The faculty currently teaching ERM courses are listed below with their contact information and research interests.
- John C. Becker, J.D.
- Robin C. Brandt, Ph.D., P.E.
- Hunter Carrick, Ph.D.
- Dennis R. Decoteau, Ph.D.
- Herschel A. Elliott, Ph.D., P.E.
- Nancy Ostiguy, Ph.D.
- Jeffrey M.Peters, Ph.D.
- Robert D. Shannon, Ph.D.
- James S. Shortle, Ph.D.
John C. Becker, J.D. The current structure of environmental law and regulation includes a wide variety of issues that affect agricultural producers and agribusiness interests. Topics that I address in my teaching, outreach and research involve federal, state and local regulatory authority, water quality regulations, land use planning, protection of agricultural operations from nuisance suits, interests and perspectives on the constitutional concept of property rights. Having had the opportunity to travel internationally in the past ten years I have gained a much different perspective of how law and regulation interact across cultures and legal systems other than our own. Research Interests: American environmental law and regulation: past, present and future, Water Quality regulations at the state and federal level; Regulation of Air Emissions from Agricultural Production facilities; Nutrient management regulations under state and federal laws; Understanding the interaction between state nutrient management rules and local land use planning authority in Pennsylvania; Land use planning regulations affecting agricultural producers; Hazardous substance regulations; Waste disposal regulations; Public health and safety regulations; Property Rights: Interests and Perspectives; Protection of agricultural operations from nuisance suits; Traditional means of resolving environmental disputes; Social and behavioral science factors affecting compliance with laws and regulations; and Comparative law research and other lessons learned in international travel Courses taught in E R M Program: ERM 411-Legal Aspects of Resource Management |
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Robin C. Brandt, Ph.D., P.E. Research Interests: Land-based treatment/recycling systems, with emphasis on: Land application of municipal wastewater biosolids, livestock manures, and food processing residuals; Nutrient management, with focus on water soluble phosphorus and P-Index prescribed land application; and Agricultural odor detection/quantification via olfactometry. Courses taught in E R M Program: ERM 300-Basic Principles & Calculations in Environmental Analysis |
Hunter J. Carrick, Ph.D. Research Interests: Aquatic ecosystems ecology, Limnology, Food web dynamics and nutrient cycling, Ecology and taxonomy of microbes (bacteria, algae, protozoa), Biostatistics Courses taught in ERM program: ERM 413W-Case Studies in Ecosystem Management, ERM 435-Limnology |
Dennis R. Decoteau, Ph.D.
Research Interests: My teaching, research and outreach programs at Penn State are based around environmental effects on plant growth and development. My primary emphasis area is on air quality impacts on terrestrial ecosystems (primarily flora). I also coordinate the efforts of the Air Quality Learning and Demonstration Center, which is the only site in the nation and potentially the world that is dedicated to educating the public about air pollutant effects on plants. Courses taught in E R M Program: ERM 430-Air Pollution Impacts to Terrestrial Ecosystems |
Herschel A. Elliott, Ph.D., P.E.
Research Interests: Treatment and land disposal and recycling of municipal, agricultural and industrial wastes Courses taught in E R M Program: ERM 433-Transformation of Pollutants in Soils |
Nancy Ostiguy, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Nancy Ostiguy is an environmental toxicologist (M.P.H., UC Berkeley; Ph.D. Cornell) interested sustainable and organic agriculture with a focus on honeybees. Her work on honey bees includes non-pesticidal approaches to control pests of the honey bee, interactions between the varroa mite, an obligate parasite of the honey bee, and endemic honey bee viruses, epidemiology of honey bee viruses, abiotic influences on honey bee survival, and factors related to honey bee nutrition and other stressors. For five years (2002-2006), she was on the National Organic Standards Board. Currently she works with Pennsylvania Certified Organic on organic agriculture issues. Courses taught in E R M Program: ERM 210-Environmental Factors and Their Effect on Your Food Supply |
Jeffrey M. Peters, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Peter’s laboratory studies the role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the regulation of homeostasis, toxicology and carcinogenesis with extensive application of null mouse models. PPARs are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily and are critical modulators of environmental and dietary stimulii. Acting as regulatory transcription factors, the PPARs modulate gene expression of target genes containing peroxisome proliferator responsive elements in response to ligand activation. Numerous genes that modulate lipid metabolism are regulated by PPAR(alpha) and PPAR(gamma) ligands/activators, and are clinically relevant for a number of diseases including diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis and cancer. The function of the PPARß has remained elusive and few target genes have been identified that are controlled only by the PPARß. There are several reports suggesting roles for PPARß in lipid metabolism, skin and colon cancer. Our laboratory is using the PPARß -null mouse model to elucidate target genes for, and functions of the PPARß. The three primary projects underway in our laboratory focus on the role of PPARß in the liver, skin and colon. Courses taught in E R M Program: ERM 431-Environmental Toxicology |
Robert D. Shannon, Ph.D.
Research Interests: Wetland biogeochemistry; Riparian wetlands; Constructed wetlands for waste treatment; Pollutant impacts on aquatic systems Courses taught in E R M Program: |
James S. Shortle, Ph.D. |
