Resume

• 2018

  Loretto

  PA

  I am an Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Saint Francis University in Loretto

  PA with 16 years of university-level teaching experience in general biology

  ecology

  zoology

  and botany. As a teacher

  I aim to extend past the boundaries of the traditional classroom by engaging students in fieldwork

  supervising undergraduate research projects and involving students in study abroad programs in areas rich with biodiversity. I have traveled with my student in Field Biology courses to Florida to swim with Manatees

  to Portal Arizona

  to Costa Rica

  and most recently to the Galapagos islands. My research focuses on effects of species invasions on plant community structure and function. I specialize in invasive plant biology

  plant community and population ecology

  fire ecology

  and desert riparian ecology. I have studied Tamarix invasion and fire issues since 2006 and have published in the International Journal of Wildfire

  the Journal of Biological Control

  was a contributing author to the book “Tamarix: a case study of ecological change in the American West

  ” have coauthored several government reports related to Tamarix invasion

  and have several publications in prep. I have also shared my research through numerous invited presentations

  posters

  and professional meetings. The outcome of my research has contributed to general ecological knowledge concerning the impacts and management of invasive plant species. I have continued studying Tamarix and other invasive riparian plants at Saint Francis University. I am currently building a research program focused on invasive Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and other invasive plants of significant economic and ecological concern in Pennsylvania and the greater Mid-Atlantic region. I earned my Ph.D. in Ecology at University of California

  Santa Barbara

  and my M.S. and B.S. in Biology at California State Polytechnic University

  Pomona.

  Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies

  Saint Francis University

• 2006

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

  Fire Ecology of Invasive Plants

  University of California

  Santa Barbara

• Gail Drus - Saint Francis University

  Teaching

  Environmental Awareness

  Ecology

  Data Analysis

  Research

  Botany

  Science

  Climate Change

  Statistics

  Biology

  Scientific Writing

  Drus Ph.D.

  Drus Ph.D.

  Department of Ecology

  Evolution and Marine Biology

  UC Santa Barbara

  Saint Francis University

  Dr. Drus is an Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Saint Francis University in Loretto

  PA. Her research focuses on effects of species invasions on plant community structure and function. She specializes in invasive plant biology

  plant community and population ecology

  fire ecology

  and desert riparian ecology. She has studied Tamarix invasion and fire issues since 2006 and has published in the International Journal of Wildfire

  the Journal of Biological Control

  was a contributing author to the book “Tamarix: a case study of ecological change in the American West

  ” has coauthored several government reports related to Tamarix invasion

  and has several publications in prep. She has also shared her research through numerous invited presentations

  posters

  and professional meetings such as the Ecological Society of America

  Tamarisk and Russian Olive Research Conferences

  and Weeds Management Associations. The outcomes of her research have contributed to general ecological knowledge concerning the impacts and management of invasive plant species. She continues studying Tamarix and other invasive riparian plants at Saint Francis University. Dr. Drus has 13 years of university-level teaching experience in general biology

  ecology

  zoology

  and botany and often teaches science courses targeted to non-science majors. As a teacher

  she aims to extend past the boundaries of the traditional classroom by engaging students in fieldwork

  supervising undergraduate research projects and involving students in study abroad programs in areas rich with biodiversity. Dr. Drus earned her Ph.D. in Ecology at University of California

  Santa Barbara

  and her M.S. and B.S. in Biology at California State Polytechnic University

  Pomona.

  Saint Francis University

  Department of Ecology

  Evolution and Marine Biology

  UC Santa Barbara

  University of California

  Santa Barbara

  My research revolves around the fundamental question: What factors drive and regulate the composition of ecological communities in space and time? I use perturbations

  such as fire disturbance and non-native plant invasion

  as tools to derive a better understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors limiting community composition. I conduct research that not only enhances our collective understanding of ecological processes

  but also provides tools that land managers can apply to various environmental issues. To address this broad research theme

  I have investigated the effects of human disturbance

  plant invasion

  and multiple stresses on fire disturbance and plant survival. In the field of fire ecology and management

  important and exciting general questions remain concerning the consequences of altered fire regimes on the landscape and biota as biotic and abiotic components change due to continued human disturbance

  plant invasions

  climate change

  and other factors such as insect and pathogen outbreaks. Management strategies must adapt to these continually changing environmental conditions by using a growing body of ecological theory to serve as the intellectual grounding for creating sound management practices. I am eager to contribute to the building of this obligate partnership as I view ecological science as a powerful guiding tool in our policy decisions involving fire and the management of forests and wildlands. I hope to contribute meaningfully to plant ecology through endeavors in the theory and practice of fire ecology and physiological plant ecology as a means to determine the mechanisms underlying shifts in community composition due to the ability of individual species to recover following fire

  and due to the invasion of fire-promoted plants. As global change

  fires and landscapes interact

  these issues will become ever more complex.

  Doctoral Candidate