2021 FER Graduate Student Award Winners

Davey Award:  Murry Burgess, PhD student in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, working with Dr. Caren Cooper.  Murry’s research examines the effects of natural light-dark cycles and light pollution on barn swallow chick development and metabolic health.  She has published one children’s book and has several more in progress.  In addition, she has given presentations to a wide range of audiences as she aims to bring bird education and birdwatching skills to families and students of all ages.

Cooper Award:  Dalton George, PhD student in Forestry and Environmental Resources, working with Dr. Jason Delborne.  Dalton’s research is part of the project, “Restoring Biotechnology’s Moral Fiber? Genetically Modified American Chestnut Trees, Responsible Innovation, and Environmental Justice”.  He was awarded two years of funding through the NSF AgBioFEWS Felloship. In addition, he is an officer in the FER Grad Student Association and is the FER representative to the University GSA Council.

Namkoong Award:  Stephanie Chizmar, PhD student in Forestry and Environmental Resources, working with Dr. Rajan Parajuli and Dr. Bob Bardon.  Stephanie’s PhD research project is “A comprehensive review of state-level forest incentive programs”.  In addition to that research, she has written extension factsheets on several topics and assisted in workshops for landowners on alternative revenue sources.  She is also president of the International Society of Tropical Foresters – NC State.

Forestry and Environmental Resources Faculty Fellowship for Excellence in Graduate Education: Lauren Pharr, PhD student in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, working with Dr. Caren Copper and Dr. Chris Moorman.  Lauren’s is completing her MS and continuing on for her PhD.  Her masters research project, “The effects of urban noise and light pollution on adult avian survivorship”, and her interests in public engagement with science allowed her many opportunities to reach out to the public as a science communicator and in multiple outreach projects.  She will be a Global Climate Change Fellow in the coming year.

Forestry and Environmental Resources Faculty Fellowship for Excellence in Graduate Education: Ana Cubas Baez, MS student in Natural Resources, Economics and Management Technical Option, working with Dr. Erin Sills.  Ana’s research focusses on analyzing women’s participation in natural resources management in two sites in Peru.  She is also an active member of the International Society of Tropical Foresters – NC State.  Ana is a Fulbright Scholar from Paraguay.

Poole Award:  Omoyemeh Jennifer Ile, PhD student in Forestry and Environmental Resources working with Dr. John King.  Jen’s research project is titled “Integrating low-silvicultural input short rotation woody crops (SRWC) as purpose grown feedstocks for bioenergy production into traditional agricultural system” and her ultimate goal is to encourage widespread adoption of bioenergy-food production systems.  She has also been a TA for ES200 for 4 semesters and is completing the Teaching and Communication Certificate.

Written by: Sarah Slover