Ļć½¶Ö±²„graduate students, alumnus sweep national forestry research competition
Contact: Kaitlyn Church
STARKVILLE, Miss.āTwo Ļć½¶Ö±²„ graduate students and an alumnus earned top recognition at the 2025 Society of American Foresters national convention for their research posters highlighting advancements in forestry and natural resources.
Simran Pandey, a forestry masterās student from Nepal, earned first place for her research poster āEconomic Impacts of Natural Disturbances in Mississippiās Pine Forests: A Case Study of Southern Pine Beetleā that examined the financial effects of pest-related disturbances on the stateās timber market. Her research bridges ecology and economics, revealing how natural events impact local industries.
Bipin Paudel, also a masterās student in the Department of Forestry from Nepal, placed second for his research poster āPredicting Leaf Area in Eastern Cottonwood and Poplar Hybrids Using Tree and Site Dataā that focused on developing models linking tree physiology and productivity across diverse environments.
Maxwell Schrimpf, an Ļć½¶Ö±²„alumnus from Michigan who completed his masterās in forestry in 2023, placed third with his poster āGrowing Warm Trees with Cold Feetā that explained the assisted migration of southern pine species to northern environments, determining if the trees could withstand harsher winter conditions. Now pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, Schrimpf continues researching sustainable forest management and climate adaptation.
The success of these students reflects a long tradition of excellence within MSUās forestry community. The universityās Society of American Foresters Student Chapter placed third nationally in this yearās SAF Outstanding Student Chapter competition and has ranked in the top three for the past 29 years.
The Society of American Foresters National Convention brings together forestry professionals, researchers and policymakers from across the country to share scientific insights and practical applications in forest management, sustainability and policy.
To learn more about MSUās College of Forest Resourcesā Department of Forestry, visit .
Ļć½¶Ö±²„is Mississippiās leading university, available online atĀ .