R. Howard Skinner
Physiological Plant Ecologist
USDA-ARS-Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit
Building 3702, Curtin Road
University Park, PA  16802
Phone: (814) 863-8758
Fax: (814) 863-0935
Email: howard.skinner@ars.usda.gov

Research Interests:

Dr. Skinner serves as a team member on both the Managing Forage and Grazing Lands for Multiple Ecosystem Services and Management and economics of integrated forage and animal production systems research projects. His research examines how abiotic and biotic stresses affect the productivity and persistence of pastures in the Northeastern U.S. and how plant species diversity affects pasture responses to stress. In particular, he is interested in the following:

• The interaction between drought and freezing stress
  
• How grazing affects plant responses to stress
  
• The competitive and facilitative interactions that occur among neighboring plants.
  
• How roots of plants from different functional groups interact to enhance pasture productivity.
  
• Dr. Skinner is also working on developing a multi-species plant growth model to help evaluate the interactive effects of multiple stresses on pasture growth and species composition.

Professional Experience:

1999-Present: Plant Ecophysiologist, USDA-ARS, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, Pennsylvania

1999-Present: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

1994-1999: Postdoctoral Research Associate, USDA-ARS, Great Plains Systems Research Unit, Fort Collins, Colorado

1991-1994: Postdoctoral Research Associate, USDA-ARS, Western Cotton Research Laboratory, Phoenix, Arizona

1990-1991: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Minnesota

1987-1990: Graduate Research Assistant, University of Missouri

1982-1987: Support Scientist, USDA-ARS, Forage and Range Research Laboratory, Logan, Utah

Education:

University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri: Ph.D. in Agronomy - 1987-1990

Utah State University at Logan, Utah: M.S. in Plant Science - 1981-1984

Southern Utah University at Cedar City, Utah: B.S. in Botany - 1980-1981

Utah State University at Logan, Utah: B.A. in History - 1972-1977