Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

2013 Agriculture Building,
(307) 766-2263
FAX: (307) 766-6403
Web site: uwyo.edu/esm
Department Head: Scott N. Miller

Professors:

JEFFREY L. BECK, B.S. Brigham Young University 1993; M.S. 1996; Ph.D. University of Idaho 2003; Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2019, 2007.

THIJS KELLENERS, B.S. Wageningen University, The Netherlands 1988; M.S. 1993; Ph.D. 2001. Professor of Soil Science 2019, 2012.

SCOTT N. MILLER, B.S. Brown University 1991; M.S. University of Arizona 1995; Ph.D. 2002; Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2017, 2002.

JAY B. NORTON, B.S. University of Montana 1985; M.S. Iowa State University 1996; Ph.D. University of Montana 2000; Professor of Soil Science 2019, 2012.

VIRGINIA B. PAIGE, B.A. Colorado College 1984; M.S. University of Massachusetts 1992; Ph.D. University of Arizona 2000; Professor Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2019, 2004.

SCOTT R. SHAW, B.S. Michigan State University 1977; M.S. University of Maryland 1981; Ph.D. 1984; Professor of Entomology 1998, 1989.

PETER D. STAHL, B.S. Oklahoma State University 1978; M.S. University of Wyoming 1982; Ph.D. 1989; Professor of Restoration Ecology 2009, 2000; Director, Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center.

DAVID G. WILLIAMS, B.A. University of Texas 1985; M.S. Texas A&M University 1988; Ph.D. Washington State University 1992; Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2009, 2002. Associate Professors:

TIMOTHY R. COLLIER, B.S. University of California-Riverside 1987; Ph.D. University of California-Santa Barbara 1994; Associate Professor of Entomology 2008, 2002.

KRISTINA HUFFORD, B.A. University of California-Berkeley 1993; Ph.D. University of Georgia 2001; Associate Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2017, 2010.

MELANIE MURPHY, B.S. University of Idaho 1998; M.S. 2001; Ph.D. Washington State University 2008; Associate Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2017, 2010.

MENGQIANG ZHU, B.E. North China Electric Power University 2002; M.S. Chinese Academy of Sciences 2005; Ph.D. University of Delaware 2010; Associate Professor of Soil and Environmental Biogeochemistry 2019, 2013.

Assistant Professors:

DAVID CHRISTIANSON, B.S. Montana State University 2003; Ph.D. 2008; Assistant Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2019.

FABIAN NIPPGEN, M.S. Albert-Ludwigs University 2007; Ph.D. Montana State University 2014; Assistant Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2017.

J. DEREK SCASTA, B.S Texas A&M University 2004; M.S. 2008; Ph.D. Oklahoma State University 2014; Assistant Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2014.

LINDA VAN DIEPEN, B.S. Hogeschool IJselland, Deventer 1999; M.S. Wageningen University 2002; Ph.D. Michigan Technological University 2008; Assistant Professor of Soil Microbiology 2015.

KAREN L. VAUGHAN, B.S. University of Delaware-Newark 2001; M.S. University of Maryland-College Park 2004; Ph.D. University of Idaho-Moscow 2008; Assistant Professor of Pedology 2015.

KEVIN WILCOX, B.S. Central Washington University 2008; Ph.D. Colorado State University 2015; Assistant Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management 2018.

Academic Professionals:

CRAIG COOK, B.S. University of Utah 1978; Research Scientist, Stable Isotope Facility Manager.

SCOTT SCHELL, B.S. University of Wyoming 1991; M.S. 1994; Senior Extension Entomologist 2005, Associate Research Scientist 2009.

Adjunct Professors:

Justin Derner, Jack Morgan, Brenda Schladweiler, Gerald Schuman, Nancy Shaw, Ramesh Sivanpillai

Professors Emeriti:

Ann Hild, Alexandre Latchininsky, William Laycock, David Legg, Larry Munn, Richard Olson, Katta Reddy, J. Daniel Rodgers, Quentin Skinner, Michael Smith, John A. Tanaka, George Vance, James Waggoner, James Wangberg, Thomas Wesche, Stephen Williams

The Department of Ecosystem Science and Management offers two programs leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. These are Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management and Agroecology (an interdepartmental program offered through the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and the Department of Plant Sciences). The coursework requirements necessary for obtaining an agroecology degree are described in the Department of Plant Sciences section of this publication. Either degree can also be obtained as an affiliate degree in conjunction with the School of Environment and Natural Resources. Six minor degree programs are offered through the department: Insect Biology, Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management, Soil Science, Agroecology, Forest Resources, and Reclamation and Restoration Ecology. Obtaining a minor to complement a B.S. major degree program provides credentials and knowledge that can expand career opportunities.

