ORP staff at all levels, and the Dean of Research, strive to make research opportunities at the College as broad and achievable as possible. We are the central resource for the initiation, funding and management of all ESF research activity. Our specific roles and responsibilities are listed here.
Sponsored
Research
Programs
TOPResearch at ESF
Research at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry is remarkably diverse, current and challenging. Contributions are being made in fields that include aquatic ecosystems, bioenergy, biotechnology, biodiversity, ecology, genetic engineering, nanotechnology, remote sensing, wildlife disease prevention, and many others. ESF is a leader in integrating the energy and excitement of research with the formal requirements of degree and certificate programs. A high percentage of undergraduates and virtually all graduate students participate in research activity as part of their educational experience.
Approximately 89.6% of the faculty are passionately engaged in more than 376 studies that attract extramural support from federal, state, international and non-governmental sources. In 2007, approximately $13.25 million was spent on externally funded research endeavors, providing not only new results, but also unique educational and experiential opportunities. Research projects engage students of all levels, postdoctoral associates, ESF faculty and external collaborators. These projects extend from sub-molecular to global levels, and many include important innovations and new processes: more than 27 patents have been issued to ESF faculty and their students since 1983.
Our work is often carried out in distant places, such as Antarctica, New Zealand, Russia and South America, and most projects have application far beyond the borders of New York or the United States. Mentoring programs are expanding to enhance the opportunities of new and experienced faculty, staff and students, both in research practice and in identification of the financial underpinnings of research programs. The coming decade is a particularly important time in the College's research experience, as new programs and facilities in biotechnology, natural and environmental sciences are being planned and/or completed.
We welcome you to the ORP website, and invite your comments and suggestions for the site and the ORP programs at any time.
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Research Institutes and Centers
Additional Information about Research at ESF
- Academic Departments
...for research projects based in individual ESF academic departments. - Buildings & Facilities
A review of ESF's outstanding campus resources. - Regional Campuses
Field stations, forest preserves, campuses, and more... - Forest Service Northeastern Research Station (USDA)
Local Contact: D. Nowak; 315-448-3212 - Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (USDI/USGS)
Local Contact: B. Underwood; 315-470-6820, 315-470-6985
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Research in the News
| Bee Population Continues to Dwindle | The U.S. is continuing to lose honey bee hives at an alarming rate, at a time when the bees should be pollinating hundreds of crops. And beekeepers don’t believe a turnaround will be coming anytime soon. |
| Can Using Predictive Models Lead to Sound Decisions about the Great Lakes? | Environmental leaders and policy makers who help shape the future of the Great Lakes can learn how to use computer models to make sound decisions. |
| The Right Mix of Trees | Environmentalists from Virginia, Ohio and even India are looking to improve the air quality in their cities simply by planting the right mix of trees for their climate, using a study by researchers at SUNY-ESF. |
| State Budget Includes $39M for Construction, Renovation at SUNY-ESF | Improvements include a new gateway, academic research buildings; rehabilitation of historic carriage house at the Adirondack Ecological Center. |
| Sustainable Business Collaboration Launched to Unite Education and Research | Whitman School, SUNY-ESF, and Syracuse Center of Excellence join forces; Inaugural seminar April 25 in New York City to feature presentations on sustainable innovation delivered by leaders in business and business education. |
| Dr. Guy Baldassarre Honored with Conservation Award | ESF professor Dr. Guy Baldassarre was presented with the prestigious Ducks Unlimited Wetlands Conservation Achievement Award in Research/Technology for 2008. The award was presented during the annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. |
| Coyotes Make Themselves at Home in Eastern U.S. | Researchers from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are tracking coyotes using GPS and sorting through coyote scat to determine what the animals eat and how they affect deer populations. |
More News--ESF Office of Communications
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The Research Foundation of State University of New York
The Research Foundation of State University of New York (RF-SUNY) is a private, nonprofit corporation under contract to the State University of New York (SUNY) for the administration of sponsored research and programs conducted by faculty and staff at SUNY's sixty-four campuses. RF-SUNY assumes fiduciary responsibility for sponsored fund activities on behalf of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
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Faculty Member Profiles
- Chemistry, Department of
- Construction Management and Wood Products Engineering, Department of
- Environmental and Forest Biology, Department of
- Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering, Department of
- Environmental Studies, Department of
- Forest and Natural Resources Management, Department of
- Landscape Architecture, Department of
- Paper and Bioprocess Engineering, Department of
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Patents & Technology Transfer
The Research Foundation of State University of New York Technology Transfer Office (TTO) handles all marketing, patenting and licensing of inventions and software developed by faculty and staff of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
ESF has had a great year with regard to Patents and Technology Transfer. Drs. Timothy A. Volk, Lawrence P. Abrahamson and Lawrence B. Smart collaborated on and received the following four patents:
- Fast-Growing Willow Shrub named "Millbrook"
- Fast-Growing Willow Shrub named "Oneida"
- Fast-Growing Willow Shrub named "Fish Creek"
- Fast-Growing Willow Shrub named "Canastota"
Also, five patent disclosures were submitted in 2006-2007 by the following ESF faculty and staff members:
- Dr. Raymond C. Francis, PBE
- Dr. Christoper T. Nomura, Chemistry
- Shigetoshi Omori, PBE
- Dr. Lawrence B. Smart, EFB
- Dr. William T. Winter, Chemistry;
Additional information regarding these available technologies can be found by contacting TTO RF-SUNY Technology Transfer Office or through their new TechFinder.
