Staff Directory
Brian Beheler
Farm Manager
Facilitates research by creating structurally diverse habitats on FNR properties in Tippecanoe County.
Conducts undergraduate workshops on tree planting, invasive plant management and chainsaw safety, and integrates relevant information into instructional field labs.
Manages the land for long-term research opportunities and impactful use of FNR properties — “a legacy on the landscape.”
Don Carlson
Forester
Don Carlson is a Purdue forester working with these Research Properties:
Cupps Chapel Forest
Davis Purdue Ag Center
Feldun Purdue Ag Center
Finley Woods
Gladden Memorial Woodland
Miller Woodlands
Nelson-Stokes-Lewman Woodland
Northeast Purdue Ag Center
Pinney Purdue Ag Center
Southeast – Purdue Ag Center
Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center
Stephens Forest
Dennis Heejoon Choi
Post Doc Research Associate
Dennis is a postdoc in both the Hardiman and Fei labs at Purdue. He is interested in the application of remote sensing in digital forestry and urban ecosystems, in particular how three-dimensional canopy structures influence ecosystem functions. Currently, he is working on assessing disturbance impacts on forest structures using time-series LiDAR datasets.
Aziz Ebrahimi
Post Doc Research Associate
Aziz is a PhD Research Associate at Purdue University, studying whole genome and genes related to cold tolerance in walnut and koa. Aziz’s interest is in landscape genetics, phylogeny and evolution of tree species, and he has utilized genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics tools to address questions in that area of research.
Clayton Emerson
Assistant Property Manager
His role involves assisting property manager with implementing management plans, maintaining properties, infrastructures and grounds, maintaining and service equipment. He assists with loading, transporting, and operating various types of farm/forestry equipment, contributes to invasive plant control, timber stand improvement, timber harvesting, and prairie/savannah restoration management including prescribed fire. He assists managing research plantations including planting, spraying pesticides, tree removal, mowing, fencing, and fertilization. He provides services to faculty and staff as directed both locally and across Indiana. Clayton also assists FNR faculty and staff with field-based teaching and extension activities.
Lenny Farlee
Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist
Lenny is an extension forester with the HTIRC. He provides programs and publications in a variety of media directed toward improving the regeneration and sustainable management of high-quality hardwood trees and forests in the Central Hardwood Region.
Heidar Rastiveis
Post Doc Research Associate
Heidar is a postdoc in both the NRSA and the DPRG labs at Purdue. He is interested in 3D remote sensing applications for forestry and agriculture. His current studies focus on Digital Forest Inventory using acquired data by a wide range of mobile mapping systems equipped with imaging and LiDAR units (e.g., UAV, backpack, and robotic platforms).
Elizabeth ("Liz") Jackson
Manager Walnut Council/IFWOA and Engagement Specialist for HTIRC
Liz is the Engagement Specialist for HTIRC, Executive Director of the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association, and the Executive Director of the National Walnut Council.
Caleb Kell
Operational Tree Breeder
Caleb is the HTIRC’s tree breeding specialist, with a primary focus on testing, selecting, and propagating improved hardwood tree genetics for the Center’s six target improvement species. He also coordinates collection and delivery of improved seed to the general public via the HTIRC’s network of collaborators and stakeholders
Bina Thapa
Post Doc Research Associate
Bina is a post-doc in both the Hardiman and Fei labs at Purdue. Her research interest is to apply remote sensing data in forestry to understand insect disturbance for better forest management. Currently, she is working on the individual- and stand-level assessment of forest structure and composition through the use of multi-sensor data.
James ("Jim") Warren
USDA Forest Service, Biological Scientist/Operational Tree Breeder
Prior to coming to the HTIRC, Jim assisted in running the daily operations of the Minnesota Tree Improvement Cooperative at the University of Minnesota’s Cloquet Forestry Center for 17 years. His primary duties entailed designing, implementing, and measuring field trials, assisting with orchard management, conducting tree breeding and grafting, and collecting data. jcwarren@purdue.edu
Cameron Wingren
Unmanned Aerial Systems Data Collection
Cameron is the Unmanned Aerial Systems Data Collection Specialist. Meanwhile, he is working on his Master in Forestry degree with application of UAS to detect and monitor forest disturbance. He is co-advised by Dr. Joseph Hupy.
Katie Grong
Research Associate
Katie is a Research Associate in the Forestry and Natural Resources department working to create a directory of historical genetic tree improvement trials to be available to the public. She obtained her MS in Geography and Geology from Missouri State University.