Lab Director
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Ashley Schulz, Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Arkansas State University M.S. in Forest Resources, University of Georgia B.S. in Forestry, University of Missouri-Columbia Ashley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University. Her research interests broadly include forest ecology and forest health, with a focus on prevention and management of forest disturbances. Outside of research and teaching, she enjoys reading science and historical fiction, crafting (sculpting, woodworking, & painting), and taking nature photos.
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Graduate Students
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Elizabeth Esser
B.S. in Ecology, University of Georgia B.S. in Genetics, University of Georgia Dissertation: "Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) ploidy distribution and novel method of control in the southeastern United States"
Elizabeth joined the lab in August 2022 and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Forest Resources. Her research interests include invasion ecology, forest restoration, and molecular ecology. Before coming to Mississippi State, she founded an organization to help address the issue of invasive species in Athens, GA. She now serves as President of the Forestry Graduate Student Association, and previously served on the MSU Graduate Student Association. In August 2025, Elizabeth was featured on the MSU "Our People" Blog. Outside of research, Elizabeth enjoys gardening, hiking, and embroidery. |
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Madeline Grantham
B.S. in Forestry, Mississippi State University (expected May 2026) Thesis: "How forest heterogeneity shapes arthropod diversity"
Co-advised with Dr. Kristy McAndrew Madeline joined the lab in August 2025. After taking Forest Pest Management and a Directed Individual Study course with Dr. John Riggins, Madeline caught the forest entomology "bug" and wants to specialize in forest health. She is pursuing a dual B.S./M.S. degree through the MSU Thrive in Five program, so she is starting her thesis research as a Senior and will finish her M.S. one year postbaccalaureate, in May 2027. |
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Chris Jacobson
B.S. in Forestry, Mississippi State University Dissertation: "A dendrochronological study of long-term growth trends following disturbance in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands of the southeastern United States"
Co-advised with Dr. Adam Polinko Chris re-joined the lab in June 2025 and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Forest Resources. His research interests include silviculture and forest stand dynamics, but he's getting more into forest health, as well. He is exploring his interest in teaching by serving as a teaching assistant for Summer Field Program, Dendrology, and Silviculture. |
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Drew Williams
B.S. in Forestry, Mississippi State University Dissertation: "From municipalities to the nation: an inventory and assessment of planning and policy documents to improve long-term management of urban and community forests"
Co-advised with Dr. Joshua Granger Drew joined the lab in January 2024 and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Forest Resources. His research interests include urban forestry and arboriculture, and he is very passionate about community engagement and teaching, having served as a teaching assistant for Dendrology. Before coming back to Mississippi State, he worked as a professional arborist for Bartlett Tree Experts in Savannah, Georgia. |
Undergraduate Researchers
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Emma Squires
Undergraduate Research Project: "Overton Park inventory and seedling survival assessment to understand desired regeneration patterns" Co-advised with Dr. Eric Bridges (Overton Park Conservancy) Emma is a senior in the Forestry program at Mississippi State. She is working on her research project in summer 2025. In addition to her research interests in urban forestry, Emma also plays volleyball and works at the Sanderson Center on campus. |
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Dakota Parish
Undergraduate Research Project: "A vascular flora of prairie remnants and tupelo swamp along Hatchapaloo Creek in Simpson/Smith County, Mississippi" Co-advised with Dr. Joshua Granger Dakota is a senior in the Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture program at Mississippi State. He is working on his project in 2024-2025. He is an avid botanist and zoologist who has contributed 14,000+ observations of 3,000+ species in iNaturalist. |
Graduate Student
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Damilola Taiwo
M.S. in Forestry, Mississippi State University M.S. in Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan B.T. in Environmental Biology, Ladoke Akintola Univ. of Tech. Thesis: "An assessment of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) mortality and the impact of habitat fragmentation on southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman) infestation in Mississippi, USA"
Damilola joined the lab in January 2022 and finished her M.S. in Forestry in December 2023. She started her Ph.D. with Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd-Shields in the Dept. of Sustainable Bioproducts at Mississippi State University in January 2024. |
Undergraduate Researchers
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Mia Martin-Fuller
