Akasha M. Faist

Lab Principal Investigator

Jacob Lucero

My research connects ecological patterns to their underlying processes in order to explain, predict, and manipulate the assembly of biological communities in an era of global change. I am particularly interested in understanding how species interactions along environmental gradients affect the abundance, distribution, and coexistence of native and invasive plant species. I'm a sucker for field experiments across broad spatial scales, and I especially love the desert!

Amberly Barry

Amberly is part of the inaugural Range Science Master's Accelerated Program and is identifying novel native seeding methods and working on how they can be used to enhance restoration actions in dryland systems.

Savannah Meadors

Savannah is working on her MS examining best native seed restoration practices in the Chihuahuan ecoregion which includes: developing native seed mixes for restoration beyond standard application protocol, examining seed application methods to better understand plant community interactions, and exploring habitat manipulation methods to improve germination and establishment.

Molly Reichenborn

Molly is working on her PhD looking at how mesquite herbicide treatment efficacy varies across levels of encroachment and what this means for vegetation recovery in dryland systems. She is broadly interested in the mechanisms underpinning the maintenance, invasion, and successful restoration of ecological communities, and developing data-supported management practices to guide effective land stewardship. Molly is co-advised by Dr. Lehnhoff in EPPWS.

Kirsten Romig

Kirsten Romig is working as the “cowgirl botanist” for the Jornada Experimental Range USDA ARS. She is furthering her academic career in rangeland science working on a PhD – all in pursuit for the big themes in her life: livestock, plants (including bryophytes), and seed banks.

Ryan Schroeder

Ryan is working on his PhD studying the interaction of soil properties and soil seed bank composition, dynamics, and distribution in rangeland ecosystems. The goal of his work is the development of a predictive framework that can be used to understand the regenerative potential of sites to inform and target rangeland management and ecological restoration.

Tyler Turk

Tyler is working on her MS looking at how seed distribution, availability and recruitment influence state changes in the Chihuahuan desert. Her focus is on shrubland to grassland state transitions and examining seed availability across scales.

Sophia Lasche

Sophia is an HHMI scholar working on addressing how aridity and grazing interact over time and what this means for rangeland plant biomass.