Meet Our Scientists

Holden Forests & Gardens experts are playing key roles to further understand the world around us.

1. Lydia Jahn Norweb Fellow

Lydia explores the impacts of spring weather on wildflower phenology and the effects of acid rain on forest systems.

2. Sharon Halkovics Research Specialist

Sharon manages the Medeiros lab where she investigates the evolution of functional traits in the genus Rhododendron.

3. Maris Holowell Research Specialist

Maris and others are currently working on an experiment looking at plant-microbiome symbiosis using the duckweed species Spirodela polyrhiza

4. David Burke PhD Vice President for Science and Conservation

David’s research involves soil organisms that assist plants with nutrient uptake as well as forest pest and disease research.

5. Emma Dawson-Glass Research Specialist

Emma is the manager of the Stuble lab and helps to explore the impacts of climate change, invasive species and land-use history on the resilience of Ohio’s forests, with the goal of restoring and preserving forests.

6. Hector Ortiz PhD NSF Postdoctoral Research Associate

Hector studies the ecological niche and invasive range of Eastern Redcedar.

7. Sarah Kyker PhD Postdoctoral Research Associate

Sarah is a microbial ecologist who uses DNA sequencing to study fungi and bacteria in the environment, especially in soil where these organisms play a large role in decomposition and nutrient cycling.

8. Juliana Medeiros PhD Plant Biologist

Juliana focuses on understanding the complex relationships between plants and their environment, and the evolution of plant physiological adaptations with special interest in genus Rhododendron.

9. Katie Stuble PhD

Restoration Ecologist and Research Department Chair

Katie explores the diversity of life in Ohio’s forests and how we can best protect it.

10. Claudia Bashian-Victoroff MS Research Specialist

As a Research Specialist in the Soil Ecology Lab, Claudia pairs field collections and observations with laboratory techniques to understand how belowground soil organisms (mainly symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi) contribute to aboveground forest health.

11. Jing Wang MS Field Station Specialist

Jing works to breed and care for plants at the David G. Leach Research Station.

12. Mary Pitts MS Research Specialist

Mary works with state and federal agencies to monitor beech leaf disease across Ohio using molecular techniques.

13. Connor Ryan MS Rhododendron Collections Manager

Connor curates HF&G’s rhododendron collection and breeds landscape plants at the David G. Leach Research Station.

14. Rachel Kappler PhD Forest Health Coordinator

Rachel facilitates tree activities for pest-resistance breeding in current priority species, ash, American beech and eastern hemlock. She also hosts workshops, webinars, and trainings for partners to help them achieve their forest health goals.