Two new faculty members with expertise in global change and forest ecology have joined the Department of Biology at West Virginia University.
In January, Edward Brzostek and Zachariah Fowler began in their new positions.
Brzostek is an assistant professor specializing in biogeochemistry, ecosystem modeling, global change and plant-microbial interactions.
Fowler is the director of the Earl L. Core Arboretum, the 91-acre old-growth forest on the hillside of the Monongahela River flood plain. Fowler will be responsible for developing new programs, increasing community and University member involvement at the arboretum, and to help foster a better understanding of nature.
“I am very happy to welcome Dr. Eddie Brzostek and Dr. Zach Fowler to the Biology department,” said Richard Thomas, professor and department chair.
“Dr. Brzostek expands our strong forest ecology program by bringing his research program in ecosystem modeling to our department.
“Dr. Fowler builds on our rich history of public outreach and service that has been a hallmark of the Core Arboretum.”
Brzostek received his bachelor’s degree in earth science in 2003 from Boston University and his doctorate in biology in 2012 also from Boston University. In between his BA and starting his Ph.D., he worked as a research technician at the University. During this time, he decided he wanted to focus on the response of current ecosystems to climate. He completed his post-doctoral work at Indiana University, integrating the interplay between trees and soil microbes into models that predict the impacts of global change on forest ecosystems.
Fowler received a double bachelor’s degree in biology and physics at West Virginia Wesleyan College. He then received his doctorate at West Virginia University with his research in forest ecology, studying how acid rain impacts forest ecosystems in Appalachia.
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dr/2/4/2015
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