The Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has added a number of new faces to its faculty and staff ranks since August 2024. Five new faculty members and 13 staff members have joined FNR in a variety of roles.
The five new faculty members are: Drs. Carolyn Burt, Clément Bataille, Kyle Horton, Insu Jo and Rubab Saher.
Dr. Clément Bataille joined FNR in the role of Richard and Suzanne Belcher Endowed Chair in Environmental Sustainability in July after spending the last seven years in the Department of Earth and
Environmental Sciences at the University of Ottawa in Canada. His research program focuses on using isotopes across a range of scales coupled with data science to pioneer and deploy solutions for sustainable natural resources management, particularly for forestry, aquatic resources and wildlife.
Bataille completed his bachelor’s degree in agronomy in 2006 from the Institute National Polytechnique de Toulouse (France) and his master’s degree in hydrology and hydrochemistry (2008) from the University of Tolouse Paul Sabatier (France), including a one-year internship at the USDA National Soil Erosion Laboratory in West Lafayette. He started his PhD work in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science at Purdue in 2009 and completed it in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah in 2014. He then worked for two years as a geoscientist in Houston, before completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He joined the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Department of Biology at the University of Ottawa as an assistant professor in 2017 and was promoted to associate professor in 2022. At the University of Ottawa, Dr. Bataille directed the Jan Veizer Isotope Laboratory Core Facility and created the SAiVE Lab (Spatio-temporal Analytics of Isotope Variations in the Environment).
Dr. Carolyn Burt came to FNR in the role of clinical assistant professor of teaching and learning and as the
program director for the new Digital Natural Resources and Ecology (DNRE) Master of Forestry (MF) program. In this role, she is guiding the development of a forward-looking curriculum that integrates digital technologies with applied ecology. She also contributes to undergraduate teaching, beginning with Wildlife in America and expanding to new course offerings in ecology.
Dr. Burt received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University and her PhD in biology from the University of Oklahoma. Before joining Purdue, she served as an instructor and advisor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at Colorado State University and worked as a Project Coordinator leading a transdisciplinary initiative focused on reducing light pollution. Dr. Burt’s research and teaching interests span light pollution, bird migration, animal behavior, and stakeholder engagement. She is particularly interested in how human-driven environmental change influences animal movement and ecological processes, and in fostering meaningful connections between people and wildlife. Her recent publications include work on artificial light at night and migratory bird behavior (Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 2023; Conservation Science and Practice, 2023). Dr. Burt is committed to mentoring undergraduate students in independent research projects, with an emphasis on experiential learning and applying ecological knowledge to pressing conservation challenges.
Dr. Kyle Horton brought his expertise in aeroecology to FNR as an associate professor this fall as part of
the Moveable Dream Hire program. Horton earned his bachelor’s in biology from Canisius College (2011), a master’s in wildlife ecology from the University of Delaware (2013) and a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Oklahoma (2017). After a postdoctoral fellowship in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, he has served as an assistant professor in the department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at Colorado State University since 2019.
Horton’s research focuses on one overarching question: How do animals move through and interact with the aerosphere, and what are the ecological and conservation implications of these movements? While nocturnal bird migration serves as our primary model system, our research spans multiple taxa and movement processes shaped by environmental variability and human influence (e.g., birds, bats, and insects). We integrate data from weather surveillance radar, acoustics, bird banding, and community science platforms such as eBird. Major themes of our work include ecological forecasting to understand how atmospheric conditions, artificial light, and land use influence the timing, routes, and intensity of migration. We are particularly interested in the dynamics of large-scale movement systems, their responses to climate and anthropogenic change, and how these insights can inform conservation practices across local to continental scales. By bridging fundamental ecological research with applied conservation, the Aeroecology Lab seeks to illuminate one of Earth’s great natural phenomena—bird migration—while providing actionable science to reduce human impacts and protect biodiversity.
Dr. Insu Jo returned to FNR as a research assistant professor of digital forestry beginning in spring 2025. Jo
previously worked in FNR as a postdoctoral research associate before serving as a forest ecologist with Landcare Research, New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute for land environment and biodiversity. He earned his PhD from Syracuse University (2015), where he studied the impacts of non-native plant invasions in the eastern United States.
Most recently, Jo analyzed national forest inventory data in New Zealand to examine how tree recruitment, growth, and mortality are shaped by species traits and environmental conditions. At Purdue, he will leverage resources in the Institute for Digital Forestry to explore how disturbance and climate change influence forest dynamics.
Dr. Rubab Saher is a research assistant professor in Digital Forestry. Saher has a PhD in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and boasts three years of postdoctoral experience — two in hydrologic sciences at Desert Research Institute and one in groundwater-dependent ecology at the University of Arizona. Her expertise lies in hydrology, remote sensing and urban climate. She
focuses on sustainable urban landscapes, plant-water-atmosphere interactions and climate adaptation strategies.
Dr. Saher is particularly interested in understanding vegetation dynamics and its role in mitigating urban heat and improving water use efficiency using remote sensing datasets. Her doctoral research explored the interactions between landscape types, microclimate dynamics and irrigation water requirements. She developed high-resolution simulations of mesic, oasis and xeric landscapes in Tempe, Arizona, quantifying their impacts on air and surface temperatures, evapotranspiration and wind patterns. Currently, Dr. Saher is exploring cool-roof strategies in major cities to mitigate urban heat and leading a national-scale effort to identify groundwater-dependent ecosystems across the U.S. using remote sensing technology. She is eager to push the boundaries of urban hydrology, integrating drone technology to improve data quality and feasibility in urban sensing.
