Lab Leader
Andy is an Oppenheimer Associate Professor of Geospatial Ecology and leads the Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Services Lab group at the University of Exeter.
Andy is an environmental scientist leading an applied research agenda to improve understanding of how landscapes function and can be managed for sustainable social and ecological benefit. His work centres on terrestrial ecosystem science and services, integrating geospatial tools with ecology, earth surface processes, and systems thinking to develop and share insights into sustainable ecosystem function across scales, from individual plants to the globe. He champions Open Research practices and an inclusive and supportive research culture.
Google Scholar | ORCID |LinkedIn |GitHub | Bluesky | WoS
You can hear a pronunciation of Andy’s name here. Contact A.Cunliffe@exeter.ac.uk
People
Glenn Slade
Oppenheimer Doctoral Scholar
Glenn is an Oppenheimer Doctoral Scholar in OPALS, studying rangeland ecology for sustainable management. His work focuses on the distribution and spread of invasive species in savannah ecosystems, integrating multi-scale (drone and satellite) remote sensing tools with transdisciplinary approaches to gain insights into community perceptions of invasive plants. Glenn is enrolled at the University of Exeter, supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe and Professor Karen Anderson.
Emily Doyle
Doctoral student
Em is a doctoral student using satellite data to quantify tropical forest degradation and carbon stocks to understand biome-scale indicators of resilience in tropical forests. She is supervised by Professor Tim Lenton, Professor Ted Feldpausch, Dr Andy Cunliffe, and Dr Chris Boulton at the University of Exeter. Emily’s project is funded by the A. G. Leventis Foundation.
Jess Thomas
Doctoral student
Jess is a doctoral student studying the integration of plot-level and remote sensing data to understand the mechanisms of tropical forest degradation and understand biome-scale carbon stroage and resilience in tropical forests in the Amazon. She is supervised by Professor Ted Feldpausch, Dr Andy Cunliffe, Dr Hugh Graham, and Dr Tom Powell at the University of Exeter. Jess’s project is funded by the A. G. Leventis Foundation.
Enimhien Akhabue
Oppenheimer-Turvill Doctoral Scholar
Enimhien is an Oppenheimer-Turvill Doctoral Scholar in OPALS, modelling the resilience of ecosystem service provision in African landscapes. Her project aims to enhance the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) land surface model’s value in simulating African landscapes, improving African-centred decision-making. She is supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe, Dr Anna Harper, Dr Tom Powell, Dr Petra Holden, and Dr Karina Bett-Williams and enrolled at the University of Exeter.
Antony Emenyu
Oppenheimer-Turvill Doctoral Scholar
Antony is an Oppenheimer-Turvill Doctoral Scholar in OPALS, working to improve the resilience of small-holder farming systems in African landscapes to climate change shocks through the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. Sepcifically, Antony researhcers the use and uptake of regenerative farming practices by smallholder farmers in African landscapes, primarily drawing lessons from the TIST program in East Africa. He is supervised by Dr Tom Powell, Dr Andy Cunliffe, Dr Prossy Isubikalu and Dr Lorien Jasny, and enrolled at the University of Exeter.
Alan is an Oppenheimer Impact Scholar and former Masters Scholar with OPALS. He works at Shangani Holistic Ranch, where he supports our bush management experiments and leads spatial analyses of herbivory intensity, vegetation change, and land management interventions. Previously, his Masters research with OPALS focused on the sustainable use of rangelands using drone-based Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry.
Google Scholar |ORCID |LinkedIn | GitHub
Tapiwa Gumbo
Oppenheimer Masters Scholar
Taps is an Oppenheimer Masters Scholar in OPALS, researching evidence-led practical solutions to mitigate bush encroachment on holistically managed rangelands, in partnership with Shangani Holistic, the largest beef producer in Zimbabwe. He is supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe, Dr Ilya Maclean, Professor Sally Archibald, Dr Allan Sebata and Dr Tom Powell, and enrolled at the University of Exeter.
