Jessica R. Miesel - Ohio Agricultural Research and Development ...

Jessica R. Miesel
School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University – Located at: Department of
Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706.
E-mail: miesel.1@osu.edu Tel: (920) 341-3473 Fax: (608) 262-9922
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Forest ecology and management, fire ecology, ecosystem restoration, soil ecosystem processes, carbon
sequestration, soil black carbon, bioenergy, sustainable land use.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. 2009 -- Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Advisor: Ralph E.J. Boerner
Graduate Minor in Environment and Natural Resources
Dissertation: Restoring Mixed-Conifer Forests with Fire and Mechanical Thinning: Effects on Soil
Properties and Mature Conifer Foliage
B.S. 2001, summa cum laude, with Honors – Life & Earth Sciences, Otterbein College, Westerville, OH.
Ecology concentration; Chemistry minor
Honors Thesis: Natural Establishment of Conifer Seedlings on the Muddy River Mudflow,
Mount St. Helens, Washington
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
Post-Doctoral Research Associate, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State
University. P. Charles Goebel Forest Ecosystem Restoration and Ecology Laboratory; 2011-present. Project:
Lake States Fire Science Knowledge Exchange Consortium. Located at University of Wisconsin-Madison, in
collaboration with D.J. Mladenoff.
Conduct “gaps in knowledge” assessment via compilation and synthesis of regional fire science
literature. Develop literature reviews, research briefs and technical reports to communicate fire science
information within scientific and resource management professional communities. Mentor
undergraduate students in Independent Projects related to overall gaps in knowledge assessment.
Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
Randall D. Jackson Laboratory of Grassland Ecology; 2009-2011.
Project: Research on the Sustainability of Switchgrass for Biofuel in Southwestern Wisconsin.
Evaluated ecosystem effects of establishment and post-establishment treatments on switchgrass
(Panicum vulgatum) monocultures and diverse species mixtures. Collaborated with soil science,
grassland ecology, and weed science researchers, and USDA NRCS personnel. Established study to
evaluate effects of black carbon on soil properties and switchgrass productivity.
Graduate Research Associate, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH. Ralph E.J. Boerner Laboratory; 2004, 2005.
Conducted laboratory analyses of soil and forest floor nutrient content, organic matter quality and soil
microbial exoenzyme activities for the long-term, national-scale study of the effects of Fire and Fire
Surrogate treatments on soils and forest floor material.
Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH; 2005-2008.
Twelve quarters of introductory and upper-level laboratory and field classes including: Local Flora,
Ecology, Evolution, Field Zoology, Vertebrate Physiology, Honors Biology, Introductory Biology, and
Human Biology.
Miesel CV 1

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Miesel, J.R. Foliar responses of ponderosa pine and white fir to thinning and prescribed fire. In Review:
Forest Ecology and Management.
Marín-Spiotta, E., E. Atkinson, C. Cardona-Correa, J. Crawford, E. Eggleston, S. Greene, J. Miesel, and K.
Stanley. New ideas about old matter: Recent paradigm shifts in the concept of recalcitrance affect
interpretation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem dynamics. In Review: Ecosphere.
Miesel, J., P.C. Goebel, R.G. Corace III, D. Hix, R. Kolka, B. Palik, and D. Mladenoff. Fire Effects on Soils
in Lake States Forests: A Compilation of Published Research to Facilitate Long-Term Investigations.
In Review: Forests.
Miesel, J.R., and M.J. Renz. Reconstructing tallgrass prairie in agricultural landscapes: Effects of weed
management on plant community characteristics. In Review: Natural Areas Journal.
Miesel, J.R., M.J. Renz, J.E. Doll, and R.D. Jackson. 2012. Effectiveness of weed management in
establishment of switchgrass and a native species mixture for biofuels. Biomass and Bioenergy 36:121-
131. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.10.018.
