Fungal Ecology Course — Online Mycology Program | Fungi Academy

A Multidisciplinary Citizen Scientist practicing social science, mycology, phycology, molecular biology, and additive manufacturing.

William Padilla-Brown is a Multidisciplinary Citizen Scientist practicing social science, mycology, phycology, molecular biology, and additive manufacturing. William founded and is the current CEO of MycoSymbiotics, a permaculture research and production business based in Central Pennsylvania focused on innovative practical applied biological science. William is constantly in the mix of contemporary ritual in a nuanced modern Urban Shamanism, spending his time vlogging for social media, writing, researching, rapping, singing, and loving his Beautiful Lady Lydia, their son Leo, and baby daughter.

Field mycologist, speaker, author, and founder of the world’s first non-profit organization dedicated to fungi.

Giuliana Furci is a Chilean-British-Italian field mycologist, speaker, author, and founder of the world’s first non-profit organization dedicated to fungi, Fundación Fungi. She is a Harvard University Associate, National Geographic Explorer, Author of the first mushroom field guide in Chile, Co-Chair of the IUCN Fungal Conservation Committee and co-author of titles such as the 1st State of the World’s Fungi and the paper delimiting the term Funga.

Applied mycologist, ecological regeneration practitioner, educator, artist, and medicine-maker.

Taye Bright is an applied mycologist, ecological regeneration practitioner, educator, artist, medicine-maker and mythopoetic dreamer orienting her life’s work around fungi, fire/forest ecology, marine biology, symbioses and how to be in reciprocal, inter-species participation with our respective ecologies. Taye holds a degree in Biology, has certifications in Permaculture Design and Ecosystem Restoration Design, and is a certified California Naturalist. She teaches mycology-focused classes and guides fungal ecology walks around Northern/Central California. She is the owner and founder of Symbiiotica, a small business offering mycological services, art, medicine and education, as well as co-owner of Moon Fruit Mushroom Farm, an outdoor, log-based mycoforestry operation. She also works as a post-fire restoration and bioremediation researcher for CoRenewal and is in her 4th year as secretary for Bay Area Applied Mycology.

Scientist and evolutionary ecologist specialising in fungus-growing ant mutualism and interspecies symbiosis.

Pepijn received his BSc + MSc in Biology with a specialization in Ecology at Wageningen University and Research Center, with projects on Termitomyces and leaf-cutting ants. He completed his PhD in Biology — Ecology and Evolution at the Centre for Social Evolution, Copenhagen University, with a project on the role of the fungus in the fungus-growing ant mutualism. He spent 5 years as a Research Fellow at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, focusing on various projects related to the origin of the fungus of fungus-growing ants. He was a Young Talent Researcher at UNESP (São Paulo State University), Rio Claro, Brazil (2020–2023), and is currently a Young Researcher at UNESP Rio Claro (2023–2028), studying the role of asexuality for the maintenance of a stable mutualism using the fungus-growing ants and their fungi as a model system.

Postdoc and Ambizione fellow leading a research group on mycorrhizal networks and forest ecosystem functioning.

Mark (he/him) is a postdoc and Ambizione fellow leading a research group within the Ecosystem Ecology Unit at the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forests, Snow, and the Landscape – WSL. He completed his PhD in the USA in 2019 at the University of New Hampshire and the Harvard Forest, where he investigated fungal responses to invasive species, atmospheric pollution, and climate change and linked this to changes in forest biogeochemical cycles. His current research focuses on the large- and small-scale linkages between microbiomes and forest composition and functioning, and how this will be affected by multiple dimensions of global change. Much like his earlier research, he continues to focus on fungi and the symbiotic relationships between trees and biotrophic fungi like mycorrhizae.

Researcher specialising in the taxonomy, systematics and evolutionary ecology of insect-associated fungi.

João’s research interest is related to insect-associated fungi. He is interested in taxonomy, systematics and evolutionary ecology. Currently, João is working on the diversity and evolution of Japanese, Amazonian and African entomopathogenic fungi. His typical approach is to combine fundamental taxonomic science with natural history, field work, evolutionary biology, microscopy and photography. He is also interested in Scientific Illustration and Science communication through the arts.

Venezuelan-Canadian artist and citizen scientist exploring the intersection of art, science, and ethics through mycology.

Catherine Euale is a Venezuelan-Canadian artist and citizen scientist who explores the intersection of art, science, and ethics. Her work is deeply rooted in the natural world, and she is passionate about using art as a tool for environmental advocacy and social change. Euale’s practice is highly exploratory and interdisciplinary, spanning biological arts, mycology, interspecies communication, bioethics, ART-ivism, and audiovisual storytelling. Her work explores the complex relationships between humans and other species, and seeks to foster a deep relationality and entwinement with more than human teachers, allies and spaces.

Herbalist, mycologist, and medicine maker specialising in botanical studies, wildcrafting, and fungal medicine.

Reishi Strauss is an herbalist, mycologist, and medicine maker born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia. In 2019 she graduated from Bastyr University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Herbal Science, having completed courses in Disease Processes, Botany, Anatomy & Physiology, Biochemistry, Ethnobotany, Mycology, First Aid, Herb/Drug Interactions, and more. She owns and operates her medicinal mushroom medicine business – Earth & Spirit Botanicals – designed to heal the planet & her people with sustainably wildcrafted and regeneratively cultivated herbal & fungal medicines.

Soil alchemist, mycology consultant, and educator focusing on fungi in agricultural systems and ecological restoration.

Raskal Turbeville is a soil alchemist, mycology consultant, farmsteader and educator who focuses on exhuming the patterning, functionality and benefit of fungi in agricultural systems and beyond. He first became fascinated with fungi as a teenager which altered the trajectory of his life entirely as he dedicated himself to the field of mycology. Studying mushroom cultivation and soil ecology in college and from experts around the country, Raskal has been teaching people how to tend to, relate with and appreciate fungi for the last 11 years. After a 4 year stint in the commercial mushroom industry Raskal returned his focus to the soil and mycological education. Founding Soil Ecology Analytics, he employs bright-field microscopy techniques to analyze soil organisms and assist farmers, ecologists and soil lovers in enhancing microbial collaboration. Based in Rochester, Washington, Raskal practises regenerative agriculture techniques with his family to cultivate abundance for the local community.