REU Research Project: "A comparison of rhizome extracts for the control of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)" Mia was an undergraduate researcher in the summer 2025 Ecology and Management for Resilient and Adapted Forests NSF REU program. She is a senior in the environmental sciences program at DePauw University, and is passionate about forest ecology and tree conservation and restoration. In addition to her cogongrass project work with me and Elizabeth, she worked on a project with Chuck Burdine, a graduate student here at Mississippi State University, to assess American chestnut seedling growth. |
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Evan Moore
B.S. in Forestry, Mississippi State University Undergraduate Research Projects: "Improving Leyland cypress (Cupressus × leylandii) propagation and production strategies within the Gulf Coast" & "Cogongrass identification and distribution in northeastern Mississippi" Co-advised with Dr. Esteban Galeano and Dr. Joshua Granger Evan worked on the Leyland cypress project from August 2023 to December 2024, and a cogongrass project from January 2025 to May 2025, when he graduated. Starting in August 2025, Evan will be working on his M.S. degree under Dr. Adhikari at Mississippi State University. |
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Chris Jacobson
B.S. in Forestry, Mississippi State University Undergraduate Research Project: "Analyzing annual and interannual growth trends in mid-rotation loblolly pine post-prescribed fire using dendrochronology" Co-advised with Dr. Adam Polinko Chris started working on his project in August 2023 and graduated in May 2025. During his undergraduate, he was an active member and leader in the Mississippi State Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters and Xi Sigma Pi. He started as a doctoral student with Dr. Schulz and Dr. Polinko in June 2025 and will expand on the research he started during his undergraduate program. |
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Anna Sisson
B.S. in Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation, Mississippi State University Undergraduate Research Project: "Drought and heat tolerance of bluff oak (Quercus austrina Small)" Co-advised with Dr. Esteban Galeano Anna began her research in Dr. Galeano's lab, then finished her project with Dr. Schulz in Fall 2024. She graduated in December 2024 and is currently working as an environmental educator in Nevada. |
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David Green
REU Research Project: "Stand structure and composition of introduced species in the Mississippi State University Arboretum" Co-advised with Dr. Joshua Granger David was an undergraduate researcher in the summer 2024 Ecology and Management for Resilient and Adapted Forests NSF REU program. He is in the forestry program at Alabama A&M University, and aspires to be a wildland firefighter. |
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Devin Mabry
REU Research Project: "Stand structure and composition of native species in the Mississippi State University Arboretum" Co-advised with Dr. Joshua Granger Devin was an undergraduate researcher in the summer 2024 Ecology and Management for Resilient and Adapted Forests NSF REU program. He graduated from Coahoma Community College in May 2024, and is now in the Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture program at Mississippi State University. |
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Sasha Goodnow
REU Research Project: "Impacts of southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) evapotranspiration in the Homochitto National Forest" Co-advised with Dr. Yun Yang Sasha was an undergraduate researcher in the summer 2024 Ecology and Management for Resilient and Adapted Forests NSF REU program. She is a senior in the environmental sciences program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and an amazing and talented artist based out of Columbia, MO. |
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Ian Burke
B.S. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University Undergraduate Research Project: "Comparison of the effects of phytophagous insect incidence and impact on leaves of native versus introduced woody plant species in Mississippi, USA" Co-advised with Dr. Joshua Granger Ian conducted research in the Forest Disturbance Ecology Lab from 2023-2024, graduated in May 2024, and is now working as a research technician in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture at Mississippi State University. |
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Grant Peterson
B.S. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University Undergraduate Research Project: "A checklist and species distribution of the woody flora of Scattertown Trail in Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Mississippi, USA" Co-advised with Dr. Joshua Granger Grant completed his project from 2023-2024 and graduated in May 2024. He started graduate school at Yale University in Fall 2024. |
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Jack Fair
B.S. in Forestry, Mississippi State University Undergraduate Research Project: "A dendrochronological study of long-term tree growth trends in John W. Starr Memorial Forest" Co-advised with Dr. Adam Polinko Jack completed his project from 2022-2023 and graduated in May 2023. He is currently working for the USDA Forest Service in Alaska. |
Mississippi State University, Department of Forestry, Thompson Hall, Box 9681, Mississippi State, MS 39762
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The views and opinions expressed on this website are not endorsed by and do not reflect the views of Mississippi State University. The contents of this website have not been reviewed or approved by Mississippi State University.