Miesel, J.R., R.E.J. Boerner, and C.N. Skinner. 2011. Soil nitrogen mineralization and enzymatic activities
in fire and fire surrogate treatments in California. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 91:935-946.
doi:10.4141/CJSS10098.
Miesel, J.R., R.E.J. Boerner, and C.N. Skinner. 2009. Mechanical restoration of California mixed conifer
forests: Does it matter which trees are cut? Restoration Ecology 17:784-795.
Boerner, R., C. Giai, J. Huang, and J. Miesel. 2008. Initial Effects of Fire and Mechanical Thinning on Soil
Enzyme Activity and Nitrogen Transformations in Eight North American Forest Ecosystems. Soil
Biology and Biochemistry 40:3076-3085.
Miesel, J.R., C.N. Skinner, and R.E.J. Boerner. 2007. Impact of fire on soil resource patterns in a northern
California montane ecosystem. Pages 94-102 in R.E. Masters and K.E.M. Galley (eds.). Proceedings of
the 23 rd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems. Tall
Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy, Tallahassee, FL.
MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION
Miesel, J.R., P.C. Goebel, R.G. Corace III, D. Hix, R. Kolka, B. Palik, and D. Mladenoff. Review: Fire
effects in northern pine and pine(-oak) ecosystems. In Preparation for International Journal of
Wildland Fire.
Miesel, J.R., M.J. Renz, and R.D. Jackson. Carbon stocks and fluxes in contrasting perennial biomass crops
in southwestern Wisconsin. In Preparation for Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.
Miesel, J.R., M.J. Renz, and R.D. Jackson. Nitrogen dynamics and microbial activity in soils amended with
biochar, sawdust and manure. In Preparation for Biology & Fertility of Soils.
Miesel, J.R., M.R. Raudenbush, and M.J. Renz. Species composition influences N availability and
microbial activity in reconstructed grasslands. In Preparation for Soil Biology & Biochemistry.
Miesel, J.R., M.J. Renz, M.D. Ruark, and R.D. Jackson. Global warming potential of switchgrass
monocultures under increasing fertilization rates. In Preparation for Agriculture, Ecosystems &
Environment.
Miesel, J.R., L.C. Smith, M.J. Renz, and R.D. Jackson. Seasonal changes in biomass allocation in
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). In Preparation for Biomass & Bioenergy.
PRESENTATIONS
* Indicates student poster
Miesel, J.R. 2012. Restoring mixed-conifer forests with fire and thinning: Effects on forest soil and foliar
characteristics of mature conifers. Michigan State University Department of Forestry. 25 April 2012.
Invited presentation.
*Howk, F., J.R. Miesel, D.J. Mladenoff, and P.C. Goebel. Reviewing the effects of fire frequency, intensity
and seasonal timing on invasive plant species in Great Lakes prairies. The Stewardship Network
Conference: The Science, Practice & Art of Restoring Native Ecosystems 2012, Lansing, MI. 20-21
January 2012. Poster.
Miesel CV 2

*Samdani, A., J.R. Miesel, D.J. Mladenoff, and P.C. Goebel. Concentrations of particulate matter from
wildland fires. The Stewardship Network Conference: The Science, Practice & Art of Restoring Native
Ecosystems 2012, Lansing, MI. 20-21 January 2012. Poster.
*Willis, D., J.R. Miesel, D.J. Mladenoff, and P.C. Goebel. The use of prescribed fire to control the spread of
four invasive plant species in the Great Lakes region. The Stewardship Network Conference: The
Science, Practice & Art of Restoring Native Ecosystems 2012, Lansing, MI. 20-21 January 2012.
Poster.
Miesel, J.R., M.D. Raudenbush, M.J. Renz, and R.D. Jackson. 2011. Nitrogen dynamics, soil respiration,
and microbial exoenzyme activity in contrasting perennial bioenergy systems in southwestern Wisconsin.
Ecological Society of America 96 th Annual Meeting, Austin, TX. 7-12 August 2011. Poster.
