Dr. Curtis A. Gray

Research Interests:

My research interests revolve around forest resources management, forest ecology, disturbance ecology, remote sensing/GIS, forest hydrology, and quantitative analysis. Specifically, I focus on studying the interaction of disturbance agents in conifer forests across extensive spatial areas and prolonged time periods. My research primarily centers on the Great Basin bristlecone pine, particularly in high elevation systems.

I hold a PhD in Forest Ecology from Utah State University, where my doctoral work investigated the influence of climate variability on the frequency and severity of ecological disturbances in the sky islands of the Great Basin bristlecone pine. Additionally, I possess a master's degree in Geography with a specialization in Remote Sensing/GIS from San Diego State University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies/Geography from UCSB.

Prior to my tenure at Utah State University, I gained valuable professional experience as an ecologist for California State Parks, contributing to ecological preservation efforts. Furthermore, I worked as a GIS consultant for CalFIRE and the US Forest Service Remote Sensing Laboratory, honing my skills in geospatial analysis and remote sensing techniques.

Current Projects:

• Pine Invasion in Patagonia's Forests: Integrating Drone Mapping, GeoAI Deep Learning, and Spatial Point Patterns

• Spatiotemporal patterns of aquatic heatwaves in western US rivers

• Aspen Mapping of Utah Forests

• Interactions of forests and snowmelt in Chillán, Chile (Postdoctoral project: Universidad de Chile, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil)

• Lago Cochran, Chile

• Blog post on Forest effects on  snow stratigraphy

Featured Project:  

Pine Invasion in Patagonia's Forests: Integrating Drone Mapping, GeoAI Deep Learning, and Spatial Point Patterns