Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Faculty Areas of Research (Downloadable PDF)
Jack Brookshire, Associate Professor, Ph.D. 2006, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; M.S. 2000, B.S. 1997, Oregon State University. Biogeochemistry and ecosystem analysis with emphasis on nutrient cycling and limitation.
Interests include: ecosystem response and feedback to atmosphere and climate variation;
watershed biogeochemistry; plant-soil interactions; natural abundance isotope analysis;
ecosystem modeling; global change.
jbrookshire@montana.edu
Timothy Covino, Associate Research Professor; Ph.D. 2012, Montana State University; M.S. 2005, Montana State University; B.A. 2000, University of Colorado. Implications of stream-groundwater exchange on streamflow magnitude and chemistry,
stream-groundwater exchange, nitrogen transport and cycling, and stream network modeling
of biogeochemical and hydrological processes.
timothy.covino@montana.edu
John E. Dore, Associate Research Professor; Ph.D. 1995, University of Hawaii- Minoa; B.S. 1987, University of California- Berkeley. Aquatic biogeochemistry and microbial ecology; nutrient cycling and ecological stoichiometry;
greenhouse gases; effects of climate variability on aquatic ecosystems; stable isotope
biogeochemistry; applied phycology and microbiology.
jdore@montana.edu
Frank Dougher, Instructor, M.S. 2002, Utah State University; B.S. 1992, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. GIS; Remote Sensing; GPS; Geospatial Sciences; Geomorphometry. Consults about and helps support geospatial technologies across campus, with respect to field collection of spatially explicit data, including field preparation and post processing.
Stephanie A. Ewing, Associate Professor; Ph.D. 2007, University of California, Berkeley; M.S. 2000, University of California, Davis; B.A. 1989, Oberlin College. Isotope biogeochemistry of soils in the Earth system. Effects of disturbance (pollution,
climate change) on soil-atmosphere and soil-hydrology interactions. Innovative use
of multiple isotope systems to explore the interaction of geochemical, geomorphic
and biological processes driving biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial environments.
stephanie.ewing@montana.edu
Andrew J. Felton, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. 2018, Colorado State University; B. A. 2014, University of Minnesota. Understanding how water-limited ecosystems respond to climate-driven changes in water availability to discover the mechanisms underpinning large-scale patterns of climate vulnerability
Christine M. Foreman, Professor and Associate Dean, College of Engineering, Ph.D. 1999, University of Toledo; B.S. 1993, Baldwin-Wallace College. Microbial Ecology with an emphasis on the biogeochemisty of dissolved organic matter
(DOM) in aquatic ecosystems. Research focus on hydrocarbon degradation in Antarctic
lake ice, the effects of UV light on the bioavailability of DOM, exoenzyme activity
in Antarctic lakes and biotic and abiotic particles in polar ice cores.
cforeman@montana.edu
Anthony S. Hartshorn, Associate Professor, Ph.D. 2003, University of California, Davis; B.S. 1989, Dartmouth College. Soil-landscape research and education. Interests include geoscience education, plant-soil
interactions, soil respiration, nutrient cycling, land rehabilitation, global change.
anthony.hartshorn@montana.edu
William P. Inskeep, Professor, Ph.D. 1985, University of Minnesota; M.S. 1982, Oregon State University; B.S. 1979, University of Idaho. Study of soil and environmental chemistry including aqueous geochemistry, mineralogy,
geomicrobiology, redox cycling, and chemical fate and transport. Current research
projects focus on the biodegradation of hydrocarbons in soils and natural waters,
the oxidation and reduction of arsenic in soils, and the geomicrobiology of acidic
geothermal systems.
binskeep@montana.edu
Clain A. Jones, Professor, Ph.D. 1998, Montana State University; M.S. 1988, University of Washington; B.S. 1986, Cornell University. Developing educational resources and materials on soil fertility and nutrient management
for county agents, crop advisers, producers and other agricultural professionals;
current primary research emphasis on soil fertility in cropping systems, nutrient
management in conservation tillage systems, and soil testing.
