Our members come from an array of colleges and departments at MTU and partner organizations. Scroll down to look through the entire list.
Center Director and Staff
- Professor, Biological Sciences
- Director, Ecosystem Science Center
- Director, Aquatic Analysis (AQUA) Shared Facility
- ammarcar@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2867
- Dow 727
Research Interests
- Limnology
- Ecosystem Ecology of Streams and Rivers
- Biogeochemistry
- Center Manager, Ecosystem Science Center
- jwhenqui@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1670
- Noblet Building 129
Links of Interest
Specialties
- Proposal Writing and Grant Management
- Aquatic Invasive Species Policy
- Environmental Planning
- Natural Resources Law
Members
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- adyreson@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1173
- MEEM 930
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Solar photovoltaic and thermal power plants
- Electricity grid operational modeling
- Energy-water nexus
Research Interests
- Impacts of climate change on electric power systems
- Energy transitions in cold climates
- Solar photovoltaic design for cold climates
- Heat pump performance
- Thermal power plant modeling
- Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- Faculty Advisor, Green Campus Enterprise
- rhandler@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3612
- H-STEM 235
Courses
- ENG 4515/5515 Introduction to Sustainability and Resilience
- ENG 4525/5525 Systems Analysis for Sustainability and Resilience
- CM 3980 Sustainable Chemical Engineering
- Green Campus Enterprise
Research Interests
- Life-cycle assessment
- Sustainability and resilience
- Food, Energy, and Water systems
- Sustainable materials and manufacturing
- Ecosystem services
- Aquaponics and hydroponics
Hannah Abbotts
- Research Scientist
- Content Manager, USDA Climate Hubs and FS Climate Change Resource Center
- hwabbott@mtu.edu
- 906-482-6303 X1335
- Forest Service Building
- Assistant Professor of Economics, College of Business
- jlapries@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2223
- Academic Office Building 123
Teaching Interests
- Principles of Economics
- Microeconomics
- Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Research Interests
- Coupled human and environmental systems
- Fishery economics and management
- Computable General Equilibrium Modeling
- Regional economic modeling
- Assistant Professor, Forest Health
- Master of Forestry Degree Program Director
- Wood Protection Group, Microbiology/Pathology Lab Leader
- tlbal@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1898
- Noblet Building 112
Teaching Interests
- Forest Health
- Forest Entomology
- Forest Pathology
- Wild Foods, Maple Syrup & Culture
- Professionalism
Areas of Expertise
- Forest Health Management and Monitoring
- Forest Education, Diversity and Inclusion in Forestry and Natural Resources
- Invasion Ecology
- Wood Decay Testing and Pathology
- Insect, Fungi, and Environmental Education, Pedagogy
- Assistant Teaching Professor/Researcher
- Program Director, MGIS Online Program
- ppbhatt@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2291
- Noblet Building 189-190
Areas of Expertise
- Geographical Information Systems
- Remote Sensing
- Digital Image Processing (Multispectral, LiDAR, UAV, Hyperspectral)
- Land use/cover Mapping
- Natural Habitat Community Mapping
- Invasive Species Mapping
- Forest Health and Natural Resource Management
- Spatial Data Analysis
- Web GIS/ArcGIS Online
- Associate Professor, Computer Science
- Associate Dean of Data Science Initiatives, College of Computing
- Director, Data Science, M.S. and B.S. Programs
- lebrown@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3472
- Rekhi Hall 307
Area of Expertise
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Data Mining and Data Science
- Applications of AI and ML to Energy (microgrids, power systems), Health, and other domains
- Assistant Professor
- kbrzeski@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1093
- Noblet Building 172
Areas of Expertise
- Conservation genetics
- Canid genomics
- Noninvasive methods in wildlife management
- Wildlife immuno- & epi- genetics
- Applied conservation in Central Africa
"Every day in the woods is a good day - don't get so caught up in the work at hand that you forget to look around and appreciate where you are."
- Distinguished Professor
- Interim Associate Dean for Research
- Coordinator of Interdisciplinary, Multi-Institutional Research
- ajburton@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2566
- Noblet Building 174
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Forest responses to global change factors
- Belowground processes
- Carbon and nutrient cycling
- Physiological ecology of tree roots
- Undergraduate involvement in research
"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace."
—Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
—Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
- Associate Professor, Silviculture
- jiburton@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2387
- Noblet Building 170
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Silviculture
- Functional ecology
- Conservation of biodiversity in managed forests
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Forest community and stand dynamics
- Disturbance ecology
- Associate Professor, Environmental/Energy Justice
Areas of Expertise
- Environmental & rural sociology
- Community-based and participatory research
- Social movements and social change
- Gender & ecofeminism
- Agrifood systems
- Interim Associate Dean & Professor
- Director of Graduate Studies
- macavale@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2843
- Noblet Building 162
Links of Interest
- Tropical Responses to Altered Climate Experiment (TRACE)
- Follow on Twitter: @MollyCavaleri
Areas of Expertise
- Forest canopy structure and function
- Forest response to global change
- Carbon and water cycling through forests
- Tree ecophysiology
- Stable isotope ecology
- Invasive tree species
- Professor
- rchimner@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1464
- Noblet Building 114
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Peatland and wetland restoration
- Peatland and wetland carbon cycling
- Mountain wetlands
- Tropical peatlands
- Ecosystem carbon cycling
- Wetland ecohydrology
- Assistant Teaching Professor
- srcotey@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2953
- Noblet Building 120
Areas of Expertise
- Mesocarnivore ecology
- Landscape ecology
- Wildlife-habitat relationships
- Conservation planning
- Science communication
- Citizen science
Jennifer Eikenberry
- Assistant Research Scientist
- jreikenb@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1774
- Noblet Building 165
Areas of Expertise
- Stable isotopes
- Forest ecology
- Mass spectrometry
- Dean and Professor, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
- Director of Undergraduate Programs
- djflaspo@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2253
- Noblet Building 115
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Conservation biology
- Avian ecology and reproduction
- Cascading effects of deer overbrowse
- Island ecology
- Assistant Professor, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
- Affiliated Assistant Professor, Humanities
- vsgagnon@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2180
- Noblet Building 168
Research Interests
- University-Community Partnerships, research engagement, and equitable practice and design
- Environmental Justice and Policy, toxic substances, risk management, and promoting holistic health
- Indigenous / Native American Studies, treaties and the government-to-government relationship, food sovereignty, and Indigenous wisdom in the Great Lakes region
- Environmental Stewardship and the Seven Generations Philosophy
- Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- jiehongg@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3533
- Dow 861
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Qualitative and quantitative mass spectrometry application
- Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic pollutants (PBTs) monitoring
- Fate and transport of PBTs in aquatic environment
- Biomarkers of DNA damage induced by carcinogens
- Associate Vice President for Research Development
- University Professor of Natural Resource Policy
- Joint Appointment in Social Sciences and CFRES
- kehalvor@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3098
- Lakeshore Center 304
Areas of Expertise
- Climate change mitigation policy
- Arctic climate change impacts
- Energy conservation policy
- Renewable energy policy
- Indigeneity and climate policy
- Center Manager, Ecosystem Science Center
- jwhenqui@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1670
- Noblet Building 129
Links of Interest
Specialties
- Proposal Writing and Grant Management
- Aquatic Invasive Species Policy
- Environmental Planning
- Natural Resources Law
- Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
- eherschg@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3351
- Dow 730
Current Research Interests
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology
- Ecological and Community Genetics
- Genome Size and Polyploidy Evolution
- Invasive Species Biology and Integrated Socio-Environmental Systems
Sarah Hoy
- Research Assistant Professor
- srhoy@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3292
- Noblet Building 188
Specialties
- Predator-prey interactions
- Animal ecology and conservation
- Population biology
- Life-history trade-offs
- Department Chair, Biological Sciences
- Professor, Biological Sciences
- cjhuckin@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2475
- Dow 741
Links of Interest
Research Expertise
- Ecology of lakes, streams, and their riparian interface with terrestrial systems
- Fish ecology, biology, functional morphology
- effects of land use on ecological systems
- Biomonitoring for research and restoration
- Effects of Invasive Species
"A good map tells a multitude of little white lies; it suppresses truth to help the user see what needs to be seen. ...the value of a map depends on how well its content reflects a chosen aspect of reality."