Miesel, J.R., J.E. Doll, M.J. Renz, S. Bertjens, and R.D. Jackson. 2010. Net ecosystem carbon budgets for
contrasting perennial biomass crops in southwestern Wisconsin. Ecological Society of America 95 th
Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. 1-6 August 2010. Poster.
Miesel, J.R., M.J. Renz, M.D. Raudenbush, J.E. Doll, S. Bertjens, and R.D. Jackson. 2010. Using native
species mixtures for bioenergy crops: effects of management practices on yield and other ecosystem
services. The Stewardship Network Conference: The Science, Practice & Art of Restoring Native
Ecosystems 2010, Lansing, MI. 22-23 January 2010. Poster.
Miesel, J.R. 2008. Getting the trees to talk: Effects of large-scale forest restoration treatments on foliar N
and P. Ecological Society of America 93rd Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI. 3-8 August 2008. Oral
presentation.
Miesel, J.R., R.E.J. Boerner and C.N. Skinner. 2008. Below-ground impacts of Fire and Fire Surrogate
treatments in a northern California mixed conifer ecosystem. Buckeye Ecologists Inaugural Graduate
Research Symposium, Columbus, OH. 26 March 2008. Oral presentation.
Miesel, J.R. 2007. Creating Community in the Classroom. Ohio State University Center for Life Sciences
Education Graduate Teaching Associate Workshop, Columbus, OH. 16 January 2008. Invited
presentation.
Miesel, J.R. 2007. Ecological restoration of California mixed-conifer forests. Ohio State University
Herbarium Lecture Series, Columbus, OH. 14 November 2007. Invited presentation.
Miesel, J.R., R.E.J. Boerner and C.N. Skinner. 2007. Below-ground impacts of Fire and Fire Surrogate
treatments in a northern California mixed conifer ecosystem. 11th Biennial Soil Ecology Society
Meeting, Moab, UT. 29 April – 2 May 2007. Poster.
Miesel, J.R. 2007. Honors Program Alumni Panel, Otterbein College Honors Program Senior Reporting
Day. Otterbein College, Westerville, OH. 16 May 2007. Invited presentation/panel member.
Miesel, J.R., R.E.J. Boerner and C.N. Skinner. 2006. A comparison of two thinning prescriptions for
restoration of a California mixed-conifer ecosystem: Influence on soil and forest floor nutrient content
and soil enzyme activity. Ecological Society of America 91st Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN. 6-11
August 2006. Poster.
Miesel, J.R., C.N. Skinner and R.E.J. Boerner. 2006. Below-ground impacts of Fire and Fire Surrogate
treatments in a northern California mixed conifer ecosystem. 3rd International Fire Ecology and
Management Congress, San Diego, CA. 13-17 November 2006. Poster.
Miesel, J.R., Skinner, C.N., and Boerner, R.E.J. Impact of ecological restoration treatments on soil resource
patterns in mixed conifer forests in the southern Cascade Range of northern California. Soil Ecology
Society Bi-annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. 22-25 May 2005. Poster.
Miesel, J.R., Skinner, C.N. and Boerner, R.E.J. Impact of fire on soil resource patterns in a northern
California montane ecosystem. 23 rd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference, Bartlesville, OK. 17-20
October 2005. Poster.
Miesel, J.R., Skinner, C.N. and Boerner, R.E.J. Impact of fire on soil resource patterns in a northern
California montane ecosystem. Fire in Eastern Oak Forests: Delivering Science to Land Managers. The
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. 15-17 November 2005. Poster.
Miesel, J.R. 2005. Fire Effects on Soil. Michigan Prescribed Fire Council 5 th Annual Workshop,
Kalamazoo, MI. 10 September 2005. Invited presentation.
Miesel CV 3

PEDAGOGICAL EXPERIENCE & TRAINING
Research Mentor: Mentored 10 undergraduate biology students and one post-B.Sc. researcher in
independent research projects, including development of research objectives, research methods, and
presentation of results via manuscripts and poster presentations. University of Wisconsin-Madison
(2010-2012).