clainj@montana.edu
William Kleindl, Assistant Research Professor, Ph.D. 2014, University of Montana, Missoula; M.S. 1995, University of Washington, Seattle; B.S. 1987, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Socioecological research and education. Interests focus on natural dynamics coupled
with human land use decisions and their effects on ecological structure, function,
and services. This work crosses scale from site to continent with a focus on aquatic
systems.
william.kleindl@montana.edu
John Knowles, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. 2015, University of Colorado; M.A. 2010, University of Colorado; B.A. 2003, Vassar College. Land-atmosphere exchange of water and nutrients; Ecohydrology of water-limited systems; Critical Zone; Network science; Environmental gradients; Nature-based climate solutions.
Jeffrey L. Littlefield, Research Scientist, Ph.D. 1986, University of Wyoming; M.S. 1980, University of Idaho; B.S. & B.S.F. 1975, University of New Hampshire. Biological control of weeds, including the determination of host and habitat specificity,
bionomics, insect-plant interactions, quarantine screening, and field release of potential
bio control agents.
jeffreyl@montana.edu
Jane M. Mangold, Professor, Ph.D. 2004, Montana State University; M.S. 1997, Montana State University; B.S. 1994, Iowa State University. Development and dissemination of information about ecologically-based, integrated
invasive plant management for range and wild lands. Emphasis on restoration/revegetation
of invasive plant-infested landscapes.
jane.mangold@montana.edu
Timothy R. McDermott, Professor; Ph.D. 1989, M.S. 1985, University of Minnesota; B.S. 1982, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Soil and environmental microbiology. Physiology, biochemistry, and genetics of phosphorus
metabolism in the rhizobia as it occurs during symbiosis with the host legume plant;
Microbial and metabolic diversity in geothermally heated soils, including arsenic
and metal transformations.
timmcder@montana.edu
Fabian D. Menalled, Professor, Ph.D. 1996, University of Massachusetts; B.S. 1985, University of Buenos Aires-Argentina. Cropland Weed Specialist. Research and extension focused on integrated management
of agricultural weeds. Understanding the mechanisms conditioning the abundance and
distribution of annual and perennial weeds in agricultural systems. Weed population
and community dynamics, crop-weed competition, herbicide resistance, and weed management
in conventional and alternative cropping systems.
menalled@montana.edu
Perry R. Miller, Professor, Ph.D. 1992, University of Minnesota; M.S. 1989, University of Guelph; B.S. 1984, University of Saskatchewan. Development of diversified cropping systems under water-limited conditions to maintain
or improve soil quality, economic returns and sustainable practices. Resource-use-efficiency
in no-till and organic systems, spring and winter pulse crop agronomy, annual pea
forage and green manure systems, and farming strategies for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
pmiller@montana.edu
Kevin M. O’Neill, Professor, Ph.D. 1981, M.S. 1978, Colorado State University; B.S. 1975, Syracuse University. Insect behavior and ecology, with particular reference to foraging, pollination,
thermoregulation and parental strategies; influence of land management practices on
insect communities; biological constraints on insect population and community sampling.
koneill@montana.edu
Robert A. Payn, Associate Professor, Ph.D. 2009, Colorado School of Mines; M.S. 2004 Virginia Tech; B.S. 1993, The Ohio State University. Role of water movement in the structure and function of watershed ecosystems; integration
of biogeochemical and hydrologic models; inference of watershed ecosystem behavior
from spatially distributed stream water quantity and quality; influence of valley
floor hydrologic systems on whole-watershed behavior and on stream-riparian ecosystem
behavior.
rpayn@montana.edu
Robert K. D. Peterson, Professor, Ph.D. 1995, M.S. 1991, University of Nebraska; B.S. 1987, Iowa State University. Human and ecological risk assessments for agricultural technologies, physiological
responses of plants to biotic stressors, plant-insect interactions, economic decision
level theory and development, and integrated pest management theory.
