Andrew Vander Yacht

Andrew Vander Yacht is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sustainable Resources Management at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). He coordinates the Applied Forest & Fire Ecology Lab (AFFEL), focusing on disturbance-driven forest resilience, fire ecology, and oak-pine ecosystems. His work emphasizes applying ecological knowledge to modern forest management challenges, including mesophication reversal and biodiversity restoration.

Education includes a Ph.D. in Natural Resources (2018, University of Tennessee), an M.S. in Wildlife Science (2013, University of Tennessee), and a B.S. in Biology (2009, minor in Environmental Science and Chemistry). His research integrates field studies, experimental design, and ecological modeling to address pressing issues like tick-borne disease mitigation via fire management and American chestnut restoration.

Key research interests include: forest disturbance dynamics, fire’s role in biodiversity, microbial-plant-soil feedbacks, and One-Health approaches to environmental management. He teaches courses in Fire Ecology, Silviculture, and Forest-Wildlife Management. Current advisees include Sam Gilvarg (PhD), Maria Loughran (MS), Jude May (MF), and Anna Welch (MS), focusing on fire-soil interactions, chestnut survival, and hotshot crew tactics.

Publications highlight his work on oak woodland restoration, fire-fuel interactions, and wildlife responses to disturbance. Funded projects emphasize practical applications, such as prescribed fire teaching fields at Heiberg Memorial Forest. Future directions include expanding fire’s role in disease management and Northeastern forest adaptation strategies.