January 20, 2018 Webster-23

Christopher R. Webster

School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science

1400 Townsend Drive; Houghton, MI 49931-1295

Phone: (906) 487-3618; Email:

EDUCATION

University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

PhD Forestry, August 2002 (G.P.A. 3.92/4.00)

Minor: Quantitative Ecology

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

MS Forest Science, December 1997 (G.P.A. 4.00/4.00)

BS (with highest distinction) Wildlife Science, May 1994 (G.P.A. 3.92/4.00)

Academic Honors

Gamma Sigma Delta (Biology Honor Society); Raferty Award (Wildlife Leadership Award); School of Forestry and Natural Resources Outstanding Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior; Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society); Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshman Honor Society); Xi Sigma Pi (Forestry Honor Society); Golden Key National Honor Society; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

AWARDS

×  Nominee: Outstanding Graduate Mentor, Michigan Technological University, 2012.

×  Academy of Teaching Excellence Inductee, Michigan Technological University, 2009.

×  Distinguished Teaching Award Finalist, Michigan Technological University, 2009.

×  Graduate Dean's Award for Student Mentoring, Michigan Technological University, 2007.

WORK EXPERIENCE

8/12-present Professor: Quantitative Ecology and Forest Management

Michigan Technological University (MTU), MI.

8/08-7/12 Associate Professor: Quantitative Ecology and Forest Management

Michigan Technological University (MTU), MI.

8/02-7/08 Assistant Professor: Quantitative Ecology and Forest Management

Michigan Technological University (MTU), MI.

9/98 to 8/02 Research Assistant: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.

Advisor: Dr. Craig G. Lorimer

1/96 to 12/97 Research Assistant: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Advisor: Dr. George R. Parker

8/95 to 11/95 Land Condition Trend Analysis Technician: USM, Hattiesburg, MS.

10/94 to 6/95 Peace Corps, Volunteer Wildlife Biologist: Kodarawa, Niger, West Africa.

5/93 to 8/94 Forestry and Wildlife Technician: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Teaching Experience

8/08 to pres. Professor

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

I currently teach Vegetation of North America (FW2010; 4 cr.), Multi-Resource Assessment (FW3190; 3 cr.), and Plant Community Ecology (FW5135; 3 cr.) and co-teach Identification and Biology of Forest Vegetation (FW5020, 2 cr.). I have also co-taught Restoration Ecology (FW5115; 3 cr.).

8/11 to 12/12 Academic Coordinator, Integrated Field Practicum

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

The Integrated Field Practicum (IFP) is a full semester, junior-level, intensive, field-based educational experience taken by all of the undergraduate majors in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. There is also an IFP program tract for Masters of Forestry and Masters International (Peace Corps) students. In addition to teaching a core class, as coordinator, I am responsible for logistics, supervising Teaching and Residential Assistants, scheduling, and implantation and administration of integrated final student projects (mini-capstone experience). I also chair a student advisory committee and serve as a liaison with Student Residential Services, the Ford Forestry Center, and other units on campus as necessary.

8/08 to 7/12 Associate Professor

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

I currently teach Multi-Resource Assessment (FW3190; 3 cr.) and Plant Community Ecology (FW5135; 2 cr.) and co-teach Restoration Ecology (FW5115; 3 cr.). I have also taught Integrated Resource Assessment (FW4810) and Silviculture (FW 3010; 4 cr.).

6/27/11 Instructor: ED 5630 Forest Ecology & Resources Teacher Institute

Michigan Technological University

5/10-13 Instructor: USDA Forest Service National Advanced Silviculture Program (NASP): Ecological Systems

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

3/09 and 2-3/10 Instructor: Michigan Tech Future Fuels from Forests High School Field Trips. Taught 4 session in 2009 and 5 in 2010 on how trees grow and sustainability and biodiversity issues in forests managed for bioenergy production.

