UConn Applied Forest Ecology Lab
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People


Dr. Robert T. Fahey
​Principal Investigator

Amanda Bunce
PhD Student

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Dr. Fahey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of Connecticut.  He is also George F. Cloutier Professor in Forestry and Director of the UConn Forest and the Associate Director of the UConn Eversource Energy Center. He received a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University, M.S. in Forest Science from Oregon State University, and Ph.D. in Forest Ecology and Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to UConn he spent four years as a research scientist at The Morton Arboretum outside Chicago, where he continues as a Research Fellow in the Center for Tree Science,.  He is also a member of the research faculty at the University of Michigan Biological Station in northern Michigan.

When not doing research on or teaching about forests he can mainly be found running, skiing, or hiking with his family on trails through those same forests. 
PhD - expected 2024

Amanda is studying how to promote resilience in forest socio-ecological systems across the spectrum of human-dominated landscapes from urban-exurban conditions.  Her work is associated with the Stormwise program and the Eversource Energy Center at UConn.

Amanda completed an MS in Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut and conducted her undergraduate studies at Central Connecticut State University.
Google Scholar
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Iris Kennedy
MS Student

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Sidnee Everhart
​MS Student

MS - expected 2026

Iris is studying canopy structure-function relationships, with a focus on the effects of canopy complexity on disturbance resistance and resilience.


Iris received her BA in Biology from the University of Virginia and previously worked as a Research Assistant at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia and at Archbold Biological Station in Florida.
MS - expected 2026

Sidnee is studying relationships between wind disturbance and interacting forest health and stressors, with a focus on the effects of defoliation and drought on tree biomechanics. Her work is associated with the 
Stormwise program and the Eversource Energy Center at UConn.

Sidnee received her BS in Biology from Sewanee: The University of the South and previously worked as a Transmission Outreach Forester at ECI in Connecticut and as a Research Assistant at Alabama A&M University.

Tobey Russell
Undergraduate Student

BS expected 2027

Tobey is majoring in Natural Resources and the Environment.

Isaac Betts
​​​Post-Bacc Research Technician

BS 2023

Isaac majored in Natural Resources and the Environment at UConn. His work is focused on developing a American chestnut seed orchard and outdoor classroom space in an area of the UConn Forest that underwent ash salvage following introduction of Emerald Ash Borer

Lab Alumni


Dr. Alicia Coleman

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Postdoctoral Researcher - Lab Member 2022 - 2023

Alicia studies human dimensions of urban forests and decisions about planting and investment of resources into urban forest

​Dr. Coleman  completed her PhD at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning. Her dissertation research focused on residents’ participation in urban tree planting initiatives and the impact of trees to the perceptual realm of city streets, especially in post-industrial environmental justice areas.

Current position: Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota

Maya Sagarin
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Post-Bacc Research Technician - BS 2023

Maya majored in Biology and Musical Performance at Oberlin College, she completed an Honors thesis on using dendroecology to assess tulip poplar growth following emerald ash borer disturbance. She is currently a PhD student at UCLA

Dr. Brandon Alveshere

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PhD - 2023

Brandon studied how canopy structural complexity develops in forests, how it affects ecosystem functioning, and methods for promoting complexity through silviculture.

Brandon completed an MS in Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management at Oregon State University and conducted his undergraduate studies at North Dakota State University.

Current position: Post-doctoral researcher at VCU in the Gough Lab

Levon Bigelow
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 MS - 2023

Levon was Fellow in the Exurban Forest Ecosystem Management program supported by the USDA NIFA National Needs Fellowship Program. His research interests are in urban forest dynamics and promoting sustainable urban tree populations.

Levon completed a BS at Rutgers University and has a broad background in urban and community forestry in New Jersey and New York City.

Current position: Urban forester at NJ Forest Service


Nicholas Cranmer
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MS - 2023

Nick studied how tree and forest management and disturbances such as defoliation affect tree stability and biomechanics.

Nick majored in Natural Resources and the Environment with a concentration in Sustainable Forest Resources at UConn. He also was a Research Technician on the Stormwise program and the Southern New England  Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change project.

Current position: PhD student in EEB at Cornell University

Jillian Dyer
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MS 2023

Jillian was a Fellow in the Exurban Forest Ecosystem Management program supported by the USDA NIFA National Needs Fellowship Program.  Their research interests are in understanding the effect of pests and pathogens on exurban forest landscapes.

Jillian completed a BS  at the University of California-Davis and has research experience across a wide range of ecosystem types. 

Current position; Research technician at Harvard Forest

Andrew Muller

BS 2023

Andrew majored in Natural Resources and the Environment with a concentration in Sustainable Forest Resources

His independent research focused on adapting forests to climate change through silvicultural techniques



Margalit Shetreat-Klein

Lab Member 2022 - 2023

Margalit supported research on spatial analysis of urban forest management and monitoring as well as coordinating community engagement in partnership with the CT DEEP Urban Forestry Program

Margalit completed her BS at CUNY and previously work as a field crew lead for the NYC Street Tree Monitoring program in partnership with the US Forest Service Northern Research Station and Urban Field Station.

Current position: Research technician with USDA Forest Service


Danielle Tanzer

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MS - 2022

Danielle completed her MS in Natural Resources and the Environment at UConn where she studied the effect of disturbance interactions on forest ecosystems. She previously completed a BS with Honors in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Anthropology at the University of Michigan and was a research technician at Michigan Tech.

Current position: GIS Analyst, University of Wisconsin Arboretum


Mari Cullerton
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BS with Honors - 2021

Mari double majored in Environmental Science and Natural Resources and the Environment and completed an Honors thesis as a UConn University Scholar.

Her independent research focused on the role of secondary pests and pathogens in driving oak mortality patterns related to gypsy moth defoliation.

Current position: MS student at UConn

Kerste Milik

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MS - 2020

Kerste focused on Science Communication and developed a StoryMap illustrating the goals and results of the Stormwise program. You can access her StoryMap here: 

Kerste completed a BS in Environmental Science at Northeastern University and conducted research as an REU student at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.

Anna Welch
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BS - 2020

Anna  majored  in  Natural Resources and the Environment with a concentration in Sustainable Forest Resource

Her independent research focused on the response of forest stands and individual trees to gypsy moth defoliation in long term research plots established by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.  

Keenan Rivers
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BS - 2020

Keenan majored  in  Natural Resources and the Environment with a concentration in Sustainable Forest Resources.

His independent research focused on using dendrochronological techniques to evaluate the importance of defoliation timing and pattern on mortality outcomes in gypsy moth affected stands in southern New England. 

Current position: PhD student at Michigan Tech

Julia Rogers

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MS - 2019

Julia studied edge effects associated with Stormwise resilience-focused  forest management treatments.

She conducted her undergraduate studies at Colby College

Current position: Senior Land Protection Manager, Housatonic Valley Association

Jill Pastick

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Elliott Volin

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MS - 2018

Jill studied the response of oak seedlings, environmental conditions, and plant communities to silvicultural restoration treatments.

She conducted her undergraduate studies at Lake Forest College in Illinois


​MS - 2018


Elliott studied change in urban forest composition and structure and modeling potential future conditions under scenarios of socio-ecological change.

He conducted his undergraduate studies at Florida State University
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