I am very enthusiastic about silviculture and forest management and I hope that this helps excite the graduate students under my mentorship. My research is mainly field based silviculture so this is the common theme among all students and research projects. The core of my graduate student mentorship philosophy is focused around:
- Personal development & well-being: Being a graduate student is challenging with multiple conflicting demands on all students so I strive to create an environment of support and safety. I encourage students to be involved in activities outside of academics, take holidays, prioritize personal commitments, and demonstrate continual learning and professional development.
- Inclusivity & diversity: Having a diverse group of graduate students improves the experience for everyone by increasing the perspectives in our discussions and by highlighting alternatives in thinking about research and forest management issues. I actively recruit students from different cultural and operational backgrounds but all with a common interest in silviculture.
- Research excellence & experiential learning: My research is mainly field based, so developing the skills to conduct effective field research is another priority including safety, project management, and independent decision making. Learning these skills involves lab group and individual field days and then trusting them to complete the project with support.
- Communication skills & career development: One of the key areas I focus on with all graduate students is on the development of their scientific storytelling including oral, written and visual communication skills and presenting to different audiences including both scientific and professional groups.