8/02 to 7/08 Assistant Professor

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

As an assistant professor, I taught Integrated Resource Assessment (FW4810; 4 cr.) and co-taught Wildlife Ecology (FW4610; 3 cr.) and Restoration Ecology (FW5115; 3 cr.). I also taught Natural Resources Seminar (FW1050; 1 cr.).

7/08 and 7/09 Instructor: Future Fuels from Forests: An Investigation into the

Sustainability of Biofuels Production. Summer Teacher Institute, MTU.

5/09 Co-director and Instructor: USDA Forest Service National Advanced Silviculture Program (NASP): Great Lakes Silviculture

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

5/08 Co-director and Instructor: USDA Forest Service National Advanced Silviculture Program (NASP): Ecological Systems

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

5/07 Co-director and Instructor: USDA Forest Service National Advanced Silviculture Program (NASP): Ecological Systems

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

5/06 Instructor: USDA Forest Service Program of Advanced Studies in Silviculture (PASS)

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

7/05 Instructor: USDA Forest Service PASS

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

7/03 Instructor: USDA Forest Service PASS

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

5/02 to 6/02 Teaching Assistant: Forestry Summer Camp

Department of Forest Ecology and Management, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

5/97 and 5/98 Teaching Assistant-- Forestry Summer Camp

Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University.

1991 to 1993 Teaching Assistant (Biology 108 and 109)

Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University.

Service

University

  1. Early Career Mentoring Committee, Chair/external advocate. 2017-2018.
  2. Graduate Dean Search Committee, Spring 2016
  3. Guest lecture on responsible publishing and peer-review in UN0500 Responsible Conduct of Research, September 23, 2014.
  4. Graduate Dean Review Committee, Spring 2014.
  5. Interschool Promotion and Tenure Committee, MTU, 2010 – 2012, 2018-pres..
  6. Research Advisory Council, 2010 - pres.
  7. MTU Energy Advisory Group, Associate Member. (standing committee)
  8. Faculty host for the Leading Scholar Award Program (December 6, 2010)
  9. Strategic Hiring Initiative: Computational Discovery and Innovation (2009). Cognate reviewer.
  10. Poster judge: 2008 Graduate Student Council Research Symposium.
  11. Strategic Hiring Initiative: Sustainability (2008); Energy (2010). Cognate reviewer.
  12. Thesis and Dissertation Policy Committee (2007 to 2009)
  13. Dual Career Couple Task Force (09/2006-01/2007)

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

  1. Tenure Promotion and Review Committee. Fall 2014 – 2017., Chair 2015-2017.
  2. School Council Representative—full professors. 2014-2015.
  3. Convener Advisory Board Forestry Breakout Session. March 28, 2014.
  4. Ecosystem Science Center 2011 research proposal review panel member (School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU; n = 12)
  5. Poster Judge: 2010 ESC Graduate Research Forum.
  6. Committee Chair, Wildlife Search Committee (Fall 2008- Winter 2009; School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU)
  7. Graduate Studies Committee (2007-2010)
  8. Committee Chair (08/2009-08/2010)
  9. Ford Center Research Forest Management Committee (2003-2014, 2016 to pres.)
  10. Curriculum Committee (08/2003-08/2006 & 08/2008-8/2011; School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU)
  11. Committee Chair (08/2005-08/2006 & 8/2010-8/2011)
  12. Served on 4 faculty search committees (School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU)
  13. Committee member for 35 Master of Science students
  14. Committee member for 13 Ph.D. students
  15. Advisor for 2 National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduate students.
  16. Advisor for 2 (1 advisee, 1 co-advisee) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship students