Chafika Phiri
Few and Far Collection Doctoral Scholar
Chafika is a Few and Far Doctoral Scholar in OPALS, studying the distribution and sustainable utilisation of baobab trees (Adansonia digitata), focussing on how their unique role in providing ecosystem services for people in African landscapes might be better safeguarded for future generations. His work is continental in scope, with a particular focus on the Limpopo region of South Africa. He is supervised by Dr Andrew Cunliffe, Dr Sarah Venter, Professor David Hodgson, and Dr Dawn Toussaint.
Isaac Nduta Mureithi
Oppenheimer Impact Scholar
Isaac is working to help develop better models of Conservation Governance, working in the OPALS programme in the close partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation. Coming from a background in actuarial science, Isaac is undertaking an MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity at Exeter to expand his conservation knowledge before commencing a 12-month targeted placement at AWF’s Field Office in the Tsavo Landscape. Isaac is supervised by Dr Andrew Cunliffe, Dr Philip Muruthi, Dr Tom Powell, and Dr Kimberley Hockings.
Dr Remy Vandaele
Research Fellow in Environmental Intelligence
Remy is a Research Fellow in Exeter’s Centre for Environmental Intelligence, and is contributing to the development of our Relative Productivity Index (RPI) framework, a new landscape condition indicator. Specifically, he is supportting development of a global RPI product. His work in this space is managed by Dr Andy Cunliffe.
TBA
Doctroal Scholar
This geospatial ecology project evaluates the influence of NEOM regreening approaches on terrestrial productivity, to develop new understanding of the variability in plant productivity over space and time in response to dryland management in the context of environmental variation. NEOM is one of the largest ecological restoration projects globally, with interventions being deployed to regreen vast dry landscapes. This project supports the development of our Relative Productivity Index (RPI) framework. Supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe and Professor Ted Feldpausch. This project is funded by NEOM.
Google Scholar |ORCID |LinkedIn| GitHub
TESS Lab Affiliates
Dr Hugh Graham
Geospatial Analyst and Research Fellow in Remote Sensing of Tropical Forests
Hugh was a Research Fellow in Remote Sensing of Tropical Forests at the University of Exeter. He is a Geospatial Analyst at Permian Global. Hugh is an expert in geospatial analysis and multi-scale earth observation tools, reproducible workflows and machine learning. He was managed at Exeter by Dr Andy Cunliffe, working with Dr Chris Philipson, Professor Ted Feldpausch, Emily Doyle and Jess Thomas to help improve ecosystem protections and carbon verification projects worldwide.
Brianna Pickstone
Doctoral Scholar
Bri is a doctoral student in the Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence at the University of Exeter. She is using remote sensing and machine learning tools to improve to improve our understanding of terrestrial ecosystem services and challenges in the UK, partnership with RSK. She is supervised by Professor Karen Anderson, Dr Sarah Rowlands, and Prof Richard Delahayin.
Therezah Achieng
Oppenheimer-Lovelock Doctoral Scholar
Terry is an Oppenheimer-Lovelock Doctoral Scholar in OPALS using social-ecological systems approaches to drive self-perpetuating tipping points in the sustainability of social ecological systems in Africa and accelerate green transitions. The intended outcomes of this work are to (i) refine frameworks for encouraging positive tipping points to incorporate African perspectives and social-ecological systems dynamics, and (ii) identify potential positive tipping points and opportunities to leverage change. Terry is supervised by Professor Tim Lenton, Dr Tom Powell, Dr Laura Pereira, and Dr Tomas Chaigneau, and is enrolled at the University of Exeter.
Google Scholar |ORCID |LinkedIn | GitHub
Oscar Hountondji
PhD Student in Envrionmental Intelligence
Oscar is a doctoral student in the Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence at the University of Exeter. His research develops and evaluates human-centred large language model (LLM) smart agents for advanced geospatial reasoning and natural language interaction with Earth Observation (EO) data. He aims to improve accessibility for non-expert users in policy, scientific, and community settings, though a system supporting climate monitoring, sustainable land-use planning, habitat management, and disaster risk assessment, where Earth observation expertise is limited. The research integrates computer and social sciences, focusing on AI and reproducibility in Africa. He is supervised by Professor Hywel Williams and Professor Sarah Hartley.
