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Students
Current Students:
Cristin Walters, MS Student
 
BS in Biology, Towson University, 2007
After finishing a degree in Biology at Towson University in Maryland, Cristin spent several years working as a research technician for the US Forest Service. She was involved with several projects through the USFS Sierra Nevada Research Center and UC Davis focusing on Sierra Nevada forest structure and fire ecology.Cristin has always been interested in how plants adapt and cope with extreme conditions, particularly in alpine environments. She joined the Smith lab in 2010 and her current research focuses on lateral growth and vegetative reproduction in high elevation spruce-fir forests. Her current field sites are located in the Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming.
Joseph White, PhD Student
 
BS in Conservation of Natural Resources, Lenoir-Rhyne University, 2009
Joseph graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC with at degree in Conservation of Natural Resources. His undergraduate research included monitoring the effects of recycling initiatives on solid waste and recycling levels and evaluating the impacts of construction on an endangered herb, Hexastylis naniflora. A member of the Smith lab since 2009, Joseph's current research investigates water source utilization of riparian tree species in the Southeastern US and possible impacts from environmental variables. His interests lie in riparian ecology, the effects of anthropogenic action on plant processes, and variation in plant processes between species. In his free time, Joseph enjoys hiking, photography, and working on his goal of visiting every NC state park.
Carter Berry, PhD Student
 
BS in Biology, Minor in Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
After finishing a degree in Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill, Carter traveled to Australia for a year-long internship examining the effects of an invasive species, Lantana camara, on rainforest fire regimes. After some time off traveling and working Carter continued to his interest in biology and field ecology by attending graduate school Carter joined the Smith lab in August 2009 and his current research examines the relationship between frequent cloud immersion and the spruce-fir communities that grow on a handful of mountain peaks in the southern Appalachian mountains.
Adriana Sanchez, Postdoc
BS and MS in Biology from Universidad de los Andes
PhD in Biology from Wake Forest University
After completing her undergrad and masters at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogota-Colombia, Adriana moved to the US for her PhD and postdoc. For her undergraduate degree she worked in ecology of "frailejones" (Espeletia, Asteraceae) and for her masters in the systematics of the Espeletiinae. During Adriana’s Ph.D. she studied the family level relationships of Polygonaceae with emphasis in the woody Eriogonoideae. This work focused on two genera -Triplaris and Ruprechtia- and on the ant-plant relationships found in Triplaris. Adriana began a postdoc in the Smith Lab in August 2011, where she’s been developing several projects such as studying functional traits in paramo (neotropical alpine) plants, and studying senescence of fall leaves."
Undergraduates:
Joshua Winneberger
Josh is a senior Biology major interested in becoming a dentist after undergrad. He is originally from Wilmington, NC, and enjoy living close to the beach. Right now he am working with Dr. Sanchez in monitoring photosynthesis and conductance rates associated with the varied opening or closing of stomata as the leaves change color.
Jennifer Reed
Jennifer Reed is a senior biology undergraduate student from Denver, Colorado. She was awarded a Summer Research Fellowship from Wake Forest University in 2011 to conduct a research project investigating the surface properties of spruce and fir trees in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. She also served as a field research assistant to PhD student, Carter Berry. Her hobbies include swing dancing and skipping the gym. She plans to attend graduate school to study epidemiology in public health.
Elizabeth Thomas
Elizabeth Thomas is a senior at Wake Forest University and will graduate in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She has been working in Dr. Smith's lab since June 2009. She is currently completing her honor’s thesis on understory light regimes and cloud immersion effects in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Former Students:
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| Craig Brodersen |
Kristine Estill |
Judd Hill |
Cynthia Willson |
| Carol Brewer |
Gary Geller |
Dean Jordan |
Jerry Winslow |
| Mike Bynuml |
Matt Germino |
Alan Knapp |
Don Young |
| Catie Campbell |
Julian Hadley |
Geof McNaughton |
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| Greg Carter |
Erik Hammerlynck |
Kristen Mitchell |
m |
| Muyi Cui |
Mark Hemmerlien |
Michelle Slaton |
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