University of Massachusetts Amherst

A great horned owl in a spruce tree

Who We Are

Members of the Family Forest Research Center team stand together.

The Family Forest Research Center is a collaboration between the USDA Forest Service and University of Massachusetts Amherst. Our team includes researchers from across the country, with our home base in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Our Team

A headshot of Behnoosh Abbasnezhad. She is standing next to a stream and smiling.

Behnoosh Abbasnezhad

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Headshot of Logan Abbey. He is in the woods on a snowy day and wearing an orange hardhat.

Logan Abbey

Research Fellow

Photo of Abigail Andrews. Shes sitting on large rocks on a mountain top. Snow-capped mountains are in the background.

Abigail Andrews

Research Fellow

Headshot of Brett Butler. He is smiling, outside, and wearing a U.S. Forest Service jacket.

Brett J. Butler

Research Forester & Co-Director
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Headshot of Sarah Butler. She is outside and wearing a knit hat.

Sarah Butler

Research Fellow

Headshot of Jesse Caputo. He outside wearing a hat and scarf.

Jesse Caputo

Research Forester
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Headshot of Paul Catanzaro. He is smiling and wearing a flannel and orange vest while in the woods.

Paul Catanzaro

Professor, State Extension Forester, & Co-Director

Headshot of Jake Comiskey

Jake Comiskey

Research Fellow

Guthrie Diamond stands smiling in a meadow while holding a large, square quadrat, made of pvc pipes.

Guthrie Diamond

Graduate Student

Photo of Rose Dibenedetto. She's hiking on a mountaintop with a dog.

Rose DiBenedetto

Research Fellow

A headshot of Christopher Fisher. He is smiling on a wooded hillside overlooking a river.

Christopher Fisher

Research Fellow

Headshot of Vance Harris

Vance Harris

Research Fellow

Headshot of Jesse Henderson

Jesse Henderson

Research Economist
USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Headshot of Danielle Kloster

Danielle Kloster

Assistant Professor
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Headshot of Desiree Maldonado.

Desiree Maldonado

Graduate Student

Headshot of Marla Markowski-Lindsay. She wearing glasses and smiling outside.

Marla Markowski-Lindsay

Senior Research Fellow & Deputy Director

Headshot of Amanda Robillard. She is smiling, wearing, sunglasses, and at the beach.

Amanda Robillard

Research Fellow

Headshot of Emily Silver

Emily J. Silver

Associate Professor
Michigan State University, Department of Forestry

A headshot of Mel Smith. She is wearing a hat and hood and smiling while standing outside next to water and mountains.

Mel Smith

Research Associate

Headshot of Stephanie Snyder, a woman with long brown hair and glasses

Stephanie Snyder

Research Social Scientist
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Headshot of Emmalyn Terracciano. She is smiling, outside and wearing a hat.

Emmalyn Terracciano

Research Fellow

Headshot of Laura Vachula. Smiling outdoors.

Laura Vachula

Communications Manager