TESS Lab Alumni
Guy Lomax
Post Doctroal Research Associate and Doctroal Scholar
Guy was a Post Doctoral Research Associate and former doctoral student in the TESS Lab. He used satellite-based remote sensing and machine learning to improve monitoring of vegetation change, particularly in African rangelands. His projects include developing a new productivity-based index of rangeland vegetation condition, mapping woody encroachment in a holistically managed ranch, and testing emerging methods to quantify the impact of forest protection projects. Guy was managed by Dr Andy Cunliffe.
Minda Cossa
Oppenheimer Impact Scholar
Minda was an Oppenheimer Impact Scholar in OPALS, researching the role of urban planning in improving resilience to adapt to climate-related coastal hazards in Mozambique, engaging with planning and development practitioners in the community. She undertook an MSc in Global Sustainability Solutions at the University of Exeter before continuing as a Research Associate for 12-months to maximise the impact of her work (video). She was supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe, Dr Ricardo Safra de Campos, and Dr Gina Ziervogel.
Minda proceeded to a job as a Teaching Assistant at Eduardo Mondlane University, passing on her new skills and insights to amplify the positive impact on her training on others in Mozambique.
Dr Trisha Gopalakrishna
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Trisha was an associate of TESS Lab in 2023-2025 while working as a postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at the University of Exeter. She examined the ecological resilience of tropical savannas (focusing on Brazil and south and southeast Asia). Her tools of the trade mainly includes remote sensing information of land use and cover, climate, disturbance regimes (fire, herbivory), and statistical analyses. She was supervised by Professor Lucy Rowland and Professor Stephen Stich.
Kelebile Balo
Oppenheimer Masters Scholar
Kelebile was an Oppenheimer Masters Scholar in OPALS, studying the sustainable use of rangelands with fine-scale remote sensing (drone surveys and structure-from-motion photogrammetry). Kelebile was supervised by Dr Lawrence Akanyang, Professor Demel Teketay, Dr Andy Cunliffe and Dr Jem Perkins and was enrolled part-time at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN).
Google Scholar |ORCID |LinkedIn | GitHub
Milcah Kirinyet
Oppenheimer Impact Scholar
Oppenheimer Impact Scholar in OPALS, working on implementing payments for ecosystem services to support more sustainable management in African landscapes. She works with Dr Andy Cunliffe, Dr Tom Powell, and Dr Peter Tyrrell, and completed an MSc in Applied Data Science for Environment and Sustainability before commencing a 1.5-year placement with Sustain East Africa (through Dascot Ltd in Kenya).
Milcah proceeded to a job as a Data Systems Research Officer for Impact Assessment at the International Livestock Research Institute.
Dr Peta Brom
Postdoctoral Researcher
Peta was an associate of TESS Lab and is a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Ecolution, and leads applied research to protect and enhance the provision of essential ecosystem services linked with nature-based solutions in African cities. Her work integrates the legacies of planning systems, geospatial analysis of ecosystem services, and the multiple dimensions of “access” to unpack how users are (un)able to realise the ecosystem benefits provided by urban green space. and understand the ‘liveability’ of cities in the near future under projected climate change.
Google Scholar |ORCID |LinkedIn| GitHub
Amber McDonagh
Masters Student
Amber jointed TESS Lab while studying for an MSc in Geographical Information Science. Her dissertation project used airborne LiDAR to determine above-ground biomass and carbon storage for a woodland stand at the National Trust’s Oxburgh Estate in Norfolk. She was supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe and Keith Challis.
Amber proceeded to a job as a GIS Analyst for the Digital Estates Team at the University of Exeter.
Swati Mewara
Masters Student
Swati jointed TESS Lab while studying for an MSc in Applied Data Science for Environment and Sustainability. Her dissertation used convolutional neural networks and random forest machine learning with remotely sensed covariates to predict soil organic carbon stocks over space and time in South Africa. She was supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe and Dr Hugh Graham.
