Thomas Dean

Thomas Dean is a Professor of Quantitative Silviculture at Louisiana State University (LSU) and LSU Agricultural Center, leading research in forest ecology and stand dynamics for over three decades. He chairs the Lucius W. Gilbert Foundation oversight committee and has directed major cooperative programs on sustainable silviculture and soil productivity. His academic roles include editorial board memberships for Forest Science and Forest Ecology and Management.

Education: B.S. in Forestry (Oklahoma State, 1977), M.S. in Forestry (University of Missouri, 1981), Ph.D. in Forest Ecology (Utah State, 1986). Professional highlights include a postdoctoral fellowship at Utah State and adjunct professor roles at Mississippi State University.

Research focuses on stand density relationships, LiDAR applications for forest inventory, soil productivity under intensive management, and climate change impacts. Notable contributions include modeling crown structures using LiDAR and analyzing tree hydraulics' role in stand dynamics. Awards include Gamma Sigma Delta Teaching Merit Honor Roll (1996, 1999, 2000).

Grants total over $1.5 million across USDA, NASA, and industry partnerships, addressing topics like root behavior in floodplains, nutrient management, and remote sensing integration. He advises graduate students in silviculture and forest growth modeling, with 6 completed master’s and 2 Ph.D. students.

Current research emphasizes mechanistic links between physiology, competition, and stand-level productivity, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to enhance sustainable forestry practices.