Ecology faculty and research

Faculty associated with the Ecology Intercollege Graduate Degree Program at Penn State, together with a summary of their research interests in ecology.

Name	E-mail / phone	Interests include
Abrams, Marc Professor of Forest Ecology and Physiology	agl@psu.edu 814-865-4901 (University Park)	Community, historical and physiological ecology of tree species; global change biology.
Barbercheck, Mary Professor of Entomology	meb34@psu.edu 814-863-2982 (University Park)	Biological aspects of soil quality in sustainable and organic agriculture systems; soil arthropod community ecology; ecology of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi
Bartell, Paul Assistant Professor of Avian Biology	pab43@psu.edu 814-867-2365 (University Park)	The regulation of biological clocks in birds at the systems level.
Baums, Iliana Assistant Professor of Biology	ibb3@psu.edu 814-867-0491 (University Park)	Molecular ecology and evolution of reef invertebrates.
Bjornstad, Ottar Professor of Entomology and Biology Adjunct Professor in Statistics	onb1@psu.edu 814-863-2983 (University Park)	Population dynamics, spatial ecology, ecology of infectious disease, computational biology.
Braithwaite, Victoria Professor of Fisheries and Biology	vab12@psu.edu 814-865-4675 (University Park)	Animal cognition and behavior, development of behavior, behavioral ecology.
Brittingham, Margaret Professor of Wildlife Resources	mxb21@psu.edu 814-863-8442 (University Park)	Avian ecology; human impacts on bird populations.
Brooks, Robert Professor of Geography and Ecology Director of the Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center	rpb2@psu.edu 814-863-1596 (University Park)	Ecology, management, and restoration of wetland and riparian ecosystems.
Bruns, Mary Ann Associate Professor of Soil Science/Microbial Ecology	mvb10@psu.edu 814-863-0779 (University Park)	Functional ecology of biogeochemically important microbial populations.
Carlo, Tomas Assistant Professor of Biology	tac17@psu.edu 814-863-8274 (University Park)	Seed dispersal processes; bird behavior; plant invasions; tropical ecology; parasitic plants
Cattadori, Isabella Assistant Professor of Biology	imc3@psu.edu 814-865-9594 (University Park)	immuno-epidemiology of co-infection, how host immunity modulates parasite interactions and transmission and how host molecular processes explain the dynamics of infection at the population level
Cole, C. Andrew "Andy" Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Ecology Associate Director, Center for Watershed Stewardship	cac13@psu.edu 814-865-5735 (University Park)	Ecosystem ecology: wetlands, hydrology, restoration, seed banks, plant communities, historical ecology.
Curran, William Professor of Weed Science	wsc2@psu.edu 814-863-1014 (University Park)	Management opportunities for herbaceous perennial and annual species; the effect of cover crops on weed emergence and herbicide efficacy.
De Moraes, Consuelo Professor of Entomology	czd10@psu.edu 814-863-2867 (University Park)	Ecology. Chemical ecology. Tritrophic interactions. Biological control. Plant signaling. Plant-insect-interactions. Plant defenses.
Decoteau, Dennis Professor of Horticulture and Plant Ecosystem Health	drd10@psu.edu 814-865-5587 (University Park)	Air pollution effects on plants and terrestrial ecosystems.
Diefenbach, Duane Adjunct Asst. Professor, Wildlife Ecology; Asst. Unit Leader, PA Coop. Fish & Wildlife Research Unit	ddiefenbach@psu.edu 814-865-4511 (University Park)	Wildlife ecology, estimation of population parameters, and harvest management of game populations.
Drohan, Patrick Assistant Professor of Pedology	pjd7@psu.edu 814-863-4246 (University Park)	Soil formation and biogeochemistry due to land use and ecosystem change; soil and water degradation, and the remediation of soil physical and chemical properties in urban environments.
Eissenstat, David Professor of Woody Plant Physiology Chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology	dme9@psu.edu 814-863-3371 (University Park)	Plant physiological ecology, ecosystem ecology, climate change biology, root and soil ecology.