The degree programs reflect the department’s diverse expertise in natural resource and agriculture sciences. Students completing degrees offered through the department are well prepared for careers in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture (e.g., range management, watershed management, restoration ecology/reclamation of degraded land, wildlife habitat management, biocontrol/ integrated pest management, soil science and various types of environmental consulting) or other science careers.

Student Learning Outcomes

The goal of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management is to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge in several different areas in addition to their specific area of study. These expectations ensure that students may take these learned skills and successfully apply them in their post-graduate endeavors. Assessments in all areas are based on knowledge, skills, and attitude.

These areas include:

Oral communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression and sharing of information, ideas, and feelings in a format including verbal and nonverbal symbols.

Proficiency in written communication will ensure that students will be able to write for different audiences, from expressive writing to technical writing, using a range of sophistication in language.

Professional behavior involves attaining high standards of behavior and appropriate attitudes, not only through acquiring knowledge and experience, but a lifelong commitment to learning and achievement.

Competency in critical thinking and problem solving will enable students to engage in reasonable, reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.

Computer and information literacy ensures that students will be viewed as trainable and adaptable in a computerized work environment. Proficiency in this area also enables students to effectively access online information, and skillfully make use of it.

The results in these different areas will aid the department in:

Planning instructional strategies to address student strengths and weaknesses;
Evaluating and describing overall student achievement;
Counseling students for academic and career options; and
Evaluating the effectiveness of instructional programs.

Graduate Study

The Department of Ecosystem Science and Management is an interdisciplinary department made up of five disciplinary areas: entomology, rangeland ecology, soil sciences, agroecology, and watershed management. The department offers the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in entomology, rangeland ecology and watershed management, and soil science. A water resources dual major may be obtained in conjunction with each of these master’s degrees. For the rangeland ecology and watershed management degrees, thesis and dissertation problems may be developed in aspects of range ecology, wildlife habitat, reclamation of disturbed lands, watershed management, utilization and improvement of rangelands, and many other facets of range and forest ecology management. For the entomology degrees, thesis and dissertation problems may be developed in many areas of basic and applied aspects of insect ecology. For the soil degrees, thesis and dissertation problems may be developed in many basic and applied aspects of soil science. The degree programs reflect the department’s diverse expertise in natural resource and agriculture sciences. Students completing degrees offered through the department are well prepared for careers in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture (e.g., range management, watershed management, restoration ecology/reclamation of degraded land, wildlife habitat management, biocontrol/integrated pest management, soil science and various types of environmental consulting) or other science careers.

A graduate certificate in reclamation and restoration ecology may be obtained after completion of a B.S. degree or in conjunction with an M.S. or Ph.D. degree.

At present, no program for graduate degrees in agroecology is offered; however, some courses at the graduate level are available. Responsibility for this program is shared with the Department of Plant Sciences.

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Admission is contingent upon a faculty member being willing to assume responsibility for working with the student as an adviser.

Applicants are encouraged to initiate correspondence with faculty who share similar research interests as part of the process of securing faculty advising commitment.

In special circumstances, and with the faculty adviser’s support, a student may be admitted in a provisional status with continued enrollment dependent upon meeting performance requirements specified at the time of admission.

Program Specific Graduate Assistantship Information

Current graduate assistantship availability, subject of study, and remuneration can be determined by checking: www.uwyo.edu/esm. Prospective students are also encouraged to directly correspond about future opportunities for graduate assistantships with faculty that share similar research interests.

Courses of instruction in the department are offered in agroecology, entomology, rangeland ecology and watershed management, renewable resources, and soil science.

