Dr. Heather D. Alexander is an associate professor of forest and fire ecology in the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment at Auburn University. Her research focuses on understanding forest ecosystem vulnerability in the face of changing fire disturbance regimes using observations across natural gradients and field–based experimental manipulations. She has studied the implications of fire suppression and ‘mesophication’ on composition, structure, and flammability of oak, mixed, and pine forestsof the eastern U.S. for 18 years and has spent over a decade investigating wildfire implications for forest growth and regeneration dynamics in Siberian forests underlain by permafrost soils.

Dr. Milton is currently a postdoctoral researcher, working with Dr. Alexander to understand the interacting effects of disturbance and management on carbon sequestration across southern forests. She completed her PhD at the University of Michigan, where she investigated contributions of niche and neutral processes to tree species dominance and rarity in the Brazilian Amazon, with a focus on the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae).

Dr. Rawat is a forest ecology and plant functional traits researcher from India, holding a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences. Her expertise lies in studying ecosystem functioning, carbon and nutrient cycling, and the effects of global change on forest dynamics, particularly leading projects on Himalayan temperate forests. Currently, she serves as a postdoctoral researcher collaborating with Dr. Alexander to investigate the combined impacts of disturbance and management on carbon sequestration in southern forests.

Kathleen is a Ph.D. student with the Forest and Fire Ecology Lab. She is a landscape ecologist, concerned with how variability in plant traits can affect flammability and landscape scale processes. She has spent 2 decades researching the forests and landscape management of the eastern United States. Her research with the lab focuses on upland oak and pine forests and their vulnerability and response to wild- and prescribed fire.

Basanta is an MS student in the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment at Auburn University. His current research focuses on the study of carbon dynamics and fire behavior consequences in hurricane impacted, fire–dependent forests of the southeastern U.S. His research interests are in forest ecology, fire ecology, and sustainable management of natural resources. He received his BS in Forestry from Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal. As an undergraduate student, he enjoyed an interdisciplinary approach to forestry research and conservation. He worked as an intern in the Division Forest Office(Dang) in sustainable forest management programs, studying forest ecology and fire ecology of tropical and sub–tropical forests.

Pedro Andres Velez-Moscoso is an environmental engineer from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Pedro earned his BS degree in Environmental Science and Socioeconomic Development from Zamorano University in Honduras. He had the experience working with indigenous people in eastern region of Bolivia since 2021. He participated and oversaw the heat points monitoring system, direct combat of wildfires, and the development and implementation of forest restoration plans post-wildfires. He also worked with indigenous communities to implement agroforestry systems on individuals plots. His research interests are in fire ecology, prescribed burning and sustainable management of natural resources. Pedro enjoys playing soccer with his friends, cooking, playing the guitar and singing.

Fernando Jose Mendoza Martinez is an environmental engineer from San Salvador, El Salvador. He recently earned his BS degree in Environmental Sciences and Development from the Pan-American Agricultural School Zamorano University in Honduras. During his undergraduate studies, he completed an internship in the Horticulture and Natural Resources Department at Kansas State University, where his research activities focused on the management of non-native forest species through prescribed burning and its influence on the local deer population. His research interests include forest ecology, watershed management, and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Aiden Calderon-Wyant is a student at Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife, and the Environment, majoring in Wildlife Ecology & Management. She grew up in Fairhope, AL and has worked as an outdoor teacher/counselor for around 4 years, and currently works at KPNC’s Woodland Wonder preschool team as a teacher. She also volunteers weekly at Auburn’s Raptor Center. Aiden has a great interest in birds, being active through hiking and working out, and learning about the world around her. She recently joined the lab as an undergraduate research assistant interested in learning more about forest ecology and learning new land and wildlife management skills.

Maria Dold is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture, majoring in Environmental Science. She is from Western Springs, IL, and has enjoyed living in the South for the past two years and being surrounded by nature. She joined the lab in February 2024 after hearing Dr. Alexander speak at the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Club. She has always been fascinated by forest fires as a mean of restoration, and she is looking forward to learning more about this topic and her studies throughout this job. 

Hannah Manire is from Huntsville, Alabama and is an undergraduate student majoring in Wildlife Ecology and Management. She has had a love for the outdoors from a very young age. Hannah enjoys traveling and exploring all kinds of a new places. She began working as an undergraduate research assistant in the Forest and Fire Ecology lab in October of 2022.

Wyatt Murphy is from Phenix City, Alabama, and majoring in Natural Resource Management with a minor in Natural Resource Recreation. He is  currently in his first full year as a research assistant with the Forest and Fire Ecology Lab. In Spring 2023, Wyatt became interested in fire ecology from Dr. Heather Alexander’s Forest Fire Management class and was given the opportunity to work with the lab over the summer, and he has “loved every minute of it!” His career with the lab involves assisting in fieldwork, data processing, and lab maintenance.

Sierra Vickrey is an undergraduate student majoring in Wildlife Ecology and Management. She is originally from Foley, AL and earned her AS degree at Coastal Alabama Community College before transferring to Auburn. Sierra developed an interest in fire and how it can be utilized in habitat management after taking forest ecology with Dr. Alexander. Her responsibilities in the lab include assisting with fieldwork and processing samples collected. She also volunteers in the Hill lab where she assists in catching and caring for wild birds. In her free time she enjoys playing soccer, bird watching, and reading.