Past Lab Members
Melissa DeSiervo
Melissa conducted a study on post-fire plant responses on serpentine soils of California for her thesis. She used the Rich Fire, which burned a portion of the Plumas National Forest, to test the hypothesis that the effects of burning on plant communityes are less pronounced on serpentine than on non-serpentine. She is also involved in a project resurveying 1969 vegetation plots in the Russian Wilderness. Melissa is currently a PhD student at Dartmouth College.
Email: mhd64 at humboldt dot edu
Elizabeth Wu
Elizabeth conducted research on the community genetics of willows and arthropods. She was primarily interested in how intraspecific variation could potentially affect interspecific interactions. In our study at the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, we assessed how a host plant (Salix hookeriana) might structure its arthropod community -- based on the willow's genotypic variation, gender, and environment.
Email: etw@uchicago.edu
April Sahara
For my thesis, I studied the loss of a rare habitat type in northern California: serpentine Jeffrey pine woodlands. In particular, I studied the loss of these woodlands in Redwood National Park, where I used historical aerial photos and dendrochronology techniques to reconstruct the loss of open, savannah-like habitat. Graduated HSU in 2012. Current position: Forestry Consultant and GIS Analyst, BBW Associates, Inc.
Email: eapril.sahara@gmail.com
Helen Kurkjian
For my masters thesis, I conducted a population viability analysis on a rare plant, the Lassics lupine. I am currently pursuing a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley. Graduated HSU in 2012.
Email: helen.kurkjian at berkeley dot edu
Sheilah Lillie
My masters thesis examined the potential effects of wild fire on native bee communities in southwestern Oregon. I worked in two habitats that were burned in the Biscuit fire of 2002, Darlingtonia fens and adjacent forest habitats. Graduated HSU in 2011. Present position: Sr. Environmental Health Specialist, Tolumne County, CA.
Email: sml33@humboldt.edu
Marcus Jones
I graduated with my bachelors degree from HSU in May 2008 and promptly began working on a masters. For my masters, I conducted a large experiment assessing the potential impacts of climate warming on salt marsh vegetation. Graduated HSU in 2011. Present position: Consulting Utility Forester with ACRT Inc.
Email: mdj15@humboldt.edu
Allyson Carroll
I began working in the field of dendrochronology in 1999 at the Tree Ring Lab of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, NY, where I was a technician working on climate reconstructions. In 2000, I joined Erik Jules at Humboldt State University to use crossdating techniques to model disease spread in Port Orford cedar. I currently work with Dr. Steve Sillett of HSU, primarily on redwood dendrochronology projects.
Email: allyson.carroll@gmail.com
David Franklin
David described the nitrogen dynamics of unique serpentine Darlingtonia fens and their adjacent upland habitats in response to the Biscuit Fire of 2002. Current position: Subgrants Manager at Internews Network.
Email: dbf10@humboldt.edu
Jane Cipra
Jane's thesis was on the invasion ecology of the yellow bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus) in Humboldt Bay's coastal dunes. Jane investigated the mechanisms by which lupines facilitate the further spread of non-natives by artificially reproducing the lupines' physical effects: shade, wind absorption, and nitrogen enrichment of the dune soil. Graduated HSU in 2006. Current position: Botanist, Death Valley National Monument.
Email: yana AT xmission DOT com
Jen Palladini
For my masters thesis, I investigated how ant communities are affected by logging and whether these changes could play a role in limiting the recruitment of western trillium (Trillium ovatum) seedlings, whose seeds are adapted for ant dispersal. Graduated HSU in 2004. Current position: PhD candidate at the Univeristy of Montana.
David Loya
Thesis title: Timber harvest effects on redwood understory plant communities: implications of sampling efficacy and richness estimators. David's thesis was the first to apply measures of sampling efficacy toward questions regarding the effects of logging on understory plant species. Graduated HSU in 2004. He is currently a City Planner in Arcata, CA.
Email: dloya1@yahoo.com
Jason Nuckols
Thesis title: Assessing the role of seed banks and fire in the restoration of coastal prairie. Graduated HSU in 2002. Current Position: Biologist, The Nature Conservancy (Willamette Valley Preserve Manager).
Email: jasonnuckols@hotmail.com