Lee Vierling

Lee Vierling is the Associate Dean of Research and a University Distinguished Professor at the University of Idaho's College of Natural Resources (CNR), Department of Natural Resources and Society. His research focuses on environmental science, coupled human-natural systems, and remote sensing applications in ecology. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado and a B.A. in Geology from Colorado College.

Dr. Vierling's work integrates remote sensing with ecological processes, emphasizing Arctic treeline dynamics, landscape ecology, and habitat conservation. He leads the CNR Geospatial Lab for Environmental Dynamics, advancing technologies like lidar and fluorescence imaging to study climate impacts. His awards include the NSF CAREER Award and multiple university recognitions.

Awards include the University Distinguished Professorship (2020), CNR Outstanding Instructor Award (2019), and others recognizing his research and teaching excellence. His advising and grants span ecological monitoring, conservation policy, and geospatial innovation. He collaborates on projects like the Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE), advancing climate science and ecosystem resilience.

Lab activities include developing tools like the 'treetop' R package for LiDAR data analysis. His work bridges ecological science with societal applications, addressing global change challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.