Daniel Kashian

Dr. Daniel Kashian is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Wayne State University, serving as the General Education Faculty Coordinator. He holds academic roles within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and maintains active teaching and research agendas. His research focuses on forest and landscape ecology, particularly disturbances influencing plant communities and ecosystem processes, employing field studies, GIS, remote sensing, and modeling.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Zoology/Forest Ecology and Management, University of Wisconsin, 2002
• M.S. in Forest Ecology, University of Michigan, 1998
• B.S. in Natural Resources, University of Michigan, 1993

Research Interests: Dr. Kashian studies how site factors, biotic interactions, natural disturbances, and human activities shape forest ecosystems. Key themes include ash tree resilience against invasive species like EAB, wildfire impacts on carbon storage, and restoration strategies for endangered species habitats. His work bridges empirical field data with advanced spatial analytics to inform sustainable forest management.

Grants and Awards:

• Recipient of Wayne State University Presidential Teaching Award (2015) and multiple grants from USDA, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Joint Fire Sciences Program.
• Notable projects include assessing EAB biocontrol efficacy, fire impacts on jack pine forests, and American chestnut restoration for carbon storage.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Kashian has served as PI or Co-PI on over a dozen grants, including studies on Kirtland’s warbler habitat management and drought-related aspen mortality. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and applied ecological solutions.

Labs/Teams: Research focuses on forest disturbance dynamics, with affiliations to Wayne State’s Biological Sciences department and external partnerships like the US Forest Service and National Wildlife Refuges.