Instructor: “Environmental Justice and Ecology” graduate-level special topics seminar course, including
mentoring students in development of focused conversations with community organizations. University
of Wisconsin-Madison (2010).
Course Coordinator: Developed and coordinated “Ecology in Environmental Justice” graduate-level special
topics seminar course, sponsored by Prof. R.E.J. Boerner. The Ohio State University (2009).
Preparing Future Faculty Fellow: Competitive professional development program focused on training PhD
students for careers as faculty members; included teaching mentorship with faculty member at
Wittenberg University (Springfield, OH). The Ohio State University (2008-2009).
Classroom and Laboratory Teaching Assistant: Twelve quarters of introductory and upper-level laboratory
and field classes including: Local Flora, Ecology, Evolution, Field Zoology, Vertebrate Physiology,
Honors Biology, Introductory Biology, and Human Biology. Department of Evolution, Ecology and
Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University (2005-2008).
High School Science Instructor: Instructed high school Meteorology and Geology courses. The
Adirondack School of Northeastern New York, Greenwich, NY (2003).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Botanist and Field Technician (Volunteer), USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Vallejo, CA;
28 Aug.-02 Sept. 2006.
Participated in backcountry high-elevation meadow study in Sierra Nevada Golden Trout Wilderness,
including locating and measuring long-term vegetation plots in grazed and ungrazed meadows.
Co-Instructor, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Cadillac, MI; 3-7 Oct. 2005.
Instructed land management professionals in classroom and field activities for Soils section of the
National Wildfire Coordinating Group course RX 340: Introduction to Fire Effects.
Assistant Land Steward, Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Grand Rapids, MI; 2004.
Supervised crews for habitat modification projects and invasive species removal; participated in
prescribed burn program for ecological restoration; maintained fire equipment cache; interacted with
landowners and community service groups regarding land stewardship activities; initiated long-term
photo-monitoring project.
Botany and Fire Technician, Green Mountain National Forest, Manchester, VT; 2003.
Developed forest fuels monitoring project for Department of Defense at Fort Drum, NY and contributed
this data to USDA Forest Service LANDFIRE modeling program; trained fire personnel from eastern
National Forests on forest fuels inventory and monitoring; assisted with prescribed burning to maintain
open areas for wildlife; inventoried vascular plants and performed sensitive plant surveys in non-forested
areas.
Ecology Field Technician, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO; 2002. Performed
backcountry vegetation mapping for Colorado Division of Wildlife and Rocky Mountain National Park
(identified and described vegetation associations, performed complete species inventories of vascular
plants, and evaluated environmental conditions); conducted forest fuel inventories.
Miesel CV 4

Fire Effects Monitor, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO; 2001.
Performed detailed inventories of forest vegetation, structure and fuels according to Fire Monitoring
Handbook protocol; participated in firefighter training and wildfire suppression.
Biological Technician, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, USDA Forest Service, Amboy,
WA; 1999.
Performed forest and plant surveys in long-term monitoring plots in volcanic blast zone, including
identification of woody and herbaceous vegetation to species.
FUNDING
Eastern Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium. Joint Fire Science Program $300,000.
14 November 2011 – 31 December 2013. Lead Investigator: P. Zedler, University of Wisconsin-
Madison. Contributor.
Eastern Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium (Planning Grant). Joint Fire Science
Program $71,743. 15 March 2011 – 31 March 2012. Lead Investigator: P. Zedler, University of
Wisconsin-Madison. Collaborator.
Pending: Fire in temperate coniferous forests – effects on soil ecosystem processes. NSF Division of
Environmental Biology. Submitted 06 January 2012. Lead Investigator: E. Marín-Spiotta, University of
Wisconsin-Madison. Co-PI (pending).
