SNRAS doctoral student wins national award

David D'Amore is pictured in the field.

SNRAS doctoral student David D’Amore has been named the National Field Soil Scientist of the year by the US Forest Service. D’Amore, a soil scientist at the Pacific Northwest Research Station in Juneau, collaborated with land managers and researchers in his efforts to scientifically understand the cause of the die-off of yellow cedar in Southeast Alaska and the development of an adaptive management strategy for yellow cedar conservation and restoration. He also advanced a mitigation strategy for carbon management in the carbon dense coastal temperate rainforest and is developing mitigation strategies to limit exported carbon and nitrogen into aquatic ecosystems.

D’Amore accomplished his goals through extensive collaboration with land managers and numerous research facilities across the country. Though resources have been limited, he was able to leverage those resources with partners to achieve common goals. In his job, D’Amore’s primary research projects have focused on wetland hydrology, hydric soils, wetland delineation, and tree growth in forested wetlands. He served on an interdisciplinary team developing hydrogeomorphic models for wetlands in Southeast Alaska.

D’Amore’s advisor, Associate Professor David Valentine, said D’Amore’s association with SNRAS reflects the mutual desire of the US Forest Service and UAF to collaborate on issues related to the temperate rainforests of Southeast Alaska. For his dissertation, D’Amore is examining soil properties in streams draining through watersheds and how soils in temperate rainforests are influencing the carbon balance.

After earning a B.A. from the University of Virginia, D’Amore served in the Peace Corps in West Africa as a forestry and soil conservation specialist for four years, and then earned a master’s degree from Oregon State University.

Further reading:
"Doctoral student focuses on forest future," SNRAS Science & News, Dec. 10, 2008, by Nancy Tarnai

"Silviculture and Ecology of Southeast Alaska Team," 2008 Science Accomplishments, various reports by David D'Amore