Appalachian Lab Monthly Newsletter
We would like to kick off the last AL newsletter of 2025 with well wishes to everyone in our community for a safe, joyful, and relaxing semester break. We hope that you’ll come back refreshed and ready for everything that 2026 will bring to us.
One exciting thing that 2026 will be bringing to AL is the hiring of a new faculty member. We are currently advertising for a Watershed & Water Resources Science faculty position. The search committee includes the following: Sarah Bomar, Katia Engelhardt, Matt Fitzpatrick (chair), Sarah Garvey, Andrea Pain (HPL), and Zach Zbinden.
At the December AL town hall Matt reviewed the tentative timeline (see below) for the search, as well as the structured process that the search committee will use to help ensure consistency and transparency in their review of applicants. Matt said that he will keep the AL community updated on the progress of the search at upcoming town halls and he encourages everyone in the AL community to participate in the search process when the time comes.
Happy New Year!
New AL Faces
Yuhao Wang, Postdoctoral Researcher
I will be working with Dr. Xin Zhang on the NICCEE project. My PhD research has focused on agricultural sustainability, and I examine how climate variability and extreme weather shape agricultural production. I use deep learning, econometrics, and GCAM to analyze crop yield responses under changing climate conditions. Outside of work, my hobbies are camping, hiking, and fishing. Outside work hobbies are camping, hiking and fishing.
Recent Achievements/Successes/News
We have been busy participating in and hosting a variety of activities, events, and visitors over the past month. Here are some of the highlights:
Animal Migration Workshop
Emily Cohen and Brian Tsuru had the opportunity to participate in an Animal Migration course held at Lund University in Sweden – Emily as an invited instructor and Brian as a student:
Some students got together recently for a “Friendsgiving” celebration:
Aquaponics Demonstration
Minh Dung Hoang has partnered with the lab to develop and test a prototype aquaponics shrimp rearing system in AL’s greenhouse. Keith and the rest of the Water Chemistry Lab crew have helped with the water quality analysis. Minh recently hosted a number of guests to demonstrate the system and a blind taste test between commercially available shrimp and the shrimp he raised.
DEI Update
Why DEI? Holiday Edition
The AL DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) group wants to raise awareness of what DEI is and why it’s relevant to you. This semester’s theme is “Why DEI?”.
This month, we want to highlight community and collegiality. As part of being a good colleague, it is critical to treat everyone with respect. At the Appalachian Lab, we have Principles of Conduct that outline how we, as members of this community, agree to treat each other.
At this time of year, we often reflect on and celebrate community. One goal of DEI efforts is to foster a professional community in which everyone – of all backgrounds and identities – feels respected and able to succeed.
So, another answer to the question “Why DEI?” is that it helps us build a productive and respectful community together.
Thanks for tuning in this fall. We’ll be back next semester, when we’ll highlight what DEI at the Appalachian Laboratory looks like in practice.
Questions, comments, concerns?
Complete our anonymous feedback form!
AL's Year in Review
Dave put together this slideshow that demonstrates so much of what we accomplished in 2025:
Administrative Reminders - Compliance Training
Who must complete compliance training?
This training must be completed by researchers and research-support personnel, including:
- PI’s, Co-PI’s, FRA’s
- Project staff, graduate students, and lab personnel
- Anyone else engaged in sponsored research activities
Who does not need compliance training?
Most non-research staff do not need to complete this training. The only exception is if your duties directly intersect with regulated research areas (e.g., assisting with human subject documentation, managing export-controlled information, or handling research data subject to federal requirements). UMCES OSP will reach out individually to those persons with tailored guidance.
What do I need to complete?
Additionally, after October 10, 2025, any PIs and Co-PIs submitting proposals to NSF must complete Research Security training. This training is offered through NSF.
These trainings will take some time, so be sure to act sooner rather than later to ensure that non-compliance doesn’t negatively impact the routing of your proposal!
What’s the completion deadline?
The NSF Research Security training must be completed before submitting any future proposal. Deadlines for the COI and RCR trainings through CITI have not been established yet. New researchers and those beginning a new project should complete relevant modules before their research begins.
How do I access the training?
Click this link to access the NSF SECURE Center Consolidated Training Module.
How to document completion?
When you have completed the NSF Research Security training, upload a copy of your certificate to this SharePoint box.
Recent Publications
Zavala-Paez, M., Keller, Stephen R., Holliday, J., Fitzpatrick, M.C., Hamilton, Jill A. 2025. Climate and hybridization shape stomatal trait evolution in Populus. New Phytologist.
Atkinson, C.L, Franzen, A.J., Hopper, G.W., Lopez, J.W., Zbinden, Z.D., and Vaughn, C.C. 2025. Environmental gradients drive convergence in life history strategies among disparate but coevolved taxonomic groups. Ecology.
Mark Your Calendars
- Lab Closed for Holiday Break – December 24th through January 2nd
- Visiting scholar seminar series: 2/months on Fridays starting in Jan
- TGIFs: first Friday of month @ 3:30pm @ AL
- UMCES Faculty Convocation – May 11-12 at CBL
Do you have an announcement or update you’d like to include in a future newsletter?
AL’s monthly newsletter is issued following the monthly town hall meeting. Please submit any announcements and updates to Katie Kline or Heather Johnson before the close of business on the first Friday of each month to ensure that your content can be included in that month’s newsletter.