Ferrari, Matthew Assistant Professor of Biology	mjf283@psu.edu 814-865-6080 (University Park)	Population/Community Ecology, Epidemiology, Statistical, Computational and Mathematical Biology
Finley, James "Jim" Professor of Forest Resources	fj4@psu.edu 814-863-0402 (University Park)	Ecosystem management on mixed ownerships; forest management; private forest owner issues and education; sustainable forestry; human dimensions of natural resources.
Fisher, Charles "Chuck" Professor of Biology	cfisher@psu.edu 814-865-3365 (University Park)	Physiological and community ecology of deep sea hydrothermal vent and cold seep fauna.
Gannon, Michael Professor of Biology	mrg5@psu.edu 814-949-5210 (Altoona)	Tropical and temperate bat ecology; tropical animal ecology; mammal ecology.
Hawkins, Lauraine Assistant Professor of Biology	lkh1@psu.edu 717-749-6237 (Mont Alto)	Ecology of fungi and small mammals; fungal-animal interactions.
Hedges, S. Blair Professor of Biology	sbh1@psu.edu 814-865-9991 (University Park)	Evolutionary ecology. Molecular evolution and systematics of vertebrates; biogeography; connections between biological evolution and Earth history.
Hudson, Peter Director, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences Willaman Professor of Biology	pjh18@psu.edu 814-865-6057 (University Park)	Population dynamics of infectious diseases in wildlife and the dynamics of parasite community structure.
Hughes, David Assistant Professor of Entomology and Biology	dph14@psu.edu 814-863-6073 (University Park)	Parasite manipulation of host behavior
Hurteau, Matthew Assistant Professor of Forest Resources	matthew.hurteau@psu.edu 814-865-7554 (University Park)	Climate change mitigation and adaptation in forested systems.
Isard, Scott Professor of Aerobiology	sai10@psu.edu 814-865-6290 (University Park)	Aerobiology, movement and dispersal of organisms, meteorology, field measurement.
Kaye, Jason Associate Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry	jpk12@psu.edu 814-863-1614 (University Park)	Ecosystem ecology; global change biology; biogeochemistry of nitrogen and carbon cycling in managed and unmanaged ecosystems.
Kaye, Margot Assistant Professor of Forest Ecology	mwk12@psu.edu 814-865-4841 (University Park)	Vegetation dynamics, dendrochronology, disturbance history, paleoclimatology, environmental change.
Koide, Roger Professor of Horticultural Ecology	rxk13@psu.edu 814-863-0710 (University Park)	Plant ecology; ecology of mycorrhizal symbioses; agricultural ecology; community ecology of fungi.
LaJeunesse, Todd Assistant Professor of Biology	tcl3@psu.edu 814-863-2038 (University Park)	Microbial Ecology and Evolution
Langkilde, Tracy Assistant Professor of Biology	tll30@psu.edu 814-867-2251 (University Park)	Population and community ecology: how the nature of interactions between species can shift over time, in response to changes in the environment and corresponding selection pressures.
Lynch, Jonathan Professor of Plant Nutrition	jpl4@psu.edu 814-863-2256 (University Park)	Plant ecophysiology and agroecology; plant adaptation to nutrient stress; biogeochemistry of the Eastern deciduous forest; sustainable international development.
Macalady, Jennifer Associate Professor of Geosciences	jlm80@psu.edu 814-865-6330 (University Park)	Microbial ecology; microbial role in weathering and soil processes; controls on microbial diversity; ecological interactions in microbially dominated systems (ancient earth analogs).
Mahan, Carolyn Professor of Biology	cgm2@psu.edu 814-949-5530 (Altoona)	The study of biodiversity in threatened ecosystems; the effects of human-modified landscapes on wildlife; behavioral ecology of squirrels.
Marden, James "Jim" Professor of Biology	jhm10@psu.edu 814-863-1384 (University Park)	Physiological ecology, functional genomics, evolutionary ecology, and behavior.
