Samuel Bartels

Dr. Samuel Bartels is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Faculty of Environment. He holds a PhD in Forest Sciences and an MSc in Forestry from Lakehead University. His research focuses on forest ecological dynamics, particularly how natural and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., climate change, harvest practices) impact biodiversity, productivity, and ecosystem resilience.

Education:

• PhD Forest Sciences, Lakehead University
• MSc Forestry, Lakehead University

Research Interests: Dr. Bartels investigates disturbance ecology, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable forest management. Key themes include understanding interactions between forest layers, mechanisms driving ecosystem recovery after disturbances like wildfires and logging, and applying this knowledge to conservation and policy. His work emphasizes hierarchical plant interactions, epiphytic biodiversity, and the role of overstory composition in shaping understory dynamics.

Advising & Grants: He supervises graduate students in the NRES programs (Forestry and Biology) and leads the Bartels Research Lab, which recruits undergraduate/graduate students and postdocs. The lab employs theoretical and empirical approaches to address environmental challenges, with a focus on boreal forests and climate adaptation.

Labs/Teams: The Bartels Lab at UNBC explores silvicultural strategies, biodiversity recovery, and ecological restoration. Their work aims to inform sustainable practices and policy, particularly in disturbed or managed ecosystems.