Research Thrust II Leader, Dr. Zhu H. Ning, Ph.D.

Dr. Zhu H. Ning is a Professor in urban forestry at Southern University(SU), Baton Rouge, LA. She teaches urban forest ecophysiology and nutrition of urban tree to graduate students, and urban forestry, forest science, and tree physiology to undergraduate studnets. Along with all urban forestry faculty members at SU, she played an important role in the urban forestry programs establishment at B.S., M.S., and coming Ph.D. degree levels. She is also the Project Director of many research projects funded by the US Department of Agriculture, US Environment Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Energy, and the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council. Her research projects focus on urban tree ecophysiology, CO₂ sequestration, climate change assessment, O₃, NO_x, particle pollution, effects of soil flooding, forested wetlands, and bioremediation. She has published 8 books, 2 book chapter, and more than 50 research articles. She received The Faculty Award for Excellence for Outstanding Research Performance at SU in 1996-1998 and 2000-2003. A significant portion of her research is concentrated on climate change assessment and ways to mitigate environmental problems. This led to her recognition by the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policies, Governor of Louisiana, and Permanent Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, Ottawa Canada. Dr. Ning is the Chair of the Society of American Foresters Urban and Community Forestry Working Group, and Board member of the 7^th American Forest Congress Communities Committee. She serves as peer reviewer for Journal of Forestry, Wetlands, etc. She also serves as peer reviewer for the USDA Agricultural Research Services, the US EPA, the US Global Change Research Programs, etc. Dr. Ning’s international collaborative efforts including serving as invited expert in the areas of the Chinese State Forestry National Natural Forests Protection, Chinese Academy of Sciences urban forestry research, Jamaica National Forest Management, Egyptian Climate change and water resource management, etc.


Research Thrust II Research Associate, Yu L. Long
 
Mr. Long has a M.S. Degree in computer science from Southern University. His duty includes research in GIS and mapping, network administration, education and outreach information dissemination. He has expertise in website design, design conference on line registration system, develop online search engine using ASP, IIS, SQL server 200, in Prior to join the research Thrust II, he worked as a research assistant for the Southern University Technique and Network Service. He has established website for Southern University and assist in network administration.


Research Thrust II Research Assistant/Ph.D. Student Intern, Hong Y. Wang

Mr. Wang has a M.S. Degree in computer science from Southern University. He is in the process to obtain a Ph.D. in information technology.


Research Thrust II Student and their Research Highlights:

Mike Franklin, M.S. Degree thesis, Human Population Change, Land Use Change, and Urban Sprawl in the Gulf Coat Region

Chris White, M.S. Degree thesis, Urban forests and its sustainability.

Jana Snowden, M.S. Degree thesis, Biodiversity and urban Forests

Kelley Winston, M.S. Degree Thesis, Minority Perception and Participation in Urban and Community Forestry

Brent Beamon, M.S. Degree thesis, An inventory and analysis of the street trees within downtown Baton Rouge.

Nathaniel I. Akaolisa, M.S. Degree thesis, Impacts of soil flooding and compaction on growth and development of Southern red oak and willow oak Greg Tarver, M.S. Degree thesis, Urban sprawl and the effects on urban forest resources

Kelley Winston, M.S. Degree Thesis, Minority Perception and Participation in Urban and Community Forestry

Greg Puckett, Undergraduate CCZARS scholar, Gulf Coat region climate change

Jimika Terry, Undergraduate CCZARS scholar, environmental change associated with contamination

Dudley Bernard, Ph.D. Dissertation, Particle pollution in the Gulf Coast region

Hong Ye Wang,  Ph.D. candidate in Engineering Science, work experience including  Soft computing, mathematical simulation and image handling, practical experience in data analysis, data mining and database/data warehouse design, strong technical competence in VS.NET(C#, VB.NET), ASP.NET, proficient in website development and web server administration