Sarah Bisbing
Assistant Professor of Forest Ecosystem Science sbisbing@unr.edu |
Sarah joined UNR in Fall 2017 after four years as an Assistant Professor at Cal Poly – SLO. She has a B.S. and M.S. in Forestry from the University of Montana and a PhD in Ecology from Colorado State University. Her research investigates the role that climate, landscape connectivity, and local adaptation play in determining the abundance and distribution of western conifers. She is specifically interested in the ecological, biogeographic, and evolutionary processes that drive demographic patterns and species distributions. Sarah’s teaching emphasizes field-based learning, and she is always up for a trip to a Sierra Nevada forest. When not teaching and researching, you can find her exploring the natural world with her baby boy or running, biking, or climbing with the lab mascot, Dawkins the Dog.
Graduate Students
Tessa Putz
PhD Student Tessa received her BS in Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management from University of Washington in 2014. Her work with a variety of agencies and labs as well as time spent recreating throughout the West inspired her to pursue her own research about our changing landscape. Tessa will begin a PhD in the lab in summer 2018. In her dissertation research, Tessa will study how extended drought and disturbances will affect Great Basin forests across climate gradients. This includes determining functional traits in woody plant species that are resistant to climate change and identifying at-risk ecosystems.
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Lacey Hankin
PhD Student Lacey joined the lab after receiving her MS in Systems Ecology at the University of Montana, Missoula, and her BA from Williams College in Biology and History. She is interested in understanding the patterns and mechanisms of seedling establishment and success following disturbances in the context of ongoing global change, particularly in the arid forests of the Great Basin. Lacey spends all her non-school time skiing, mountain biking, and trail running with her dog!
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Matthew Terzes
M.S. Student Matt is focusing on ecological and microclimatic conditions that drive disease, mortality, and regeneration throughout Pinus radiata populations. In his thesis work, Matt is assessing the interactions between local insect communities and pine pitch cancer (Fusarium circinatum) on mortality in P. radiata stands . One of his favorite aspects of ecological research is the fact that every day in the field provides new observations and opportunities to learn. Matt received his BS in Forestry and Natural Resources from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Spring 2015 and worked as a technician in the lab through Summer 2016.
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Technical Staff
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Daniel Safford
Research Technician Daniel Safford is a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. He has participated in various data collection positions under PhD candidates at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Montana. These positions entailed working in the Yosemite, Plumas, Sierra, Lassen, as well as other national forests. The purpose of these projects was to test a relationship between fire severity and bark-beetle mortality factors and to test the relationship between post fire precipitation patterns and unique tree species regeneration. Daniel has also worked for the Bureau of Reclamation as a civil engineering intern, which involved inspecting and fixing existing water infrastructure in California, Nevada, and southern Oregon. He plans to pursue a master’s in hydrological engineering or science.
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Critters
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Dawkins
Lab Mascot Dawkins the Dog is an active participant in all field studies and takes his responsibilities as poison oak vector, fitness trainer, and lover of all things very seriously. He adores his students and is up for any and all adventures. He serves as Dr. B’s sidekick in field labs and is her best excuse for outdoor adventures. Dawkins loves baby trees, Rancho Marino Reserve, and being chased. He also prefers cool weather and forested ecosystems, just like his momma.
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