Thomas Harris Email & Phone Number

United States

New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Advisor: Dr. Mark AshtonDissertation Title: Sequestering Carbon through Protection andProduction: A Case Study of Industrial Reforestation in Mata Atlantica, Brazil

"The Roads to Removal (R2R) report is a national collaborative effort by more than 68 scientists, and 13 institutions that examines regionally specific opportunities to address the pressing issue of climate change and the urgent need to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it at the gigaton scale. R2R researchers evaluated various techniques for removing carbon dioxide (CDR) at the county level based on factors such as feasibility, capacity, impact, and cost. Chapters in the report include Forests, Soils, Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS) and Direct Air Capture (DAC), as well as the feasibility and costs of transporting CO2 and storing it underground. The report also examines the environmental and socioeconomic co-benefits and the significance of avoiding and reducing negative impacts on people and the environment." - Report Overview Participated in team to write the Forests Chapter with a focus on carbon sequestration by forests in the southeastern US.

Instruct the field lab for the dendrology course with both undergraduate and graduate students. Cover information on how to identify over 150 species of plants found in Georgia.Review species concepts, taxonomic trends, and the phylogenetic relationships among the major woody species found around the SE US.

Athens, Ga

M.S. student in Forest Biometrics working with the Plantation Management Research Cooperative (PMRC).Research Objectives: Develop new equations to predict individual tree (1) volume, (2) taper, and (3) green weight for unthinned longleaf pine growing on old-field and cut-over sites. Destructively sample 400 longleaf pine trees to record section volumes and weight to derive new equations. Using non-linear mixed effect (NLME) models and penalized spline regression (PStaper) to model stem taper for planted longleaf pine.

Responsible for sourcing fiber to support the linerboard mill in Rome, GA and a chip mill in Whitesburg, GA. Purchased $6.8MM in pine pulpwood, hardwood pulpwood, clean pine chips, and fiber fuel, 2017. Forecast future deliveries, volumes, and cost for over 20 suppliers in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Produced physical inventory estimates of roundwood, chips, fiber fuel, and coal for the mills in Rome, GA and Whitesburg, GA. Carried out inspection of harvest sites to verify adherence to BMP's and satisfied compliance with SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard and SFI, FSC, and PEFC Chain of Custody certifications.

Assist professor Dr. John King and graduate students with research in forest science and ecophysiology.

Editor for the College of Natural Resources annual student journal: The PinetumInterviewed faculty, staff, and student for contributions and information for a double issue 80th & 81st editions covering 2014-2016. Partnered with the Director of Marketing and Communication to finalize layout before printing and stayed within the brand guideline for the university.

Operated Class-B school bus for the College of Natural Resources. Transporting students and professors for course field trips, student competitions, and research extension workshops. Mostly within 100 mile radius of Raleigh, NC but some overnight travel as well.Maintain certification for CDL Class-B License including regular vehicle inspections and maintenance.

Guide students in the identification of wood using gross and microscopic features. The purpose of the laboratory section is to provide students with knowledge and experience in identifying the the different species of wood used as renewable resources across the US.

Ncsu Herbarium (Ncsc)

Assist Herbarium Director with projects to improve the access and quality of the collection. Work includes digitization project to image and share specimens in the collection and general labeling and mounting specimens for the collection.In 2012-2013 assisted the re-organization the herbarium collection according to updated phylogenetic classification (APG III). Carried out integrated pest management to preserve the specimens in the collection.

Provided initiative to complete many tasks with little supervision.Practiced prescribed burning, pesticide mixing and application, property boundary marking, and logging site inspections.

Guided graduate and undergraduate students in tree identification.Work independently to schedule tutoring sessions with student groups and individuals.

Yulee, Florida

Synthesized herbicide labels to advise application on conifer plantations in Pacific Northwest.Installed and managed groundwater monitoring wells.Monitor and install research plots collaboratively with university research partners. Identified projects to assist with operational field work (e.g. inspect property boundary; review stands for fertilization and mid-rotation release). Assist genetics resource team with genotyping collection in seed orchards and seedlot deployments.

Assisted Forest Technicians in field work where I conducted mensuration on twin plots for the ForestProductivity Cooperative and installed permanent research plots for Resource Management Service LLC.Graded standing timber by identifying and rating defects using a loggers tape, vertex hypsometer, and mobile data recorder.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Forestry

Master Of Science - Ms, Forest Biometrics, 3.97

Activities and Societies: SAF -- Student Chapter Chair Warnell Graduate Student Association

Euroforester

Courses: (1) National and International Forest Policy; (2) Broadleave Silviculture

B.S., Forest Management, Summa Cum Laude

Minor: Biological Sciences