—Mark Monmonier
—Mark Monmonier
- Teaching Professor
- Master of Geographic Information Science Degree Program Director
- mdhyslop@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2308
- Noblet Building 140A
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Geographic information systems
- Cartography
- Global positioning systems
- Great Lakes Quaternary (glacial) geomorphology
- Deputy Director, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, USFS
- 906-482-6303 x1329
- USFS Northern Research Station
Links of Interest
Specialties
- Translating science related to climate change and carbon into usable information, resources, and tools for forestry and conservation professionals.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference"
—Robert Frost
—Robert Frost
- Assistant Teaching Professor
- mpjarvi@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2596
- Noblet 184
Areas of Expertise
-
Forest ecology with an emphasis on belowground processes
- Ecophysiology
- Forest response to global climate change
- Tree species native range differences in nutrient cycling
- Forestry and natural resource issues identified through the use of multispectral and hyperspectral imagery attached to unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)
- Emeritus Research Professor, Biological Sciences
- Affiliated Professor, CFRES
- cpjoshi@mtu.edu
- Dow 724
Research Interests: Biological Sciences
- Plant Molecular Genetics
Areas of Expertise: Biology and Forestry
- Cellulose and lignin biosynthesis in trees
- Wood formation
- Tree growth and development
- Engineering trees
- Forest bioinformatics/computational biology
- Research Professor
- mfjurgen@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2206
- Noblet Building 137
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Forest soil productivity, management and sustainability
- Global climate change impact on soil biology
- Organic matter decomposition and ecosystem nutrient cycling
- Professor
- eskane@mtu.edu
- 906-482-6303 x1318
- Forest Service Building 123
Areas of Expertise
- Soil carbon
- Plant/soil relationships
- Decomposition
- Dissolved organic carbon
- Wildfire
- Black carbon
"Forestry will become a major provider of key materials; from construction to high-tech to biofuels. It is our job to ensure trees thrive."
- Associate Professor
- ckulheim@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1615
- Noblet 167
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Genetic basis of trait variation
- Plant adaptation to local environment
- Plant secondary metabolism
- Chemical ecology including plant –herbivore interactions
- Functional genomics of plant defences
Adrienne Keller
- Climate Adaptation Specialist, NIACS
- kellerab@mtu.edu
- 906-482-6303
- Forest Service Building
Areas of Expertise
- Climate change
- Land management
- Terrestrial ecosystem ecology
- Soil carbon science
- Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- jaesungk@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3419
- Dow 812
Courses Taught
- SU 4140 - Photogrammetry and UAV Mapping
- SU 5541 - Close-range Photogrammetry
- SU 5998 - Practical Experience in Integrated Geospatial Technology
Research Interests
- Photogrammetry
- Remote Sensing
- Geodesy
- GIS
- Geospatial Cyberinfrastructure
- Application of geospatial technology to agriculture and environmental science
Angela Lafuente
- Post-Doctoral Researcher, CFRES
- alafuent@mtu.edu
- Noblet G026
Areas of Expertise
- Climate Change
- Soil Ecology
- Soil Respiration
- Biogeochemical Cycling
- Distinguished Professor of Environmental History, Social Sciences
- Affiliated Professor, CFRES
Areas of Interest
- Toxics, forested watersheds, and northern lakes
- Environmental history
- Watershed change and water quality
- Mining history
"Change is the norm in ecosystems. What is new is the rate of change. How we respond to this change will be our legacy to future generations."
- Adjunct Professor
- elilleskov@fs.fed.us
- 906-482-6303
- Forest Service Building
Areas of Expertise
- Forest ecology
- Ecosystems ecology
- Physiological ecology
- Community ecology
- Fungal ecology
- Mycorrhizal fungi
- Molecular ecology
- Soil ecology
- Global environmental change impacts on forest ecosystems
- Invasive species impacts
- Biogeography of invasive soil organisms
"Water is the new oil: a resource long squandered and soon to be overwhelmed by insatiable demand."
