Graduate Students
Andrea Brennan, PhD
Principal Investigator – Dr. Jacobs
Andrea’s research is focused on the restoration of threatened hardwood species.
Kalli Dunn, MS
Principal Investigator – Dr. Saunders
Kalli is studying an invasive population of Callery pear. She is specifically interested in understanding the ecological effects of invasion on the surrounding forest and dispersal mechanisms of Callery pear that may be contributing to invasive success.
Kyle Earnshaw, PhD
Principal Investigator – Dr. Jacobs
Kyle studies heteroblasty, plasticity, ecophysiology, restoration, and regeneration silviculture. He works currently with Acacia koa.
Graham Frank, MS
Principal Investigator – Dr. Jenkins
Forestry mulching heads are a more efficient alternative to cut stump herbicide treatments for removing the invasive shrub Amur honeysuckle, but may have unforeseen impacts on community responses to invasive removal. I’m comparing the effectiveness of these two methods for preventing honeysuckle resprouting and the responses of both the understory plant community (including tree seedlings) and soil microbial communities to either treatment.
Bradley Graham – PhD
Principal Investigator – Dr. Jenkins
The primary objectives of Brad’s dissertation research are to quantify the carbon storage capacity of Central Hardwood Region forests by assessing remaining old-growth stands across the region and to investigate long-term changes in carbon storage reservoirs through repeated measurements.
Skye Greenler – MS
Principal Investigator – Drs. Saunders/Swihart
Skye is studying how prescribed fire effects oak regeneration in an expanding group shelterwood silvicultural system in both harvested and unharvested areas. She is specifically investigating: how these treatments alter granivore predation and dispersal of acorns; the effects of granivore caching behavior on acorn survival during a burn; and quantifying oak seedling growth and regeneration.
James Jacobs – PhD
Principal Investigator – Dr. Woeste
As part of James’ dissertation research I study the interaction between the pathogen that causes butternut canker and its hosts. One of the main goals of our research is to develop an effective screening technique for early detection of candidate resistant trees that can be incorporated into a breeding program.
Nicholas LaBonte, PhD
Principal Investigator – Dr. Woeste
Nick studies tree genetics and genomics with the goal of informing hardwood breeding and management practices and improving breeding outcomes. His dissertation research is centered on genomic aspects of chestnut blight resistance breeding and restoration of American chestnut.
Junhyung “Jun” Lee, PhD
Principal Investigator – Dr. Pijut
Jun’s research is tree molecular biology: genetic transformation of black ash (Fraxinu nigra) for insect resistance and targeted genome editing.
David Mann, MS
Principal Investigator – Dr. Saunders
David is a new graduate student this semester.
Meghan Mulroy, MS
Principal Investigator – Dr. Jenkins
Meghan is looking at ecological effects of hemlock mortality from an exotic insect in the Smokies.
Weston Schempf, PhD
Principal Investigator – Dr. Jacobs
Wes is researching nursery stocktypes and vegetation management on mine reclamation success.
Shannon Stanis, MS
Principal Investigator – Dr. Saunders
They are studying the effect of prescribed fire on overstory trees. Specifically, they are trying to quantify the economic effects of prescribed fire on timber products. Hopefully, their research will be used to create best management practices for Indiana forests for Indiana private Woodland owners that desire healthy forests and high quality timber products.
Tyler Stewart, MS
Principal Investigator – Drs. Ginzel and Juzwik
Tyler’s work mainly involves characterizing bark and ambrosia beetles associated with Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) symptomatic black walnut in the eastern US. He is trying to understand what roles these beetles, possible vectors of TCD, play in this system. He also monitoring black walnut health within these areas as well.
Emily Thyroff, MS
Principal Investigator – Dr. Jacobs
Emily’s research is focused on the ecophysiology of Quercus virginiana, live oak, in order to restore the hardwood species to maritime forests in the Southeastern United States. Live oak is a dominant species of maritime forests, which are ecologically important as soil stabilizers, habitat for wildlife and recharging limited freshwater.
Mariam Valladares, MS
Principal Investigator – Dr. Jacobs
Mariam is a new graduate student who joined us Fall 2016.
Geoffrey Williams, PhD
Principle Investigator – Dr. Ginzel
Geoff’s interests include forest biometrics, community ecology, and management, with a focus on forest health and fungal ecology. He is currently researching Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD), an emergent fungus-beetle complex which kills walnut (Juglans) trees when the fungal pathogen Geosmithia morbida is introduced to the inner bark by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis). Specifically, he is looking at community interactions that may influence the severity of the disease and the physiological tolerance of G. morbida to stress such as desiccation of its substrate, e.g. dry walnut wood. You can learn more about Geoff’s past and current research on his website.