Faculty

Dec. 15, 2017

Ranjith Udawatta

The primary objective of Udawatta’s research is to quantify environmental benefits of agroforestry. Currently, he is conducting research on influences of agroforestry, grass buffer, and other conservation practices on water and soil quality. In addressing this issue he is examining how trees and grasses change surface and subsurface water quality by reducing runoff, nutrients and sediment when integrated in rowcrop agriculture and grazing management. Changes in soil physical properties, soil water dynamics, and competition for resources, root length density, nutrient accumulation, and microclimate are evaluated to examine soil and water benefits of these practices. Soil carbon sequestration and prairie restoration…

Dec. 15, 2017

Hank Stelzer

A native of St. Louis, Dr. Stelzer is an Associate Professor of Forestry in the School of Natural Resources and serves as the Natural Resources Education Director for MU Extension. In the School, Stelzer teaches dendrology, forest utilization, and forest management. His Extension responsibilities include educating private landowners in all aspects of woodland management and conducting tree care workshops for homeowners in communities across the Show-Me State. Educational background   Ph.D. Forestry, Purdue University Courses taught Dendrology Urban Forestry Forest Utilization…

Dec. 15, 2017

Michael C. Stambaugh

Prior to becoming a scientist, Stambaugh worked as a forester for private industry and the federal government. Since 2010, his forestry research has received over $8 million in grant funding. He collaborates with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and multiple state natural resources organizations. He has been a National Geographic Explorer since 2010 and in 2023 was a Charles Bullard Fellow in Forest Research at Harvard Forest. Educational background Ph.D., University of Missouri Courses taught Forest Ecology Forest Health Advanced Forest Ecology…

Dec. 15, 2017

Robert Pierce

Educational background Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998…

Dec. 15, 2017

Craig P. Paukert

Paukert is the Leader of the US Geological Survey, Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in the School of Natural Resources. His research is in collaboration with state and federal agencies to help them with their research needs related to climate change adaptation strategies for fish and fisheries, conservation and management of large river fishes, and stream fish conservation at the local and landscape scale. Paukert has a Ph.D. from South Dakota State University, an M.S. from Oklahoma State University, and a B.S. From the University of Minnesota. Prior to arriving at MU in 2010, he worked with USGS…

Dec. 15, 2017

Rebecca North

Research in the North group is focused on addressing the question: What controls algal biomass of inland waters? North’s team focuses on the effects of multiple stressors on nutrient cycling, bioavailability, and primary production in Missouri water bodies with particular attention to the source and timing of nutrient loading and the response of the receiving water body. Ecosystem stressors include, but are not limited to: climate change, landscape modification (i.e., agricultural, urban, and industrial applications), eutrophication, and invasive species (i.e., zebra mussels). North’s research is conceptually driven and applies field, lab, and quantitative approaches to studying issues in watershed and…

Nov. 14, 2017

Noel R. Aloysius

Noel Aloysius’ research and teaching focus on terrestrial hydrology, watershed biophysical processes and environmental informatics. Noel’s research group investigates how climate and weather, landscapes and land management drive precipitation-runoff processes and fate and transport of pollution at field-, watershed- and continental-scale river basins. His group utilizes field observations, long-term hydro-climate data, numerical and statistical models to examine the movement of water, solutes and sediments in response to environmental change and human management. Noel is a member of the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force SERA-46 research group representing the University of Missouri. The SERA-46 group is a consortium of twelve Land Grant…

Nov. 13, 2017

Eric Bailey

Eric Bailey is an Associate Professor and State Beef Nutrition Specialist at the University of Missouri. Bailey holds a Ph.D. in Beef Cattle Nutrition from Kansas State University. Bailey leads applied research on backgrounding and stocker cattle, with an emphasis on management of them on tall fescue pasture systems. Bailey leads the MU Extension Feedlot School program, is co-coordinator of the Missouri Grazing Schools, and the co-director of the Forage-Livestock Program of Distinction. Educational background Ph.D., Kansas State University…

Nov. 10, 2017

Thomas Spencer

Spencer’s laboratory seeks to define critical physiological and genetic pathways that regulate uterine development, function, and regeneration in order to improve reproduction and health of women and animals. His earlier work established that the glands of the uterus are essential for embryo survival and growth using the ovine uterine gland knockout model. Subsequent research revealed fundamental aspects of postnatal uterine development and uterine receptivity as well as illuminated the evolutionary biology and functional role of endogenous retroviruses in placental development. Current research foci in his lab include: cellular and molecular mechanisms governing development of the uterus; maternal and paternal regulation…

Nov. 10, 2017

Christine Elsik

Educational background Ph.D., Genetics, Texas A&M University Courses taught AN_SCI/PLNT_SCI 8430: Introduction to Bioinformatics Programming…