Steven D. Prager, PhD

I recieved my PhD in Geography from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia in 2002 following nearly seven years of time split between the Puget Sound area and Vancouver, BC. Towards the latter part of this time period I began working, initially as a contractor and then later in a full  capacity, for the Advanced Simulation Center, a division of Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support. Though my time at LM put some distance between my degree and my first tenure track position, this was very valuable in that I was able to hone a variety of skills ranging from software engineering to project management. In addition, I was involved in cutting edge research and development which was ultimately a segue into my current GIScience position.

I currently have several active graduate students. Among them is:

Patrick Dammann is currently on exchange from the Hochschule Karlsruhe - Technik und Wirtschaft. He is working on issues regarding the representation and visualization of network concepts for purposes of creating complex functional networks (e.g., multi-modal transportation networks serving a specific purpose).

Grant Gardner is currently analyzing his data collected this summer in the Madrean Sky Islands in Arizona. Grant is interested in using GIS-based modeling to understand the potential effects of climate change and development on bird biodiversity.

Matt Salava is in his second year in our program. Matt's research is examining the use of geospatial technologies in supporting the US Bureau of Land Management visual resource management process. Matt's research was previously funded through a cooperative agreement with the BLM is currently funded by a Wyoming NASA Space Grant.

Please visit our graduate admissions page for more information about our graduate program.

I have recently graduated several students who have gone on to bigger and better things:

Tom Storey (with Ramesh Sivanpillai as co-chair) graduated in the summer of 2007, completing a successful thesis on the use of remote sensing and ancillary data for evaluating  sage cover in disturbed areas. Tom is currently working for the Office of State Lands and Investments for the state of Wyoming as a GIS Analyst.

Ben Yanda (co-chaired with Deb Paulson) graduated last spring with the defense of his thesis on the political ecology of land tenure and conflict in the Rukwa Valley of Tanzania. Ben is currently working for Permits West, a firm emphasizing  EIA and NEPA work located in Santa Fe, NM.

Greg Veregin (with Jeff Hamerlinck as co-chair) finished in the summer of 2007 with the defense of his thesis on the integration of approaches to spatial decision support that incorporate both biological-based planning issues and community/economic planning issues. Greg, also hailing from SFU, is currently employed by Encana in Denver, Colorado.

Please contact me if you are interested in the work of any of these students. Students are frequently interested in hearing about job opportunities or graduate school options in thier areas of exerptise.