Graduate Students
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Erika Stewart
Advisor: Dr. Joshua Grinath
Degree: Ph.D. Biology
Office: Office: 348, Lab: 421
Education
B.S. Environmental Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Biographical Sketch
Erika Stewart is a PhD candidate researching applied and restoration ecology in Dr. Josh Grinath’s Community and Global Change Ecology lab in ISU's Biology Department, and in partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho in Environmental Science, and after graduation, spent several years working for agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, as well as non-profit organizations on restoration and ecological monitoring projects. Erika’s interest in land management and restoration techniques led her to work with Dr. Grinath and ITD at ISU, beginning her project in the summer of 2021.
For the past four years, Erika and her collaborators have been studying “Achieving Multi-Purpose Roadside Vegetation” to identify roadside restoration methods that will result in low abundances of invasive plants, low fire fuel loads, and provide diverse and abundant floral resources for pollinators. In 2023, Erika was able to expand the scope of her project to provide additional focus on pollinators and their responses to restored vegetation, including how plant-pollinator networks rewire over the course of a restoration project.
Erika is a self-described "plant nerd" and in her free time, loves to hike and camp with her husband. She also loves to cook and bake, and enjoys sharing her baking with her friends and colleagues.
Current Research
Roadside Restoration and Pollinator Habitat with the Idaho Transportation Department