bpeterson@montana.edu
Geoffrey C. Poole, Professor, Ph.D. 2000, University of Montana; M.S. 1989, Utah State University; B.S. 1987, Cornell University. Emphasis on river ecology, fluvial geomorphology and landscape ecology. Special
interests include the ecology of the hyporheic zone, influence of floodplain geomorphology
or in-stream habitat quality and linkages between riverine habitat diversity and biological
diversity.
gpoole@montana.edu
Scott Powell, Associate Professor, Ph.D. 2004, Montana State University; M.S. 1997, Duke University; B.A. 1993, Macalester College. Forest ecology and dynamics; integration of remote sensing data, GIS, and field
data for ecological applications; modeling aboveground biomass and carbon sequestration;
land cover and land use change analysis; and invasive species monitoring.
spowell@montana.edu
Lisa J. Rew, Professor, Ph.D. 1993, University of Reading, UK; BSc (Hons) 1988 University of Southampton, UK. Weed ecology research, including sampling and predicting weed distributions, and
impacts, in agricultural and wildland systems to improve management efficiency and
environmental sustainability.
lrew@montana.edu
Anish Sapkota, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. 2022, University of California Riverside; MS2018,Montana State University. Research focus on precision agriculture, irrigation and nutrient management, drones and remote sensing, management zone delineation, evapotranspiration, and water and carbon fluxes.
Anna Schweiger, Assistant Professor, PhD 2015, University of Zurich, Switzerland; MS 2010, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, Austria; BS 2007, University of Graz, Austria. Theory and methods for remote sensing of biodiversity and ecosystem function; remote
sensing of plant traits and community composition, plant identification, stress and
disease detection, remotely sensed biodiversity metrics, spectroscopy, grassland,
resource, and movement ecology.
anna.schweiger1@montana.edu
Timothy F. Seipel, Assistant Research Professor & Associate Cropland Weed Specialist, Ph.D. 2012, ETH-Zurich; M.S. 2006 Montana State University; B.S. 2003 Montana State University. Plant and agricultural ecology research focused on patterns and processes associated
with biodiversity; including extension focused on sustainable management of agricultural
weeds.
timothy.seipel@montana.edu
Adam Sigler, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. 2020, Montana State University; M.S. 2008, Montana State University; B.S.
2001, Utah State University. Interdisciplinary water resource research focused on addressing questions for
improving water resource management with sound science.
asigler@montana.edu
Tracy M. Sterling, Professor and Department Head, Ph.D. 1988, University of Wisconsin; M.S. 1985, Michigan State
University; B.S. 1983, University of Minnesota. Weed physiology research centering on understanding how
environmental, insect and herbicide stresses influence crop and weed productivity.
Emphasis on role of oxidative
stress tolerance mechanisms in weed/crop interactions, and alkaloid biosynthesis by
the locoweed/endophyte
complex.
tracy.sterling@montana.edu
David K. Weaver, Professor, Ph.D. 1990, McGill University; B.S. 1984, Dalhousie University. Chemical ecology and
behavior, biological control, plant-insect interactions, and spatial ecology. Research
includes plant and insect
semiochemical interactions, biological control of insects and weeds in agricultural
and rangeland communities,
host plant resistance, and stored-product entomology.
weaver@montana.edu
William Wetzel, Associate Professor, Ph.D. 2015, University of California, Davis; BA 2006, Williams College. Plant-insect and plant-herbivore interactions.
Catherine A. Zabinski, Professor; Ph.D. 1991, University of Minnesota; B.A. 1983, College of St. Benedict, Minn.
Teaching focus on restoration ecology and plant and soil ecology. Research interests
in belowground plant ecology,
invasive species biology, and restoration ecology, with an emphasis on soil biota.
cathyz@montana.edu
For further information, contact:
Jill Scarson
Academic Program Coordinator
Land Resources & Environmental Sciences
Montana State University
334 Leon Johnson Hall - P.O. Box 173120
Bozeman, MT 59717-3120
Phone: 406-994-3090 - Fax: 406-994-3993
lresinfo@montana.edu
http://landresources.montana.edu/
October 2021