National and International

  1. Webster, C.R. and Y.L. 2017. Co-organizer Special Session: Seeing the forest through the understory: promoting and maintaining diversity in contemporary hardwood forests. North American Forest Ecology Workshop (NAFEW) 18-22 June in Edmonton, Canada.
  2. Webster, C.R., R. Winkler. 2016. Co-organizer: Arts & Conservation: Artists Critiques of Socio-Ecological Relationships (Panel). 22nd International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Houghton, Michigan, 23 June, 2016.
  3. Associate Editor: Forest Science (2015 to pres.).
  4. Guest associate editor for a special issue of Forest Science resulting from the 2013 North American Forest Ecology Workshop.
  5. Co-organizer (with Dr. Mike Jenkins) of an accepted symposium 2013 North American Forest Ecology Workshop (http://nafew.org/), "Beyond overabundance: the complex role of ungulates in forest ecosystems". June 16 - June 20, 2013, Bloomington, Indiana.
  6. Co-organizer (with D.J. Flaspohler and R.E. Froese) of a symposium at the 2012 International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) annual meeting on forest biodiversity and bioenergy. IUFRO Section 8 meeting in Cork, Ireland, Aug. 2012.
  7. Co-organizer (with D.J. Flaspohler and C. Meine) of a symposium at the 2008 Society for Conservation Biology annual meeting entitled: “Biofuels and biodiversity: an assessment of potential effects on species and ecosystems.” Chattanooga, TN, July 15, 2008.
  8. Featured guest on Timber Talk radio show (Timbertalk.com), March 6, 2007 (topic: invasive woody plants)
  9. Invited review of the Acer platanoides species profile for the Global Invasive Species Database compiled by the Invasive Species Specialist Group, which is part of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN - The World Conservation Union.
  10. Ad hoc proposal reviewer for the DOE funded National Institute for Climatic Change Research.
  11. Ad hoc proposal reviewer for the Austrian Science Fund (n = 3).
  12. Ad hoc proposal reviewer for the National Science Foundation (n = 4).
  13. Ad hoc proposal reviewer for the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center's SEEDS: Research Enhancement Competitive Grants Program (n = 1).
  14. Research representative on the Regional Silvicultural Certification Team for a Silviculturalist on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
  15. I have given and/or co-authored 16 invited talks at professional meetings and university and agency seminar series.
  16. I have co-authored 3 invited peer-reviewed book chapters and a non-technical publication on the control of invasive species:

×  Webster, C.R., M.A. Jenkins, and S. Jose. 2007. Invasion biology and control of invasive woody plants in eastern forests. Native Plants Journal 8(2): 97-106. (invited)

  1. Journal reviewer (I‘ve reviewed manuscripts for 36 peer-reviewed scientific journals as well as various peer-reviewed proceedings.)
  1. American Midland Naturalist
  2. Annuls of Forest Science
  3. Arid Land Research and Management
  4. Biological Conservation
  5. Biological Invasions
  6. Canadian Journal of Forest Research
  7. Condor
  8. Ecology
  9. Ecological Applications
  10. Ecosphere
  11. Ecosystems
  12. Forest Ecology and Management
  13. Forest Science
  14. Forests
  15. Forestry
  16. International Journal of Plant Sciences
  17. Invasive Plant Science and Management
  18. Journal of Ecology
  19. Journal of Forestry
  20. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society
  21. Journal of Vegetation Science
  22. Kentucky Academy of Science
  23. Natural Areas Journal
  24. New Forests
  25. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry
  26. Northeastern Naturalist
  27. Oecologia
  28. Oikos
  29. PeerJ
  30. Plant and Soil
  31. PLoS One
  32. Proceedings of the 2005 Central Hardwoods Conference
  33. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science
  34. Restoration Ecology
  35. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry
  36. Tree Physiology
  37. Trees Structure and Function
  38. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
  39. Wildlife Research

Professional Memberships

Botanical Society of America; Ecological Society of America; Forest Guild; Natural Areas Association; Society of American Foresters; Torrey Botanical Society

Graduate Students

(Supervised as primary advisor unless otherwise noted)

Degrees awarded (4 PhD, 9 MS):

