Thomas Harris is a forester and silviculturist interested in how forests grow, how management shapes their development, and how we can measure those changes to make better decisions. His work combines field forestry, forest biometrics, long-term inventory, and remote sensing, with research ranging from managed forests of the southeastern United States to tropical forests in Brazil.

Thomas earned a B.S. in Forest Management from NC State, an M.S. in Forest Biometrics from the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in Forestry and Environmental Science from Yale. Before graduate school, he worked in industrial forestry and wood procurement, an experience that continues to shape his interest in practical, working-forest questions. At Sewanee, he works closely with undergraduate students on field- and data-based research involving forest growth, stand dynamics, silviculture, forest products, and long-term forest management. He is also interested in collaborating with M.S. and Ph.D. students at other institutions when a project fits well with the lab’s expertise and research interests.