New staff members are filling roles in the business office, undergraduate academic programs office, research, department administration and extension.
The FNR Business Office has welcomed three new faces.
Taylor Birch began working as a business assistant for FNR in February. As business assistant, she
handles operating funds, which includes departmental accounts, faculty S&E and startup accounts, and approving student, post doc and temporary staff hire requests. She also assists with graduate student onboarding each semester. In total, Taylor has been at Purdue for about 2.5 years, with two of those years spent as the account clerk in Animal Sciences. Prior to Purdue, she had brief stints in retail as a sales associate and healthcare as guest relations.
Wrena Hufford joined FNR as an account clerk in the business office this fall. She has a split appointment between FNR and Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. In her role as account clerk, she processes purchase receipts, audits Concur travel expenses, helps management department/faculty accounts, creates invoices, manages deposits, helps students and staff with various requests and more. Prior to joining the College of Agriculture Business Office in March 2024, Wrena was a personal assistant to a widower and also helped run a local business for more than 30 years.
Lora White is a business assistant with a split appointment between FNR and Horticulture and Landscape Architecture (HLA). She began working in FNR this fall, but has been on staff at Purdue for nearly 13 years, spending three years as an account clerk in HLA and the last 10 in her current role. As a business assistant, White handles SPS account management, including grant accounts, no-cost extensions, cost share and budget templates. She also approves orders over $1000 and travel on grants.
Cecilia "Cece" Davis joined the FNR academic programs office as senior administrative assistant in April. In that role, she plays a key role in ensuring efficient daily operations and providing student support.
Austin Glidden moved into the role of senior academic advisor for FNR in October. Austin attended Ivy Tech
Community College for his first year of undergraduate studies and then transferred to Ball State University, where he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in telecommunications (now media) and communication studies. During graduate school, he discovered his true passion lay in supporting students rather than studying film. Since then, his focus has been on building relationships with students and fostering effective learning environments. As an academic advisor, his goal is to support students holistically—mentally, emotionally, physically and academically —by providing them with the resources they need to thrive.
Molly Weber came to FNR in the role of academic advisor last fall, but has been a member of the Purdue community for over a decade, as both a student and support staff member, most recently as an administrative assistant and student services secretary in Entomology. Molly received a bachelor’s degree in the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue, and, in 2023, completed a master’s of higher education from Purdue Global.
Two new faces join the Purdue FNR Extension ranks in Jessica Outcalt and Phil Woolery.
Jessica Outcalt, who earned her PhD in wildlife ecology under Dr. Barny Dunning in 2020, returned to the department in the role of Natural Resources Training Specialist for FNR Extension last fall. She focuses on facilitating and coordinating professional development for conservation professionals. She works collaboratively with Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Specialists, National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Indiana Conservation Partners to develop and deliver natural resources professional development opportunities for conservation professionals. Prior to this role, she was an Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator in Cass County and has worked in environmental education and consulting in various capacities since 2020.
Phil Woolery joined FNR in July as an engagement specialist supporting the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC), the Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) and The Walnut Council. Woolery earned his master’s degree in forestry from Purdue FNR in 2010. He has worked with Purdue Extension as an Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Educator for the past 10 years.
Julia Buchanan-Schwanke, who earned her bachelor’s degree in wildlife in 2018 and master’s degree from FNR in 2025, took on the role of research associate this fall. After completing her thesis on “Epigenetic approaches to aging individuals in wildlife populations using telomere length” under Dr. Andrew DeWoody this summer, Julia will now assist with the research efforts in the DeWoody lab in an administrative capacity.
Evan Flatt, a 2017 graduate of the Purdue College of Technology (BS in aeronautical engineering
technology), joined the Institute for Digital Forestry as lead data engineer in September 2024. He is focused on improving the institute's remote sensing capabilities through the development of new pedestrian and airborne mobile mapping systems. In addition to hardware improvements, Evan is also improving the institute's data processing work flow and user experience.
Mason Rufo was hired in the spring as the building deputy for Pfendler Hall, the Forestry Building and the Forest Products Building. He also provides administrative support to faculty and departmental committees. He graduated from IUPUI in 2022 with a degree in psychology, and while at IUPUI he was a building manager for the campus center. He is a board member of “the 1441 foundation,” a nonprofit raising awareness for military veteran suicide and to those who have lost loved ones.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant also has added a few new staff members in the past year.
Natty Morrison began work as the IISG Communications Specialist in the spring. In this role, he is responsible for developing and managing communication strategies that promote IISG’s research, outreach, and education efforts across the Great Lakes region. Morrison works closely with IISG specialists and researchers to create and disseminate science-based content that highlights the program's impactful work, while also focusing on the development of future communication initiatives using emerging technologies. With over a decade of experience in journalism, marketing and content strategy, Morrison has worked in both in-house marketing teams and creative agencies, developing content strategies for a wide array of industries, including healthcare, medical device manufacturing, technology and digital marketing, with a strong emphasis on creating compelling narratives to drive engagement. He boasts a bachelor of arts degree in professional writing from Purdue University.
Sarah Peterson was hired as the program’s coastal engineering and community resilience specialist in the spring. Peterson obtained her PhD and bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where her research focused on analyzing coastal geomorphic change near coastal structures under water level fluctuations in the Great Lakes. Peterson is based at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station in Chesterton, Indiana, where she is working on developing a coastal resilience program along the Southern Lake Michigan coast.
