Dean’s Discovery Fund supports collaborative research
Six interdisciplinary projects bring together faculty, students, and partners to advance environmental solutions and strengthen the university's research portfolio.
(From left) Ashleigh Kirker, Jesse Gutierrez, and John Morgan conduct training to collect data from water sources at McDonald Hollow. Photo by Lee Friesland for Virginia Tech.
The College of Natural Resources and Environment awarded funding through the Dean’s Discovery Fund to support six collaborative research projects that bring together faculty members across the university.
Designed to spark innovative, interdisciplinary work, the fund supports early stage research that positions teams for larger external funding opportunities while advancing the university’s Global Distinction priority. Each funded project requires collaboration across disciplines and provides hands-on learning opportunities for undergraduate or graduate students, reinforcing Virginia Tech Advantage.
This year’s projects reflect the breadth of the college's research and the power of partnership, connecting expertise in ecology, forestry, engineering, hydrology, and social systems.
Robert Cooper holds a California tiger salamander that he raised. Photo by Max Esterhuizen for Virginia Tech.
Advancing water and ecosystem monitoring
A team led by Robert Cooper, assistant professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, is developing new tools to assess aquatic ecosystem health by combining environmental DNA techniques with long-term ecological data. The project brings together faculty members from the College of Natural Resources and Environment and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to evaluate how aquatic communities respond to environmental stressors while training both graduate and undergraduate researchers. Other team members include Ashleigh Kirker, assistant professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Erin Toffelmier, assistant professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation; Daniel McLaughlin, associate professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; and Sally Entrekin, professor in the Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Carrier Fearer examines the trunk of a beech tree. Photo by Max Esterhuizen for Virginia Tech.
Understanding forest disturbance and species resilience
Carrie Fearer, assistant professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, and collaborators are examining how forest disturbances, including disease and extreme weather, affect ecosystem processes and vulnerable salamander populations in the Southern Appalachians. The project includes partnerships with federal and nonprofit organizations and engages undergraduate students in field-based research. Other team members include Kevin Hamed, collegiate associate professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation; Brian Strahm, professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Mark Ford, unit leader of the Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit with the United States Geological Survey and associate professor in FWC; Shane Furze, assistant professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Brittany Phillips with the U.S. Forest Service; and Lisa Benish with the Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Exploring legacy impacts of coal mining
Ashleigh Kirker, an assistant professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, is leading a new collaboration with colleagues in the College of Science to investigate how historic coal mining has altered subsurface material deposits and water movement. The project supports undergraduate and graduate student researchers and highlights the role of cross-college partnerships in addressing complex environmental challenges. Other team members include J.P. Gannon, associate professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; and Steven Holbrook, professor in the Department of Geosciences in the College of Science.
Eduardo Molina tests the strength of a cardboard box. Photo by Max Esterhuizen for Virginia Tech.
Designing sustainable materials for packaging
Eduardo Molina, assistant professor in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, is partnering with the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design to develop next-generation, bio-based packaging materials using computational design and advanced manufacturing. The interdisciplinary effort integrates engineering and design while supporting both graduate and undergraduate student researchers. Molina is collaborating with Luis Borunda, assistant professor with the School of Architecture.
Strengthening invasive species management through collaboration
Michael Sorice, an associate professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, and colleagues are working with partners in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Virginia Cooperative Extension to improve how communities respond to invasive species. The project contributes to Virginia Tech’s Invasive Species Collaborative and focuses on co-developing practical tools and training that connect research with on-the-ground decision-making. Other team members from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences include Hannah Scherer, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership and Community Education; David Haak, associate professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences; and Stacy Endriss, assistant professor in entomology.
Quinn Thomas. Photo by Sam Dean.
Forecasting forest carbon with artificial intelligence
Quinn Thomas, a professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, is collaborating with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to apply emerging artificial intelligence tools to improve forest carbon forecasting. The project brings together expertise in ecological modeling and data science while supporting graduate student training at the intersection of these fields. Thomas is collaborating with Yanghui Kang, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, housed in both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering.
Several projects also include cost-sharing from partner colleges. Contributions from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Science helped expand the scope and impact of select projects, emphasizing Virginia Tech’s shared commitment to invest in interdisciplinary research.