Mescher, Mark Assistant Professor of Entomology	mcmescher@psu.edu 814-865-4208 (University Park)	The role of plant volatiles in mediating ecological and evolutionary interactions among plants, insects, and pathogens.
Mortensen, David Professor of Weed Ecology / Biology	dmortensen@psu.edu 814-865-1906 (University Park)	Studies the ecology (dispersal and establishment) and management of weedy and invasive plants. The group conducts research and develops policy on sustainable approaches to invasive plant management in forested and agroecosystems.
Parks, Susan Research Associate	sep20@psu.edu 814-865-7683 (University Park)	Behavioral ecology and acoustic communication of marine mammals.
Post, Eric Professor of Biology	esp10@psu.edu 814-863-8162 (University Park)	Climate change and its effects on life history traits and population and community dynamics.
Read, Andrew Professor of Biology and Entomology Eberly College of Science Distinguished Senior Scholar	afr3@psu.edu 814-867-2396 (University Park)	Evolutionary ecology of host-parasite interactions, particularly virulence, infectiousness, vaccine-driven evolution, and drug and insecticide resistance.
Saunders, Mike Professor of Entomology	mcs5@psu.edu 814-863-2979 (University Park)	Ecology and pest management of arthropods affecting vineyards; design and development of computer-based systems that capture, formalize, and represent qualitative and quantitative knowledge associated with managed and natural systems.
Shapiro, Beth Associate Professor of Biology	bethshapiro@psu.edu 814-867-0224 (University Park)	Molecular ecology; Structure, demographics and evolution of large mammal populations; Ancient DNA.
Shea, Katriona Professor of Biology	k-shea@psu.edu 814-865-7910 (University Park)	Biological invasions; theoretical applied ecology; life history theory.
Smithwick, Erica Assistant Professor of Geography	smithwick@psu.edu 814-865-6693 (University Park)	Landscape and ecosystem ecology. Disturbance ecology & disturbance synergies. Ecosystem simulation models. Climate change and ecosystem carbon storage. Fire and soil nitrogen. Microbial community composition and function. Spatial statistics.
Steiner, Kim Professor of Forest Biology Director, The Arboretum at Penn State	steiner@psu.edu 814-865-9351 (University Park)	The ecology, genecology, and physiological ecology of forest regeneration following disturbance.
Stephenson, Andrew "Andy" Professor of Biology	as4@psu.edu 814-863-1553 (University Park)	Ecology and evolution of plant reproduction. The role of inbreeding and genetic variation on the establishment and transmission of plant diseases.
Tamminga, Kenneth Professor of Landscape Architecture	krt1@psu.edu 814-863-2377 (University Park)	Ecological restoration and design; ecosystems and landscape planning; landscape/community co-resilience during climate change.
Taylor, Alan Professor of Geography	aht1@psu.edu 814-865-1509 (University Park)	Vegetation dynamics; fire and climate variation on community development; environmental conservation.
Tooker, John Assistant Professor	jft11@psu.edu 814-865-1895 (University Park)	Plant-insect interactions, tritrophic interactions, chemical ecology, plant defenses, population and community ecology, agroecosystems, natural-enemy ecology, ecology of gall-inducing insects
Tumlinson, James "Jim" Ralph O. Mumma Professor of Entomology Director, Center for Chemical Ecology	jht2@psu.edu 814-863-1770 (University Park)	Insect chemical ecology; plant-insect interactions; insect attractants.
Wagner, Tyler Adjunct Associate Professor of Fisheries Ecology	txw19@psu.edu 814-863-2513 (University Park)
Wardrop, Denice Senior Research Associate Associate Professor of Geography and Ecology	dhw110@psu.edu 814-863-1005 (University Park)	Impacts of human disturbance on wetlands; plant community dynamics; theoretical applied ecology; landscape analysis.
Zenner, Eric Associate Professor of Silviculture	eric.zenner@psu.edu 814-865-4574 (University Park)	Ecology, management and regeneration of forest ecosystems; community ecology.

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Ecology faculty and research