Diana W. Freckman

Diana W. Freckman is Associate Dean for Research, College of Natural Resources; Director, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; and Professor, Rangeland Ecosystem Science at Colorado State University. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. (Biology) and Ph.D. (Plant Pathology) degrees. She conducts research on the role of nematodes in soil ecosystems, particularly arid environments (Antarctica, USA). Her focus is on nematode biodiversity, spatial distribution, ecology, and nutrient cycling, as affected by land use changes (agriculture, pollution). Dr. Freckman is the past president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the Society of Nematologists, and the Intersociety Consortium for Plant Protection, and is presently Chair, National Research Council Committee to Review and Evaluate the Department of Interior, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends.

Also see more chatty notes in The Teacher's Guide.

1) What is your current job (title and responsibilities)?
WELL, I HAVE 3 JOBS! I AM DIRECTOR OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE ECOLOGY LABORATORY, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH, AND PROFESOR, RANGELAND ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE.....ALL COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

2) How did you get to this point in your career (what education and previous jobs did you have)?
I BEGAN AS AN UNDERGRAD BIOLOGY MAJOR AT THE UNIV. KENTUCKY; GOT MY PH.D. IN PLANT PATHOLOGY AT U KY, WHERE I STUDIED NEMATODES AS PARASITES OF PLANTS. THEN I BEGAN STUDYING THE BIODIVERSITY AND ROLE OF NEMATODES IN NATURAL ECOSYTEMS IN DESERTS, GRASSLANDS, ALASKA. I WAS PREVIOUSLY AT THE UNIV. CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE, AND JUST MOVED RECENTLY TO THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

3) What was your personal motivation for following this path?
NEMATODES ARE FOUND EVERYWHERE ON EARTH, AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT THEM. THEY ARE FASCINATING ANIMALS! LEARNING ABOUT THIS INVERTEBRATE THAT HAS HIGHLY DEVELOPED ORGAN SYSTEMS TELLS US ABOUT OTHER INVERTEBRATES AND THEIR ROLE IN SUSTAINING THE BIOSPHERE

4) What are your goals during the next year?
WE WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THEY SURVIVE HERE IN ANTARCTICA, AND SEE IF IT IS MUCH DIFFERENT FROM HOW THEY SURVIVE IN THE DESERTS OF NEW MEXICO AND THE SOUTHWEST