Research: Evaluating & building collaborative capacity to address invasive tree pests

Funding: Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Graduation Date: Summer 2013

Background: I graduated from Iowa State University with degrees in Biology and Environmental Science. In my final years at the university, I built an increasing interest in natural resource issues, and determined that I would return to school to pursue a master's degree in a related field. I'm currently in the Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture (GPSA), but I am based in the NREM department in the PLUS lab.

Research Interests: My research interests lie in sustainable natural resource management. I'm currently working on a project looking at an invasive pest (Emerald Ash Borer) and its effect on communities in eastern Iowa. Through completion of a social network analysis in each community, we are examining the community's capacity to deal with invasive pests and associated wood utilization issues. We then hope to build connections to mitigate damages once the pest arrives.

Career Goals: After completion of my master's degree, I hope to pursue further research in sustainable natural resource use or sustainable agriculture. Eventually I aspire to run my own carbon neutral organic farm somewhere in the mid-west.

Personal Interests: I prefer to spend my time outdoors; I enjoy walking, hiking, and traveling with my wife Catherine. I also enjoy biking, disc golfing, gardening, good music and astronomy.

Presentations:
"Evaluating and Building Collaborative Capacity to Address Invasive Tree Pests" (research poster), Oct 24, 2012 at the Society of American Foresters Annual Convention in Spokane, WA.