I am a Supervisory Research Ecologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in Corvallis, Oregon. My research focuses on how global and local stressors- especially climate variability, grazing, and fire- interact to shape ecosystem structure and function in rangelands.
I am a plant ecologist keenly interested in how environmental variability, disturbance, and global change influence vegetation patterns, and in the management and restoration of ecosystems in a changing world. My research brings both complementary and new dimensions to FRESC’s rangeland research portfolio and greatly increases our ability to work with land managers to address their many complex challenges. I am also an affiliate of the Northwest and North Central Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs), working to co-produce actionable science for tribal, federal, and state partners across the Northwest and North Central CASC regions.
During my post-doctoral appointment at the University of Oregon, I worked closely with rangeland ecologists from the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Bureau of Land Management in eastern Oregon to understand how climate, grazing, and fire influence exotic annual grass invasion in sagebrush rangelands at management-relevant scales. I studied similar interactions and woody cover dynamics in the savanna ecosystems of South Africa, in collaboration with South African National Parks scientists, while earning my PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University.
I have benefited from exceptional mentorship in building my own scientific career, and care deeply about mentorship and outreach. I have previously worked in environmental education as a Luce Scholar in Vietnam, and I always enjoy opportunities to mentor the next generation of scientists, whether through mentorship programs, research advising, or thoughtful and inclusive mentorship of field crews.
I grew up in Oregon, and now live in Eugene with my husband, cat, and two chickens. When not out on the range or behind the computer, I enjoy hiking, reading, cooking, and board games.
Science and Products
Climate-Smart Vegetation Treatments - Using 15 Years of SageSTEP Data to Inform Management of Resilient Ecosystems
SageSTEP – Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project
Pinyon-Juniper Disturbance Effects on Wildlife
Quantifying Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sagebrush Rangelands
Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
Science and Products
- Publications
- Science
Climate-Smart Vegetation Treatments - Using 15 Years of SageSTEP Data to Inform Management of Resilient Ecosystems
Land managers require clear, forward-looking information about where and how vegetation treatments may make the greatest difference for drought resilience in sagebrush and woodland ecosystems. We are using soil moisture and vegetation data from SageSTEP-- a long-term ecological study on fuel treatments in the Great Basin-- to analyze soil moisture dynamics and vegetation responses after common...SageSTEP – Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project
The Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project--or SageSTEP-- is a regional experiment taking place across six states in the Great Basin. A multidisciplinary team of scientists are evaluating methods of sagebrush steppe restoration to inform land managers working to protect one of the most threatened land types in North America. SageSTEP is the longest running and largest replicated ecological...Pinyon-Juniper Disturbance Effects on Wildlife
Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey are reviewing, summarizing, and analyzing what is currently known about changes happening in pinyon-juniper ecosystems in the western U.S. in response to tree removal treatments. Although tree removal can help restore sagebrush ecosystems, these treatments also impact wildlife, wildfire fuels, and invasive plants. This project will help identify key...Quantifying Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sagebrush Rangelands
Management partners have identified a major need to understand the short and long-term consequences of altered wildfire patterns, vegetation change, climate change, and management actions for the carbon cycle. This project aims to quantify carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions in sagebrush rangelands. Researchers will link findings to the Sagebrush Conservation Design Framework and provide...Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
Increased wildfire-induced loss of sagebrush in North American shrublands are outpacing natural recovery and leading to substantial habitat loss for sagebrush-obligate species like sage-grouse. The products and information developed for this project will help restoration practitioners, biologists, and land managers evaluate the efficacy of sagebrush restoration approaches as well as their ability...