Please welcome new faculty Tim Shively
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EmailMeet Our Newest Faculty Member: Dr. Tim Shively, who hopes to harness nature to protect our forests
Meet Our Newest Faculty Member: Dr. Tim Shively, who hopes to harness nature to protect our forests
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Tim Shively, who has joined us with a 70% appointment in PSM and a 30% appointment in Forestry. His responsibilities span 50% Extension, 35% research, and the remainder devoted to teaching and service, bringing together science, outreach, and education to tackle some of our toughest forest health challenges.
Tim earned his Ph.D. in Plant and Environmental Sciences from a large, multidisciplinary department at Virginia Tech with a structure similar to PSM! He then went to work for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources —a connection he now shares with his first graduate student, Ethan Wachendorf, who recently completed his M.S. in the Chilvers Lab. As it turns out, both Tim and Ethan have Wisconsin DNR experience, making for a strong start to the new lab in PLB Room 34.
While facing some monumental pathogens attacking our forests, Tim is interested in combining management strategies with biological controls. "If I find a buckthorn that's unhealthy," Tim says, "I want to know: why? What's affecting it? and how can we use that to help control it?"
This curiosity has shaped his career. For his doctoral research, Tim studied biological control of the invasive tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima, exploring how naturally occurring pathogens might help suppress invasive species. His philosophy is that nature often provides useful tools. "Often the biological controls are already out there," he explains. "We need to identify and exploit them."
For diseases and invasive pests like emerald ash borer and oak wilt, Tim emphasizes that management is rarely simple. Every problem is different, and while there's no single solution, understanding available tools allows land managers to mitigate impacts and make informed decisions.
When he's not investigating tree diseases, Tim enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two children, ages 12 and 5. The family recently closed on a house in Haslett and is looking forward to exploring Michigan through camping, hiking, and plenty of family adventures.