Pending: Collaborative research: Interactions between climate and disturbance on biomass and soil carbon
storage in fire-prone conifer forests. NSF Macrosystems Program. Submitted 18 April 2012. Lead
Investigator: E. Marín-Spiotta, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Other Personnel.
Wildfire-produced black carbon: a missing link in understanding environmental effects of forest fires.
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Fellowships Grant Program. Submitted 18 January
2012. Lead Investigator. Denied May 2012.
Re-burning following initial-entry fuel reduction treatments: implications for restoration. Joint Fire Science
Program. Submitted 18 November 2011. Lead Investigator: B. Collins, USDA Forest Service Pacific
Southwest Research Station. Collaborator. Denied April 2012.
WORKSHOP ORGANIZATION
Co-organizer with L.M. Jablonski, C.H. Nilon, M.E. Lam, and G.A. Middendorf. Environmental Justice
Education and Community Partnerships Addressing Global Warming and Planetary Stewardship.
Ecological Society of America 95 th Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. 03 August 2010.
Co-organizer with L.M. Jablonski, G.A. Middendorf, M.E. Lam, and C.H. Nilon. Environmental Justice in
Ecology Curricula and Community Engagement. Ecological Society of America 94 th Annual Meeting,
San Jose, NM. 04 August 2009.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Networking and Communications. 2012 Environmental Science Women’s Network Professional
Development Workshop, Madison, WI. 4-6 June 2012.
2011 Summer Soil Institute. Colorado State University Summer Soil Institute, Fort Collins, CO. 12-26
June 2011.
Public Participation & Engagement: Inclusive Processes and Tools for Collaboration. UW-Madison
Office of Human Resource Development (facilitated by H. Webne-Behrman), Madison, WI. 26 October
– 30 November 2009.
Miesel CV 5

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
International Association of Wildland Fire (2008 – present)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (2007 – 2010)
Soil Ecology Society (2005 – present)
Canadian Society of Soil Science (2011 – present)
Ecological Society of America (2005 – present)
Association for Fire Ecology (2004 – present)
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
National Wildfire Coordinating Group Courses
S-130 Firefighter Training (maintain qualification as Firefighter Type II)
S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
S-212 Wildfire Powersaws
RX-340 Introduction to Fire Effects
JOURNAL REFEREE
Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society
Forests
Plant and Soil
COMMITTEE WORK AND INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE
EEOB Graduate Admissions Committee (2007-2008)
EEOB College Advisory Committee (2006-2007)
EEOB Graduate Studies Committee (2005-2006, 2008-2009)
Student Association for Fire Ecology Poster Judging Committee (2006)
HONORS AND AWARDS
Graduate Honors and Awards
Preparing Future Faculty Fellow, Ohio State University (2008-2009)
Graduate Fellow, Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies (2008-2010)
Janice C. Beatley Herbarium Fund Award, Ohio State University (2006, 2008)
Edward J. Ray Award for Scholarship & Service, OSU Council of Graduate Students, (2007, 2008)
Soil Ecology Society Student Travel Grant (2007)
Association for Fire Ecology Student Travel Award (2006)
Employment and Undergraduate Honors and Awards
Green Mountain National Forest Employee Merit Award (2003)
Outstanding Honors Program Student, Otterbein College (2001)
James V. Miller Award, Otterbein College (2001)
George J. Phinney Endowed Award, Otterbein College (2001)
Life and Earth Sciences Departmental Scholarship, Otterbein College (2000)
E. Jeanne Willis Life Science Endowed Award, Otterbein College, (2000)
Torch and Key Endowed Tuition Award, Otterbein College, (2000)
Otterbein College Student Research Fund Award (2000)
Life and Earth Sciences Departmental Award, Otterbein College (1999)
Marilyn Day/Joanne VanSant Junior Book Award, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (1999)
Otterbein College President’s Scholar Award (1997-2001)
Outstanding Essay Award, Otterbein College Honors Composition and Literature (1997)
Miesel CV 6