Jon Schoonover

Jon Schoonover is a Professor of Physical Hydrology and Soils in the Department of Forestry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), College of Agricultural Sciences. His research focuses on land use impacts on water quality, hydrology, soils, and channel morphometry, with a particular emphasis on Best Management Practices (BMPs) for row crop agriculture.

Education:

• Ph.D., Auburn University (2005)
• M.S., Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2001)
• B.S., Southern Illinois University Carbondale (1999)
• A.S., Kaskaskia College (1997)

His research spans topics including fecal coliform contamination across land uses, water resource stress at urban-rural interfaces, biogeochemistry of floodplain forests, and riparian zone management in agricultural systems. He has designed and tested BMPs like saturated buffers, cover crops, and Water and Sediment Control Basins (WaSCoB) to improve soil health, water quality, and crop yields.

Scientific Awards:

• 2014 NACTA Teaching Award of Merit
• 2014 SIUC College Teaching Excellence Award
• 2010 SIUC Outstanding Young Alumnus
• 2005 Meriwether Fellowship

Dr. Schoonover advises graduate students working on agricultural water quality projects and teaches courses in Tree Identification, Watershed Management, Forest Soils, and Aquatic Resource Management.