Michael Runge, Ph.D.
Michael Runge is a research ecologist at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville, WV.
Michael has worked at the Eastern Ecological Science Center since 1999.
Professional Experience
2001-present Research Ecologist at USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (Previously Patuxent Wildlife Research Center)
2009 to 2010 visiting scientist at the University of Melbourne, School of Botany
1989 to 1994 taught math and science at St. Francis High School in Louisville, Kentucky
Education and Certifications
B.A. in biology and philosophy (1989) from the Johns Hopkins University
M.A.T. (Master of Arts in Teaching) in biology (1994) from Spalding University
Ph.D. in wildlife science (1999),with minors in biometrics and agricultural economics, from Cornell University
Honors and Awards
Regional Director’s Award for Excellence in Communication. USGS Western Region. November 2007. “In recognition of outstanding science leading to enhanced understanding of the relation bet
Unit Award for Excellence of Service. U.S. Department of Interior. November 2007. In recognition of the outstanding contributions of the International Polar Bear Science Team
Unit Award for Excellence of Service. U.S. Department of Interior. September 2007. In recognition of introducing the adaptive management initiative across the Department
Regional Director’s Conservation Award, USFWS Region 4. May 2007. For contributions to and partnership in the science and recovery efforts of the Florida manatee.
Extraordinary Contribution. Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, USFWS. June 2003. For extraordinary contributions to Fulfilling the Promise.
Superior Service Award. United States Department of Interior. October 2005. For making your science available to natural resource managers for use in their management decisions
STAR Award - USFWS Region 5. June 2004. For outstanding contributions to improving wildlife management science on National Wildlife Refuges
STAR Award - USGS. August 2003. For supporting the USFWS in the manatee incidental take rule-making.
STAR Award - PWRC, U.S. Geological Survey. January 2002. For helping organize and present the Adaptive Management Workshop at the 2001 Wildlife Society Meeting.
STAR Award - PWRC, U.S. Geological Survey. January 2002. For helping organize and present the Adaptive Management Workshop at the 2001 Wildlife Society Meeting.
Gamma Sigma Delta. Cornell University. Election, May 1998.
Delta Epsilon Sigma. Spalding University. Election, April 1994.
Phi Beta Kappa. Johns Hopkins University. Election, March 1988.
Presidential Scholar. The White House. June 1985.
Science and Products
The value of information is context dependent: A demonstration of decision tools to address multispecies river temperature management under uncertainty
Epidemiological modeling of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) reveals conditions for introduction and widespread transmission
Reframing wildlife disease management problems with decision analysis
Decision analysis to advance environmental sustainability
Evaluation of the US COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub for informing pandemic response under uncertainty
Evaluating management alternatives for Wyoming elk feedgrounds in consideration of chronic wasting disease
Executive SummaryThe authors used decision and modeling analyses to evaluate management alternatives for a decision on whether to permit Cervus canadensis (elk) feeding on two sites on Bridger-Teton National Forest, Dell Creek and Forest Park. Supplemental feeding of elk could increase the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) locally and disease spread regionally, potentially impacting el
Knowledge gaps, uncertainties, and opportunities regarding the response of the Chesapeake Bay estuary to restoration efforts
The changing dynamics of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1: Next steps for management & science in North America
Multiple models for outbreak decision support in the face of uncertainty
A simplified method for value of information using constructed scales
Unstructured-grid approach to develop high-fidelity groundwater model to understand groundwater flow and storage responses to excessive groundwater withdrawals in the Southern Hills aquifer system in southeastern Louisiana (USA)
Qualitative value of information provides a transparent and repeatable method for identifying critical uncertainty
Disease Decision Analysis and Research
COVID-19 Pathways and Wildlife Dynamics
Decision Science Support for SARS-CoV-2 Risk to North American Bats
Decision science support for Chronic Wasting Disease
Is timing really everything? Evaluating Resource Response to Spring Disturbance Flows
Markov decision processes in non-autonomous socio-ecological systems
Informing Management of Waterfowl Harvest in a Changing Climate
Population Ecology of Florida Manatees
Environmental Management of Vector-borne Diseases
Structured Decision Making
Decision-Support for Migratory Bird Management in the Face of Uncertainty
Integrating Habitat and Harvest Management for Northern Pintails
Decision-Support Framework for Linking Regional-Scale Management Actions to Continental-Scale Conservation of Wide-Ranging Species
An expert elicitation process to project the frequency and magnitude of Florida manatee mortality events caused by red tide (Karenia brevis)
Optimal harvest of a theoretical population under system change
whitetailedSIRS: A package to project SARS-CoV-2 outbreak dynamics in white-tailed deer
Decision-Support Tool to Estimate SARS-CoV-2 Human-to-bat Transmission Risk
Science and Products
The value of information is context dependent: A demonstration of decision tools to address multispecies river temperature management under uncertainty
Epidemiological modeling of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) reveals conditions for introduction and widespread transmission
Reframing wildlife disease management problems with decision analysis
Decision analysis to advance environmental sustainability
Evaluation of the US COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub for informing pandemic response under uncertainty
Evaluating management alternatives for Wyoming elk feedgrounds in consideration of chronic wasting disease
Executive SummaryThe authors used decision and modeling analyses to evaluate management alternatives for a decision on whether to permit Cervus canadensis (elk) feeding on two sites on Bridger-Teton National Forest, Dell Creek and Forest Park. Supplemental feeding of elk could increase the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) locally and disease spread regionally, potentially impacting el