Education
2021, PhD, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona
2014, Certificate in College Teaching, Office of Instruction & Assessment, University of Arizona
2002, MS, Horticulture, Cornell University
Thesis: “Photosynthetic and Nitrogen use efficiency of indeterminate and determinate
Phaseolus beans in response tocarbon dioxide and nitrogen supply.”
Advisor:
David Wolfe
1998, BS, Biology, University of Evansville
Research Interests
Vegetation change, state and transition dynamics, plant community ecology, plant ecophysiology, ecosystem ecology.
Teaching:
Instructor, Introductory Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Laboratory
Instructor, Field Botany Laboratory
Graduate assistant, Plant-Plant Interactions
Graduate assistant, Mineral Nutrition of Crop and Landscape Plants
Instructor, Vegetable Crops Production Laboratory
Professional Experience
2009-present, Graduate Research Assistant, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona
2005-2009, Research Specialist, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and School of Natural Resources and the Environment,University of Arizona
2002, Research Support Specialist, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
1999-2002, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
1998-1999, Research Technician/Plant Taxonomist, Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University
Selected Publications
Pierce, NA, SR Archer, BT Bestelmeyer. 2019. Competition suppresses shrubs during early, but not late, stages of arid grassland-shrubland state transition. Functional Ecology.
Pierce N, SR Archer, BT Bestelmeyer, and DK James. 2018. Grass-shrub competition in arid lands: an overlooked driver in grassland-shrubland state transitions? Ecosystems, 22: 619-628.
Selected Honors
Ecological Society of America Rangeland Section Excellence in Rangeland Research Award, (2016)
Harry Wayne Springfield Endowment Scholarship to Support Students in Plant Ecology (2016)
University of Arizona Graduate and Professional Student Council Travel Grant Award (2015)
Harry Wayne Springfield Endowment Scholarship to Support Students in Plant Ecology (2015)
NSF/LTER Graduate Research Fellowship (2013, 2014)
University of Arizona K-12 Science Education and Outreach Fellowship (2012-2013)
Science Foundation Arizona K-12 Science Education and Outreach Fellowship (2011-2012)
Earth Fellowship award, University of Arizona Institute for Environment and Society (2009-2010)
Science Foundation Arizona Fellowship (2010)
Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (2000)