—The Economist
—The Economist
- Associate Professor
- fliu7@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1089
- Noblet 171
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Ecohydrology and forest hydrology
- Hydrological and biogeochemical processes in snowmelt-dominated watersheds
- Black ash wetland ecosystem processes
- Assistant Professor in Remote Sensing and GIS
- taoliu@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1720
- Noblet Building 169
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Remote sensing
- Change detection
- Natural disaster mapping
- Invasive species mapping
- Landcover mapping
- Vegetation property extraction with remote sensing techniques
- Professor Emerita
- amaclean@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2030
- Noblet Building 189
Areas of Expertise
- Remote sensing
- Digital image processing
- Geographic information systems
- Spatial modeling
- Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Social Sciences
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Environmental anthropology/political ecology
- Anthropology of industry (mining, sugar)
- Hawai`i and the Pacific
- Anthropology of public policy
- Professor, Biological Sciences
- Director, Ecosystem Science Center
- Director, Aquatic Analysis (AQUA) Shared Facility
- ammarcar@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2867
- Dow 727
Research Interests
- Limnology
- Ecosystem Ecology of Streams and Rivers
- Biogeochemistry
- Research Associate Professor
- Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
- lenave@mtu.edu
- Forest Service Building
Links of Interest
Specialties
- Forest ecology
- Soil carbon management
- Biogeochemistry
- Data synthesis and meta-analysis
- Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
- jaolin@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1121
- GLRC 221
Research Interests
- Community Ecology
- Trophic Interactions
- Marine Ecology
- Ecogeochemical Tracer Techniques
- Director, Center for Science and Environmental Outreach
- Director, Family Engineering Program
- Staff, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- teoliver@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2412
- Dow 819
- Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
- rgong1@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2662
- Chem Sci 717A
Links of Interest
Courses Taught
- CM5300 – Advanced Transport Phenomena
- CM3979/ENT3979 – Alternative Energy Processes and Technologies
- CM4125 - Bioprocess Engineering Lab
Research Interests
- Lignocellulosic-Based Biofuels and Biomaterials
- Sustainability of Bioenergy Production Systems
- Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
- gpaterso@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1120
- GLRC 205
Areas of Expertise
- Legacy and emerging pollutants
- Ecotoxicology
- Great Lakes fisheries
- Multiple stressors
- Fisheries bioenergetics
Positions Available
Research Interests
- Using pollutants as ecological tracers
- Overwintering bioaccumulation and bioamplification
- Energy dynamics in Great Lakes food-webs
- Energetic costs of multiple stressors
- Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- jperl@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3641
- Dow 863
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Environmental Engineering
- Transport & Transformation of Organic Chemicals
- Boundary Layer Meteorology
- Sustainability
Research Interests
- Air and Water Quality
- Atmosphere-biosphere Exchange of Chemicals
- Micrometeorology
- Environmental Analytical Chemistry
- Sustainability
- Research Professor
- ropeters@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2179
- Noblet Building 173
Areas of Expertise
- Mammalian ecology
- Predator-prey relationships
- Ecology and behavior of gray wolves
- Research Assistant Professor
- Coordinator, Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA)
- scresh@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1139
- Noblet Building 116
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Invasive species research, treatments, and education/outreach
- Forest restoration
- Soil sustainability
- Interim Chair, Social Sciences
- Associate Professor, Social Sciences
Research Interests
- Interdisciplinary studies
- Social simulation (agent-based modeling)
- Policy analysis
- International relations
- Sustainability assessment
- Complex adaptive systems
- Norm evolution and social influence
- STEM education evaluation
- Research design and methods
- Professor of Practice in Forest Biomaterials
- Coordinator of Industrial Research, Innovation, and Commercialization
- Director of Ford Center and Forest
- mrudnick@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2603
- Noblet Building 175
Areas of Expertise
- Forest Biomaterials
- Tree biomechanics
- Wind and trees
- Dendrochronology
- Extension and Outreach
- Assistant Professor, Applied Computing
- Affiliated Faculty, Computational Science & Engineering
- ashraf@mtu.edu
- (906) 487-2384
- EERC 312
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Image Enahancment
-
UAV-based Remote Sensing
-
Artificial Intelligence Applications in Remote Sensing
-
Computer Vision and AI
- Data acquisition and real-time control
- Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences
- Affiliated Professor, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
- Director of Research, Center for Innovation in Sustainability & Resilience
Research Interests
- Socio-technological systam transitions
- Technology adoption
- Energy policy
- Energy practices
- Sustainable communities
- Self-provisioning
- Environmental education
Danielle Shannon
- Research Scientist
- Coordinator, USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub
- Research Professor
- Dean Emeritus & Professor Emeritus