PhD

  1. Colin C. Phifer (2017) Dissertation: Impacts to biodiversity and ecosystem services from bioenergy development: a pan American experience. (Co-advisor)
  2. Bryan D. Murray (2013) Dissertation: Spatial and temporal patterns in ungulate-ecosystem interactions. (Currently an Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University)
  3. Amber Roth (2012) Dissertation: Tradeoffs in avian and vegetation productivity within intensively managed aspen forests (Co-advisor). (Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Maine)
  4. Jill Witt (2010) Dissertation: Patch selection by wintering white-tailed deer: consequences for eastern hemlock regeneration at local and landscape scales. (Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan–Flint)
  5. Stacie Holmes (2009) Dissertation: The influence of concurrent disturbances on plant community dynamics in northern hemlock-hardwood forests. (Currently a research scientist with the BIA)
  6. Matt Powers (2008) Dissertation: Physiological performance and stand dynamics in managed red pine forests with complex stand structures. (Currently an Assistant Professor - Senior Research at Oregon State University)

MS

1.  Sarah Klingsporn Poznanovic (2013) Thesis: Promoting biological diversity in forest ecosystems using ecological forestry.

2.  Max Henschell (2010) Thesis: Trade-offs in avian and grassland productivity (Co-advisor). (Currently a PhD student at UW-Madison)

3.  Chad Fortin (2009). Thesis: Floristic quality as potential driver of vegetative diversity-productivity relationships and arthropod habitat in restored grasslands. (Currently a forester with Northern Hardwoods Inc.)

4.  Nick R. Jensen (2009) Thesis: Ungulate winter habitat selection as a driver of heterogeneity in ground-layer plant communities. (Currently working for the University of Minnesota)

5.  Sarah Stehn (2009) Thesis: Influence of exogenous disturbance on bryophyte community assemblage and tree regeneration in southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests. (Currently working with the National Park Service in Alaska)

6.  Dan Haskell (2009) Thesis: Quantifying the ecological benefits of lake shore restoration in northern Wisconsin (Co-advisor). (Currently a contract employee for WDNR working on lakeshore restoration)

7.  Joshua M. Shields (2006) Thesis: Initial effects of group-selection harvesting with yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) retention on biodiversity in northern hardwoods. (Forester at Manistee Conservation District)

·  Received an Honorable Mention in the 2007 Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award Competition. Two awards and two honorable mentions were selected from a field of 51 nominated theses. Josh was MTU’s nominee to the competition.

8.  Jennifer A. Griggs (Thiemann) (2005) Thesis: Simplified floral diversity and the legacy of a protected deer herd in the agricultural woodlots of Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (Currently working as an environmental consultant in Minnesota)

9.  Steve R. Wangen (2004) Thesis: Spatial and temporal dynamics of an introduced tree species as it invades a temperate forested island. (Currently a Post-Doctoral Associate at the university of Wisconsin--Madison)

Current students (2 PhD, 1 MS):

PhD

  1. Grace Parikh, Dissertation topic: Winter foraging ecology of white-tailed deer

MS

1.  Sam Knapp, Thesis topic: Gap dynamics.

Graduate Committies

January 20, 2018 Webster-23

PhD

  1. Sinan Abood (2011)
  2. Brenda Gail Bergman (2014)
  3. James Bess (2015)
  4. Joseph Bump (2008)
  5. Jenny Dunn
  6. Azad Henareh Khalyani (2012)
  7. Anna Hess (2013)
  8. Stefan Hupperts
  9. Peter Hurley (2007)
  10. Mike Hyslop
  11. Kevyn Jueau (2013)

12.  Jennifer M. Karberg (2008)

13.  Tony Matthys (2017)

14.  Shawn O'Neil (2017)

  1. Bharat Pokharel (2008)
  2. Wilf Previent (2015)
  3. Andy Von Duyke

MS

1.  Alex Bales (2015)

  1. Patricia Butler (2008)

3.  Sarah Brodeur (2004)

4.  Marcelle Campione (2010)