Jeff Matthews, Associate Professor

Jeff is a plant ecologist. He uses field experiments and observational studies of plant communities in natural and restored ecosystems to understand the drivers of change in ecological communities and apply that understanding to challenges in restoration.

Chelsea Peterson, PhD Student

Chelsea is investigating the carbon storage capacity of restored wetlands. She is interested in how restoration methods, site age, and hydrological conditions affect the ability of restored wetlands to store carbon in soils and vegetation.

David Junga, MS Student

David’s research focuses on the establishment of understory herbaceous plants in restored floodplain forests. He is designing and field-testing seed mixes for more effective restoration of plant diversity.

Annie Huang, MS Student

Annie is studying invasive wetland plant species. Specifically, she is investigating competitive interactions between two invasive plants, reed canarygrass and Japanese hop, under variable moisture and light conditions.

Jacob Ridgway, MS Student

Jacob, who is co-advised by Dr. Tony Yannarell, is investigating the impact of agricultural pesticides on soil invertebrate communities in an experimental restored prairie.

Wes Bollinger, MS Student

Wes, who is co-advised by Dr. Rabin Bhattarai, is developing and field-testing native seed mixes for use by the Illinois Department of Transportation in roadside right-of-ways.