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Spotlight on Research
--Exemplary Researcher Award
We are very pleased to announce that Dr. David J. Kieber, Professor in the Department of Chemistry, was selected among several highly qualified candidates to receive the College's second Exemplary Researcher Award. Dr. Kieber will be recognized at the Spotlight on Student Research and Outreach, being held April 20, 2007, in Nifkin Alumni Lounge. This College-level award recognizes a successful, currently active researcher with exemplary research activity, publication record and graduate1 undergraduate student research program. Dr. Kieber's achievements in environmental chemistry, chemical oceanography, marine ecosystems and atmospheric and aquatic environments serve as an excellent example of accomplishment in research and development of a mentoring program for graduate students and post-doctoral scientists. Specific accomplishments and honors are highlighted below.
- Dr. Kieber's work at ESF began in 1990 as Assistant Professor in Chemistry and continues today as Professor. He has served as a Visiting Scientist at the University of Georgia, Sapelo Island, GA; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Beaufort, SC and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution at Woods Hole, MA. He was a Postdoctoral Investigator at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and a Research Assistant at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami.
- Dr. Kieber spends considerable time in the field. He has participated in twenty-seven oceanographic cruises, (434 sea days), and served as Chief Scientist on three cruises. Field labs include Bermuda Biological Station, Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Sapelo Island Marine Lab.
- Dr. Kieber extensively utilizes undergraduates in his program. On each of his recent Antarctic and Eastern seaboard cruises, he brought along an undergraduate assistant. In most cases, these undergraduates were sufficiently energized by this "hands-on" research experience to consider graduate school in chemistry, and several are now enrolled at ESF.
- Creating synergy between research and outreach to a broader community is an important contribution toward fulfilling ESF's mission to its stakeholders. This is one of Dr. Kieber's great strengths. During the Fall of 2005, when Dr. Kieber and several students were aboard the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer in the Ross Sea of Antarctica, he maintained a site on the ESF web where he regularly updated his progress and communicated with students from Jamesville-Dewitt Middle School, including interviews with Emperor Penguins! This was one of the most visited web pages on the ESF web for the last quarter of 2005.
- Dr. Kieber has received the following honors: SUNY Chancellor's Award for Research and Excellence, 2003; Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, 1991-1994; University of Miami Walton Smith Prize for best dissertation, 1989; Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, 1987.
The Exemplary Researcher Award at ESF, made annually, includes a calendar-year tuition scholarship and graduate assistantship at the PhD stipend level; and a $5,000 research account. Dr. Kieber will present a campus-wide research seminar highlighting his work in the coming academic year.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kieber in this well-deserved honor!
--Exemplary Researcher Award Archive
--Featured ESF Researcher Archive
--Graduate & Undergraduate Research, Spotlight on
--Introducing New ESF Deparment Chairman, Faculty and Researchers
The Office of Research Programs is pleased to introduce new department chairmain, faculty and researchers and welcome them to the ESF campus! Some recent new faces include:
- David Newman, Department of Forest and Natural Resource Management
- David Sonnenfeld, Department of Environmental Studies
- Arthur Stipanovic, Department of Chemistry
- Susan Anagnost, Department of Construction Management and Wood Products Engineering
- Neil Abrams, Department of Chemistry
- Colin Beier, Adirondack Ecological Center
- Jeffrey Blankenship, Department of Landscape Architecture
- Margaret Bryant, Department of Landscape Architecture
- Biljana Bujanovich, Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering
- Stewart Diemont, Department of Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering
- Martin Dovciak, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology
- Melissa Fierke, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology
- Jungho Im, Department of Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering
- Martin Schlaepfer, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology
- Wendong Tao, Department of Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering
- Christopher Whipps, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology
--New Awards
--Seed Grants
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ORP Newsbytes
- Brian Barkley, General Manager of the Eastern Ontario Model Forest along with Board Members Wayne Young of DOMTAR and Richard David of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne presented the 2007 C. Ross Silversides Award to Dr. Edwin H. White (retired Dean of Research). This award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contribution to sustainable forestry.
- Mentoring Conference--In January 2008, ORP held the Mentoring Conference (see agenda).
- On opening day of the NY State Fair, ORP staffed the ESF tent and displayed just a sample of some of the great research projects underway and also provided a few activities for children. One popular display was Where in the World is ESF, illustrating ESF research in more than 65 locations worldwide.
- Dr. Thomas E. Amidon and his work with New Biorefinery Technologies for Pulp Industry was a recent focus of "Featured Technologies" available through RF-SUNY. Also, Dr. Lawrence B. Smart's work with Fast-Growing Varieties of Shrub Willow for Bioenergy or Bio-based Products has been profiled.
- Research & Scholarship Awards--In 2007, SUNY-ESF faculty member,
Dr. James P. Gibbs, received an
award at the
Recognition Dinner Honoring Research & Scholarship held on May 2, 2007 in Albany.
In 2006, three SUNY-ESF faculty members, Dr. Thomas E. Amidon,
Dr. Charles A.S. Hall and
Dr. Edwin H. White received
Research & and Scholarship Awards at the Recognition Dinner Honoring Research & Scholarship held
May 3, 2006 in Albany. - Mentoring Conference--In January 2006, ORP held the first and very-well attended Mentoring Conference (see agenda).
- Patents Fair--In November 2005, ORP held the first Patents Fair (see agenda).
- ESF research is mentioned in two recent publications produced by RF-SUNY. A limited number of copies of the following are available in ORP: "Energy Research at the State University of New York" and "Homeland Security Research at the State University of New York".
- ESF research is also mentioned in the ESF 2007 Annual Report (requires Quicktime plugin) and older reports.
- Linda Galloway, ESF Librarian and ORP Funding Specialist has set up a site containing grant search tools. ESF researchers should check out ESF One-stop Grant Search. Archived issues of the Research Times can be found at both ESF One-stop Grant Search and on the Faculty/Staff Resources (Intranet).