Environment and Natural Resources Affiliate Degrees

Bachelor of Science degrees in either the Agroecology or the Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management offered through the Ecosystem Science and Management Department may also be obtained as affiliate degrees with the School of Environment and Natural Resources (i.e., the degree titles would be Environment and Natural Resources/Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management or Environment and Natural Resources/Agroecology). The additional coursework requirements necessary for obtaining an affiliate degree are described in the School of Environment and Natural Resources section of this publication.

Entomology Minors Programs

Because of the pervasiveness of insects, the entomology minors programs provide a vital link among the life and environmental sciences at the University of Wyoming. Students will be prepared to serve society not just through the vital industry of agriculture, but through contributions to basic biology, human and animal health, ecosystem management, wildlife conservation and a myriad of other ways.

Agroecology Program

Rooms 50/2013 Agriculture Building
(307) 766-3103/766-2263
Departments of Plant Sciences and Ecosystem Science and Management

The Bachelor of Science degree program in agroecology is an interdepartmental major involving the collaborative teaching, advising and research expertise in the Departments of Plant Sciences and Ecosystem Science and Management. An agroecology minor is also available. See the Plant Sciences section under the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for more information on the Agroecology program.

Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management Graduate Study

Areas of graduate study leading to a M.S. or Ph.D. in rangeland ecology and watershed management include range ecology, animal nutrition, watershed management, wildlife habitat management, restoration ecology, and reclamation of disturbed lands. A graduate certificate in reclamation and restoration ecology and a graduate option in water resources are offered in affiliation with the rangeland ecology and watershed management graduate degree.

Soil Science Graduate Study

The department offers graduate work leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in soil science, an affiliated graduate certificate in reclamation and restoration ecology, and an affiliated graduate option in water resources. Our faculty have active programs in soil-plant fertility and nutrition, soil morphology, genesis and classification, soil and water quality, environmental soil microbiology, soil and environmental chemistry, and soil and water physics.

The Willard C. and Elaine N. Rhoads Scholarship for Graduate Students in Water Resources at the University of Wyoming

The Willard C. and Elaine N. Rhoads Scholarship for Graduate Studies in Water Resources was established to honor Willard Rhoads, a member of the Research Review and Priorities Committee for the Wyoming Water Resources Center and a long-time member of the Wyoming Water Development Commission. Funds for the Rhoads Scholarship were donated to the University of Wyoming by Mrs. Rhoads and her family and friends, with some matching funds provided by the university. Two annual awards for the academic year will be made in the amount of $1,000 to a master’s degree candidates for use in furthering research on Wyoming’s water resources.

Eligibility Requirements and Evaluation Procedures

The applicant must be accepted into the interdisciplinary water resources major program administered by the student’s academic department.

The applicant must agree to take a minimum of 9 credit hours (including thesis credits) in each of the two semesters for which the award applies.

Applicants for the scholarship can apply more than once, with the exception of past recipients.

The recipient will be chosen by a selection committee appointed by the Water Resources Curriculum Committee.

Applicants meeting the eligibility requirements above will be judged on the basis of promise of academic excellence as evident in grades for graduate level courses, and a recommendation from the student’s graduate adviser.

Funds for the academic year will be dispersed to the recipient equally in the fall and spring semesters for half of the total amount.

Application Guidelines

Applicants meeting the above requirements should submit the following:

Application deadline is April 1.

A letter from the applicant listing the name of the scholarship for which he/she is applying, which includes a statement that the applicant agrees to enroll for a minimum of nine hours of graduate level courses (including thesis credits) in each of the two semesters for which the award applies, and a statement of academic and career goals related to water research. The applicant must also state the purpose for which the scholarship funds will be used.

An official transcript of grades for graduate level courses earned at the University of Wyoming or other institutions.

A note from the the academic department, verifying that the applicant has been accepted into a water resources interdisciplinary major program.

A confidential letter of recommendation from the applicant’s graduate adviser addressing the applicant’s promise for attaining academic and career goals through his/her research in water resources. Up to two additional letters of recommendation can be provided at the applicant’s discretion.

The applicant should arrange for all materials to be sent to:

Scott Miller
Chair, Rhoads Scholarship Committee
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
Dept. 3354, 1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie , WY 82071-3354