My high level interests lie in the restoration and conservation of the Puget Sound 'ecosystem', and how that can be accomplished in a sustainable manner (and so in addition to restoring the ecology of the area, also considering the needs of the economy and society). I grew up in this area and am very concerned about the impact of the next 20+ years of population growth on our region unless proper planning occurs. Is the picture of a sunset over Seattle supposed to indicate my real fear about our current state?
| Contact Information:
e-mail: nhl `at` u.washington.edu
office: 217 Winkenwerder (located in the College of Forest Resources) mail: Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management, Box 352182, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2182 My advisor is Prof. David Ford and I am part of his Canopy Dynamics Lab. |
 |
Research Interests: Generally, for my studies I am interested in spatial processes, which are pervasive in ecological and environmental research, and more specifically the statistics used to evaluate them. Some research areas that I am currently working on are listed below, but these questions will be further refined as I make progess on writing my PhD proposal.
- How can we best make statistical inference from ecological or environmental datasets when they are small in size, are not easily replicable, and have a spatial component? This includes understanding both when and how spatial autocorrelation (SA) should be included within an analysis.
- How are statistical power and sample size related in the presence of SA when evaluated under the various spatial statisics (e.g. point pattern analysis, lattice analysis, geostatistics)?
- Is there a common mathematical structure underlying both point pattern and lattice (both regular or irregular) analysis?
- How can spatial point processes be used to evaluate forest structure and competition? Some progress was made here for my Master's research, but many interesting questions remain to be looked at. A more detailed discussion of the current status of the point pattern work in particular can be found here.
In my 'spare time', I have been dabbling a little in understanding the relationship between canopy structure and light interception in Maize.
Publications and Presentations: Loosmore, N. B. and Ford, E.D. (2006) Statistical Inference Using the G or K Point Pattern Spatial Statistics. Ecology 87, 1925-1931.
Teaching:
- Presentation and lab for variogram presentation in QERM 550 Spring quarter 2008.
- Webpage for Introduction to Environmental Modeling (QSCI 210/ENVIR 210) which I tought during Spring quarter 2007.
- Webpage for Introduction to Environmental Modeling (QSCI 110) which I tought during Winter quarter 2006.
- In addition to various TA jobs, I was the computer lab assistant for QERM 514 during Spring quarter of 2003.
My Background: My undergraduate degree is in Electrical Engineering (from Stanford), and I returned back to graduate school after working in the wireless communications industry for roughly 10 years. Because my background is not really in a field related to Ecology, I have spent considerable time in graduate school trying to broaden my background and really figure out what I want to do with my life!
Some pictures from backpacking Summer 2003.
Last updated: 5/22/08. The header design for this page was pilfered without consent from Joel Rice.