Madelon (Maddy) Case

I am a plant ecologist keenly interested in how environmental variability, disturbance, and global change influence vegetation patterns, and in the management and restoration of ecosystems in a changing world. My research brings both complementary and new dimensions to FRESC’s rangeland research portfolio and greatly increases our ability to work with land managers to address their many complex challenges. I am also an affiliate of the Northwest and North Central Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs), working to co-produce actionable science for tribal, federal, and state partners across the Northwest and North Central CASC regions.

During my post-doctoral appointment at the University of Oregon, I worked closely with rangeland ecologists from the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Bureau of Land Management in eastern Oregon to understand how climate, grazing, and fire influence exotic annual grass invasion in sagebrush rangelands at management-relevant scales. I studied similar interactions and woody cover dynamics in the savanna ecosystems of South Africa, in collaboration with South African National Parks scientists, while earning my PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University.

I have benefited from exceptional mentorship in building my own scientific career, and care deeply about mentorship and outreach. I have previously worked in environmental education as a Luce Scholar in Vietnam, and I always enjoy opportunities to mentor the next generation of scientists, whether through mentorship programs, research advising, or thoughtful and inclusive mentorship of field crews.

I grew up in Oregon, and now live in Eugene with my husband, cat, and two chickens. When not out on the range or behind the computer, I enjoy hiking, reading, cooking, and board games.