Matthew Potts has a broad interdisciplinary background with training in mathematics, ecology and economics. He earned his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Michigan and a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University. 

Potts has extensive international experience conducting field research in tropical forests throughout the world, addressing fundamental ecological questions while adding insight on how to sustainably manage tropical landscapes. His varied research interests include spatial aspects of forest management and land-use planning as well as how human actions, values, and ethics affect biodiversity conservation. Potts’ primary goal is building quantitative understanding on how to build optimal production and biodiversity conservation in multi-use landscapes.