor’s from Shawnee State University
    • Major 1: Digital Simulation and Gaming Engineering
    • Major 2: Computer Engineering
    • Graduation date: May 2018
• Research
  • Elevator pitch: I use agent-based computational models to empirically test questions about evolutionary theory that wet-lab researchers cannot test due to issues of timescales and experimental controls. Specifically, I’ve recently focused on measuring how short-term changes in a population can having rippling, long-term evolutionary consequences.
  • More information available on my research page!
• Contact info and accounts
  • GVSU email: ferguaus (at) gvsu.edu
  • Google Scholar
  • GitHub
• Background and Misc. Info
  • Grew up near Otway, Ohio
  • Non-work interests
    • Plants! (I have too many succulents!)
    • Game development (I used to do tons of game jams, and would love to get back into them!)
      • Students, I’m always happy to support a student-ran game jam from the faculty side!
    • Sports with friends!
      • Ultimate frisbee
      • Basketball
      • Cycling
    • Games (video, board, or tabletop!)