Personal Summary

I joined the faculty at the University of Montana in 2007. I am currently a Professor in the Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences in the College of Forestry and Conservation. I received my Ph.D. in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado in 2001, and did my post-doctoral research at the Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (INSTAAR) a multi-disciplinary research institute in Boulder, CO. I also hold an M.S. in Natural Resources (Forest Science) from Cornell University, and a B.A. in Physical Geography from the University of Colorado. My expertise is in terrestrial ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, and I teach courses in soil science, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry and climate change science at UM. My research focuses on understanding the biotic and abiotic controls on ecosystem processes.

Education

Post-doctoral: Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (INSTAAR), Boulder, CO (2001 - 2007)

Ph.D.: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (2001)

M.S.: Forest Science (Natural Resources), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (1997)

B.A.: Physical Geography, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (1992)

Courses Taught

BIOS 532 (Graduate) - Fundamental of Ecosystems Science (Fall - odd years)

NRSM 210N (Undergraduate) - Soils, Water and Climate (Spring)

NRSM 408 (Undergraduate/Graduate) - Global Cycles and Climate (Spring - even years)

NRSM 415 (Undergraduate/Graduate) - Environmental Soil Science (Spring - odd years)

Research Interests

My research intersects several major disciplines, including microbial ecology, biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology. The overall goal of my research is to understand how biotic and abiotic factors regulate element cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, the implications of those processes for ecosystem function, and how ecosystems respond to global environmental change. My most recent work focuses on understanding carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, I am also involved in a number of research projects, ranging from the understanding the links between biological diversity and ecosystem function, the effects of soil nutrient availability on a range of critical ecosystem processes, and the effects of environmental change on tropical, temperate and high latitude ecosystems.

Please Visit the Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology Lab

Selected Publications

View my Publications