Areas of Interest/Study
- Academic leadership in natural resources
- Educational reform in natural resources
- Trends in natural resource enrollments
- Regeneration ecology of forests
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Psychology and Human Factors
Research Interests
- Cognitive demand of physical tasks
- Cognitive state assessment
- Multitasking
- Sustained attention
- Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Professor, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
- storer@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2440
- Administration Building 505A
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Forest insect ecology
- Insect/fungus/plant interactions in forest ecosystems
- Impacts of exotic species on forest ecosystems
- Interactions among fire, insects and disease in forests
- Urban forest health
- Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
- Associate Director, Great Lakes Research Center
- smtechtm@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3250
- Dow 531
Research Interests
- Environmental Microbiology
- Next-generation sequencing technology and bioinformatics/computational biology
- Microbial physiology and biochemistry
- Microbes as sensors for the environmental impacts of oil and gas production
- Microbially-mediated remediation of crude oil contamination
- Sustainability and plastic biodegradation
Colin Tucker
- Research Ecologist, USFS Northern Research Station
- colin.tucker@usda.gov
- 906-482-6303 x1314
- US Forest Experiment Station
Specialties
- Ecosystem and Soil Ecology
- Ecosystem Modeling
- Biogeochemistry
Rob Tunison
- Post-doctoral Researcher, CFRES
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Plant physiology
- Climate change
- Tropical Ecology
- Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- nurban@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3640
- 306 GLRC
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Environmental cycles of major and trace elements
- Sediment diagenesis and stratigraphy
- Chemistry of natural organic matter
- Wetland biogeochemistry
- Environmental impact and fate of pollutants
- Influence of organisms on the chemical environment
- Role of chemical environment in controlling populations
- Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
- tjvickma@mtu.edu
- GLRC 220
Links of Interest:
Research Interests
- Microbial Ecology
- Biogeochemistry
- Limnology
- Cryosphere
- Associate Professor of Forest Ecology & Management
- slvoelke@mtu.edu
- 541-864-0810
- Noblet Building 178
- Distinguished Professor
- javuceti@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1711
- Noblet Building 186
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Demographic and genetic elements of population biology
- Ecology of wolves and moose
- Environmental ethics
"Whether working with students in the lab, field or classroom, nothing beats seeing the spark of understanding ignite a passion for learning."
- Research Assistant Professor
- lmvuceti@mtu.edu
- 906-370-2374
- Noblet Building 188
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Isle Royale wolf genetics
- Field research methods
- Professor
- cwebster@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3618
- Noblet Building 166
Areas of Expertise
- Gap dynamics and disturbance ecology
- Invasion biology of exotic species
- Landscape ecology
- Plant community ecology
- Restoration silviculture
- Wildlife habitat relationships
- Professor
- Editor-in-Chief, Forestry Research (ForRes)
- Affiliated Professor, Department of Computer Science & Department of Mathematics
- hairong@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1473
- Noblet Building 176
Software developed by Wei group
- JRmGRN
- Top-down GGM
- Bottom-up GGM
- CollaborativeNet
- TGMI
- TGPred
- HB-PLS
- BWERF
- SPLS
- TF-finder
Research Interests
- Bioinformatics tool and software development
- Identification of genes regulating complex traits via systems biology approaches
- Algorithms for gene network construction;
- Genomics of wood formation
- Functional genomics.
-
Genome Assembly and annotation
- Professor of Sociology and Demography, Social Sciences
- rwinkler@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1886
- (On Academic Leave Fall '24, Spring '25)
Areas of Expertise
- Rural Sociology
- Population and Environment
- Environmental Sociology
- Community Engaged Scholarship
- Internal Migration
- GIS and spatial analysis
- Assistant Professor
- jdwolfe@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3608
- Noblet Building
Fields of Expertise
- Wildlife conservation in working landscapes
- Temperate and tropical avian ecology
- Demographic modeling
- Avian molts and plumage
- Associate Professor of Forest Biomaterials
- xinfengx@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2294
- Noblet Building 110
Areas of Expertise
- Carbon materials derived from wood, lignin, and cellulose
- Integrated thermochemical conversion and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass
- Carbon-polymer composites and hybrid materials
- Wood protection and preservation
- Wood properties, quality, and modification
"The RNA regulatory system might have been essential prerequisite to both the evolution of developmentally sophisticated multicellular organisms and the rapid expansion of phenotypic complexity into uncontested environment."
- Assistant Professor
- yinyuan@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1835
- Noblet Building 180
Areas of Expertise
- Identification and characterization of natural antisense transcripts in woody plants
- Functionality of alternative splicing and fusion RNAs in plant growth and development
- Sequencing complex plant transcriptome through targeted nanopore direct RNA sequencing methods