Mary Beth Adams

Mary Beth Adams serves as a Research Soil Scientist with the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station and holds an Adjunct Graduate Faculty position at West Virginia University's Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. Her expertise bridges soil science and forest ecosystem management with a focus on sustainable productivity.

Education:

• B.S. in Forestry, Purdue University
• M.S. in Forestry, Purdue University
• Ph.D. in Soil Science and Forestry, North Carolina State University

Dr. Adams' research investigates water and nutrient movement through forest ecosystems under various stressors, utilizing large-scale long-term experiments to develop sustainable management practices. Her work at the Fernow Experimental Forest established critical methodologies for studying ecosystem responses to disturbances like harvesting, atmospheric pollution, and unconventional resource extraction. She integrates field observations with watershed-scale analyses to address forest productivity challenges.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on long-term soil productivity, watershed nutrient dynamics, and human impact assessment. Key research trajectories include experimental forest management, hydrofracturing fluid effects on deciduous systems, and nutrient cycling disruptions from atmospheric deposition - all contributing to sustainable forestry frameworks.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America
• Distinguished Alumnus of Purdue University’s College of Agriculture
• Inspiring Women for Outstanding Scientific Achievement
• Outstanding Mentoring by the Northern Research Station of the Forest Service

Dr. Adams has served on numerous graduate committees at WVU and other institutions while securing significant National Science Foundation funding as Principal Investigator for long-term ecological research. Her mentorship extends through committee service and editorial contributions to major journal volumes. The Fernow Experimental Forest serves as her primary research hub where she established foundational datasets during her 20-year tenure as Research Project Leader and Scientist in Charge.