JANA HEISLER WHITE

Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Renewable Resources
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY 82071
jheisler@uwyo.edu

EDUCATION
Ph.D - Colorado State University, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Biology Department (2008) Advisor: Alan K. Knapp
Dissertation title: Sensitivity of grassland ecosystems across the Great Plains to present and future variability in precipitation

M.S - Arizona State University, Department of Plant Biology (2003)
Advisor: John M. Briggs
Thesis title: An ecosystem in transition: patterns and mechanisms of a shift in growth form dominance in mesic grasslands of central North America

B.S – Washington and Lee University, Biology and Geology Major (1999)

GRANTS, HONORS, AND AWARDS
• Environmental Protection Agency, Science To Achieve Results Fellowship – for Ph.D dissertation research ($93,000) – 2006-2009
• Outstanding Contributions in College Teaching 2007 – Awarded to a CSU graduate student for his/her interests and insights in developing strategies to become more effective as a college/university professor.
• Colorado State University, Department of Biology Travel Grant ($400) – 2006, 2007
• Francis Clark Soil Biology Scholarship - Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University ($3000) – 2005-2006
• California Botanical Society Biennial Meeting, Best Student Oral Presentation - 2003
• Washington and Lee University - Summer Research Award - 1998
• Phi Eta Sigma National Academic Honor Society - 1995

TEACHING AND MENTORING EXPERIENCES
• Colorado Community College Online – Instructor for Biology 111
• Arapahoe Community College – Adjunct Faculty in Biology – January 2007 to present; Instructor for BIO 104, BIO 105, and BIO 111
• Ecology Curriculum Development – Colorado State University – 2007-2008; developed learning module for General Ecology (“My ecological address: the shortgrass steppe biome”)
• Colorado State University Teaching Assistant – Introductory Biology – Spring 2007
• Colorado State University – Environmental Conservation Teaching Intern – Fall 2006
• NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Mentor – Summer 2006
• Colorado State University – Undergraduate ecology research experience mentor – Spring 2005, Fall 2006
• Colorado State University – Mentoring Seminar Participant – Spring 2004
• Kansas State University Teaching Assistant – Botany – Fall 2003
• NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) mentor – Summer 2002
• Arizona State University Teaching Assistant – Concepts in Plant Biology – Fall 2001
• The Carlisle School, Martinsville, VA – Upper School Biology and Chemistry Teacher – 1999-2000

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Effects of Precipitation Change on Terrestrial Ecosystems (EPRECOT) Meeting, Elsinore, Denmark – a joint-meeting between EU and US scientists conducting research on climate change – May 2006
• PrecipNet Working Group, Integrating Science and Policy, University of California – Santa Cruz (Oral Presentation on Dissertation Research) – 2004
• National Center For Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS)—Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) Working Group – 2002
• Student Conservation Association Resource Assistant, Houston, TX -- 1997

PUBLICATIONS
Heisler-White, J.L., E.F. Kelly, J.M. Blair, K. Harmoney, and A. K. Knapp. In prep. Climate change in the Great Plains: more extreme precipitation patterns impact ecosystem function differentially across the central US.
Knapp, A.K.., Heisler-White, J.L., Smith, M.D., and Blair, J. M. 2008. Climate Change and Grasslands: Unexpected Consequences of Extreme Rainfall Patterns. EXPO Zaragoza 2008. Spain.
Heisler-White, J.L., A.K. Knapp, and E.F. Kelly. Online Early August 2008. Large precipitation events increase aboveground net primary productivity in semi-arid grasslands. Oecologia.
Heisler, J.L. and A.K. Knapp. 2008. Coherence of aboveground net primary productivity in mesic grasslands. Ecography 31:408-416.
Knapp, A.K., C. Beier, D.D. Briske, A.T. Classen, Y. Luo, M. Reichstein, M.D. Smith, S.D. Smith, J.E. Bell, P.A. Fay, J.L. Heisler, S.W Leavitt, R. Sherry, B. Smith and E. Weng. Consequences of more extreme precipitation regimes for terrestrial ecosystems. BioScience, in press.
Knapp, A. K., J. K. McCarron, A. M. Silletti, G. A. Hoch, J. L. Heisler, M. S. Lett, J. M. Blair, J. M. Briggs, and M. D. Smith. 2008. Ecological consequences of the replacement of native grassland by Juniperus virginiana and other woody plants. Pages 156-169 in O.W. Van Auken (ed.) Ecological Studies Vol. 196, Western North American Juniperus communities: A dynamic vegetation type. Springer-Verlag, NY.
Heisler, J.L. and J.K. Weltzin. 2006. Variability matters: towards a perspective on the influence of precipitation on terrestrial ecosystems. New Phytologist 172:189-192.
Heisler, J.L., A.K. Knapp, and J.M. Briggs. 2007. Fire and resource availability influence carbon and water relations of the C3 shrub Cornus drummondii in a mesic grassland. Pages 86-93 in R.E. Masters and K.E.M. Galley (eds.). Proceedings of the 23rd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.
Briggs, J. M., A. K. Knapp, J. M. Blair, J. L. Heisler, G. A. Hoch, M. S. Lett, and J. K. McCarron. 2005. An Ecosystem in Transition: Causes and Consequences of the Conversion of Mesic Grassland to Shrubland. BioScience 55(3):1-12.
Heisler, J. L., J. M. Briggs, A. K. Knapp, J. M. Blair, and A. Seery. 2004. Direct and indirect effects of fire on shrub density and aboveground productivity in a mesic grassland. Ecology 85(8): 2245-2257.
Heisler, J. L., J. M. Briggs and A.K. Knapp. 2003. Long-term patterns of shrub expansion in a
C4-dominated grassland: fire frequency and the dynamics of shrub cover and abundance. American Journal of Botany 90(4): 423-428.

PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES (selected list)
Heisler, J.L. 2007. Large rain events increase plant productivity in the shortgrass steppe. USDA-ARS High Plains Grassland Research Station, Cheyenne, WY. (invited oral)

Heisler, J.L., A. K. Knapp, E. Kelly, and J. M. Blair. 2007. Climate change in the Great Plains: more extreme precipitation patterns impact ecosystem function differentially across the central US. Ecological Society of America Meeting, San Jose, CA. (oral)

Heisler, J.L. A.K. Knapp, and E. Kelly. 2007. Large rainfall events increase plant productivity in semi-arid grasslands. Shortgrass Steppe Biennial Meeting, Fort Collins, CO (poster).

Heisler, J.L. A.K. Knapp, and E. Kelly. 2006. Altered precipitation regimes and aboveground net primary productivity in semi-arid grasslands. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN (oral).

Heisler, J. L., and A. K. Knapp. 2006. Temporal coherence of aboveground net primary productivity in mesic grasslands. Midwestern Ecology and Evolution Conference, St. Louis, MO (oral).

Heisler, J. L., A. K. Knapp, and J. M. Briggs. 2005. Fire and resource availability influence carbon and water relations of the C3 shrub Cornus drummondii in a mesic grassland. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference, Bartlesville, Oklahoma (oral).

Heisler, J. L., and A. K. Knapp. 2005. Ecosystem response to climate change: sensitivity of grassland ecosystems across the Great Plains to variability in precipitation. Shortgrass Steppe Symposium: Key issues for management, research, and conservation. January 14, 2005. (poster)

Heisler, J. L., J. M. Briggs, A. K. Knapp, J. M. Blair, and A. Seery. 2004. Direct and indirect effects of fire on shrub expansion in a mesic grassland. NSF-LTER All Scientists Meeting, Seattle, Washington, September 19, 2003. (poster)

Heisler, J. L. and J. M. Briggs. 2003. An ecosystem in transition: what are the mechanisms driving shrub expansion in temperate grasslands? Ecological Society of America Meeting, Savannah, GA. (oral)

Heisler, J. L. and J. M. Briggs. 2003. The interaction of woody vegetation and fire in a C4 grassland: what are the mechanisms driving shrub expansion? California Botanical Society Biennial Meeting. University of San Diego, San Diego, CA. (oral)

Heisler, J.L. and J. M. Briggs. 2002. The interaction of woody vegetation and fire in a C4 grassland: mechanisms driving shrub expansion. Ecological Society of America Meeting, Portland, OR (oral)

Heisler, J.L. and J. M. Briggs. 2001. Woody vegetation expansion in a mesic grassland: fire frequency, topography, and interannual variability. Ecological Society of America Meeting, Madison, WI. (poster)

Heisler, J. L. and J. M. Briggs. 2001. Effects of fire frequency on the spatial patterns of woody vegetation in tallgrass prairie. South African – Konza Prairie LTER Symposium. Kansas State University. Manhattan, KS. May 21, 2001. (poster)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES / SERVICE
Faculty co-advisor for Sci-Quest – 2007 to present – undergraduate science and service club at Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO
Colorado Science and Engineering Fair Judge (Senior Botany Division) – 2006, 2007
Graduate Degree Program in Ecology Executive Committee (CSU), Graduate Representative – 2005-06
Colloquium in the Life Sciences (CSU), Vice President – 2004-2005
GROW Workshop, Konza Prairie Biological Station – scientific field day to expose young women to the biological sciences – 2003
Arizona State University Graduate Research Support Program—Proposal Review Panel – 2002
Plant Biology Graduate Student Association (PBGSA) Co-President (ASU) – 2001-2002
Women In Technology and Science (WITS) Founding Member—Organization for the promotion of scientific inquiry among middle school girls – 1996-1999