Quantitative Disturbance and Vegetation Ecology In Forested Ecosystems

I am interested in understanding how disturbances in forested ecosystems, such as fires or insect outbreaks (1) modify the mechanisms responsible for generating local plant communities, (2) interact under novel climatic conditions, and (3) the consequences these modifications and interactions have for forest conservation. Understanding the patterns and processes of disturbance requires investigations that span spatial and temporal scales. To address my interests, I use a variety of methods such as field surveys, statistical models, geographic information systems, and mathematical and theoretical frameworks. My ultimate goal is to conduct research that is relevant both in theory and for management application.