Yu Hang Ho
Database Administrator
Hugo joined TESS Lab while enhancing the value of the Funding Finder application by expanding and refining the award database, on a project funded by Exeter’s Doctoral College from May-July 2024. He was managed by Dr Andy Cunliffe.
Hugo proceeded to a job working for the NHS in Exeter.
Amy Shaw
Masters Student
Amy joined TESS Lab as a MSc Global Sustainability Solutions student conducting an OPALS-aligned dissertation project in TESS Lab to assess the potential for verified carbon credits associated with mangroves to support the Manda Island Conservation Project in Kenya. She was supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe and Dr Hugh Graham.
Amy went on to a job as a ‘Green Futures Solutions Consultant’ at the University of Exeter.
Brianna Pickstone
Masters Student
Bri joined TESS Lab while studying for an MSc in Applied Data Science for Environment and Sustainability. She undertook her dissertation project assessing the use of machine learning tools to improve retrievals of aboveground biomass in tropical forests, in partnership with Permian Global. She was supervised by Dr Andy Cunliffe and Dr Hugh Graham.
Bri has gone on to study for a PhD in using machine learning to improve the study of terrestrial ecosystems in the UK.
Laone Seabonyane
Oppenheimer Masters Scholar
Laone was an Oppenheimer Masters Scholar in OPALS from September 2022 to June 2023, studying belowground plant traits in African rangelands to generate knowledge that supports the sustainable utilisation of rangelands and informs payments for ecosystem services associated with carbon storage. She was enrolled at the University of Botswana and supervised by Dr Jem Perkins, Dr Andy Cunliffe and Dr Kebonyethata Dintwe.
Google Scholar |ORCID |LinkedIn| GitHub
Jake Dykes
Application Developer
Jake joined TESS Lab as an application developer to help Dr Andy Cunliffe deliver two projects to support global engagement at the University of Exeter. Firstly, as a Geospatial Coordinator for Sustainable Partnerships (April-June 2022), working on an R Shiny application to better connect Exeter’s research and impact activities internationally (funded by Policy@Exeter). Secondly, as a Development Coordinator for Funding International Partnerships (Jan-March 2023) Jake helped deliver a new Funding Finder, signposting opportunities to support greater global engagement with talented individuals wanting to join or visit the University of Exeter.
Jake proceeded on to a job as a risk analyst at the insurance company Admiral.
Emily Willoughby
Masters Student
Emily was a student on the MSc in Global Sustainability Solutions programme (2021-2022), and conducting an OPALS-aligned dissertation project in TESS Lab to assess climate adaptation in Maputo, Mozambique: Coastal hazards, informal settlements & communicating risk. She was supervised by Dr Ricardo Safra De Campos and Dr Andy Cunliffe.
Emily went on to put her interdisciplinary training in sustainability solutions to good use working as an ESG and Climate Risk Consultant for FORVIS, and then as the Sydney City Lead for Women and Climate.
Google Scholar |ORCID |LinkedIn| GitHub
Jess Thomas
Research Technician
Jess was a Research Technician in Tropical Forest Remote Sensing from July 2021 to June 2022, where she used Google Earth Engine to advance remote sensing of tropical forest degradation and regeneration on a project funded by Permian Global. Jess was managed by Dr Andy Cunliffe and worked with Professor Ted Feldpausch, Dr Tom Powell, and Chris Philipson.
Jess went on to put her new scientific and geospatial programming skills to good use on her PhD in TESS Lab (see above!).
Dr Fabio Boschetti
Research Assistant
Fabio was a research assistant working on the NERC-funded project Do dryland ecosystems control variability and recent trends in the land CO2 sink? Between February 2018 to January 2021, Fabio used eddy covariance techniques and drone systems to measure exchanges of energy, carbon and water in semiarid ecosystems in the southwestern United States, working closely with Dr Andy Cunliffe, Dr Tim Hill and Professor Richard Brazier. Fabio went on to put his new geospatial and drone operator skills to good use as a field surveyor for the UK Ordnance Survey.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Science & Services 