Diana W. Freckman is Associate Dean for Research, College of Natural Resources;
Director, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; and Professor, Rangeland
Ecosystem Science at Colorado State University. She graduated from the
University of Kentucky with a B.S. (Biology) and Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)
degrees. She conducts research on the role of nematodes in soil ecosystems,
particularly arid environments (Antarctica, USA). Her focus is on nematode
biodiversity, spatial distribution, ecology, and nutrient cycling, as affected
by land use changes (agriculture, pollution). Dr. Freckman is the past
president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the Society of
Nematologists, and the Intersociety Consortium for Plant Protection, and is
presently Chair, National Research Council Committee to Review and Evaluate the
Department of Interior, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends.
Also see more chatty notes in The Teacher's Guide.
1) What is your current job (title and responsibilities)?
WELL, I HAVE 3 JOBS! I AM DIRECTOR OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE ECOLOGY
LABORATORY, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH, AND PROFESOR, RANGELAND ECOSYSTEM
SCIENCE.....ALL COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
2) How did you get to this point in your career (what education
and previous jobs did you have)?
I BEGAN AS AN UNDERGRAD BIOLOGY MAJOR AT THE UNIV. KENTUCKY; GOT MY PH.D.
IN PLANT PATHOLOGY AT U KY, WHERE I STUDIED NEMATODES AS PARASITES OF PLANTS.
THEN I BEGAN STUDYING THE BIODIVERSITY AND ROLE OF NEMATODES IN NATURAL
ECOSYSTEMS IN DESERTS, GRASSLANDS, ALASKA. I WAS PREVIOUSLY AT THE UNIV.
CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE, AND JUST MOVED RECENTLY TO THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
3) What was your personal motivation for following this path?
NEMATODES ARE FOUND EVERYWHERE ON EARTH, AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT
THEM. THEY ARE FASCINATING ANIMALS! LEARNING ABOUT THIS INVERTEBRATE THAT
HAS HIGHLY DEVELOPED ORGAN SYSTEMS TELLS US ABOUT OTHER INVERTEBRATES AND
THEIR ROLE IN SUSTAINING THE BIOSPHERE
4) What are your goals during the next year?
WE WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THEY SURVIVE HERE IN ANTARCTICA, AND
SEE IF IT IS MUCH DIFFERENT FROM HOW THEY SURVIVE IN THE DESERTS OF
NEW MEXICO AND THE SOUTHWEST
