Lauren D. Quinn
Research Associate and Technical Editor
University of Illinois
ldquinn (at) illinois (dot) edu
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (12/2006)
Dissertation Title: Ecological correlates of invasion by Arundo donax
Department of Botany and Plant Sciences
University of California, Riverside
Laboratory of Dr. Jodie S. Holt
Bachelor of Arts in Biology (6/1998)
Emphasis area: Botany
Division of Biological Sciences
University of Montana, Missoula MT
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Associate (1/2015-present)
Project Concentration: Synthesizing seven years of Miscanthus x giganteus agronomy research across five geographic regions
Department of Crop Sciences
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Research Associate (3/2009-12/2014)
Project Concentration: Invasiveness potential of bioenergy crops, particularly Miscanthus species
Energy Biosciences Institute
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (7/2007-3/2009)
Project Concentration: Effects of land use and water quality on invasion by freshwater plants in Australian river systems
Division of Entomology (now Ecosystem Sciences)
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Independent Consultant (2006)
Project Concentration: Development of public outreach materials for National Parks on horses as vectors of invasive plant dispersal
Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA
Graduate Student Researcher (2000-2006)
Project Concentration: Ecological correlates of invasion by Arundo donax
Department of Botany and Plant Sciences
University of California, Riverside
Lab Technician (2000)
Project Concentration: Role of arbuscular mycorrhizae in facilitating invasion by Centaurea maculosa (now C. stoebe)
Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
Laboratory of Dr. Cathy Zabinski
SCIENCE WRITING AND EDITING
Science Writer/Public Information Officer (1/2016-present)
College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences
News and Public Affairs Office
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Technical Editor (2/2015-2/2016)
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Prairie Research Institute
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Freelance Writer, Editor, and Content Reviewer for Educational Publishers (10/2014 - present)
Pearson Education Inc. - Reviewing online teacher training modules for high school biology
MPS North America - Developing digital content for middle school physical science, developing assessments to meet state standards
Six Red Marbles - Developing online virtual lab activities, updating online educational content, writing biology content at high school level
Weigl Educational Publishers - Writing digital textbooks at middle school and elementary levels
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Professor (2006, 2007)
Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA
Courses Developed and Taught:
BIO 4210: Plant Physiology (upper division, Biology majors)
BIO 4215: Plant Physiology Laboratory (upper division, Biology majors)
BIO 2900: Ecology and Evolution (2 semesters) (lower division, Biology majors)
BIO 2905: Ecology and Evolution Laboratory (2 semesters) (lower division, Biology majors)
BIO 2990: Biological Research Methods I (lower division, Biology majors)
BIO 4991: Biological Research Methods IV (Independent Study) (upper division, Biology majors)
Adjunct Instructor (2005)
Life Sciences Department
Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA
Course Taught:
BIO 1: General Biology Laboratory (lower division, Biology majors and non-majors)
Teaching Assistant (2002, 2005)
Department of Botany and Plant Sciences
University of California, Riverside
Course Taught:
BPSC 104: Foundations of Plant Biology Laboratory (3 quarters) (upper division, Biology and Botany majors)
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) (2011-2014, $244,773)
Title: “Evaluating the environmental pillar of sustainability for bioenergy crop production”
Role: co-PI, with Dr. Jonathan Newman (U of Guelph)
Energy Biosciences Institute Research Project (2011-2014, $450,000)
Title: “Potential Ecological Impacts of Agricultural Intensification: Invasiveness of Miscanthus species”
Role: primary author and Senior Researcher
PI’s: Dr. Tom Voigt and Dr. Bryan Endres
UIUC Research Support Award (2011-2012, $29,000)
Title: Understanding the role of nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities in invasion by Miscanthus sinensis
Role: co-author and collaborator with Dr. Angela Kent
Graduate Student Achievement Award (2006)
Department of Botany and Plant Sciences
University of California, Riverside
Student Paper Award Winner (2005)
Aquatic Plant Management Society Annual Meeting
San Antonio, TX
Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship Award (2000, 2004)
University of California system
UC Riverside Center for Conservation Biology Grants (2002, $7,435)
Shipley-Skinner Reserve - Riverside County Endowment
Title: “Management and Restoration of California Riparian Ecosystems”
Role: primary author and Senior Researcher
PI: Dr. Jodie Holt
UC Riverside Center for Conservation Biology Grants (2003, $8,110)
Shipley-Skinner Reserve - Riverside County Endowment
Title: “Environmental Factors Affecting Establishment of Arundo donax in Southern California Riparian Systems”
Role: primary author and Senior Researcher
PI: Dr. Jodie Holt
REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
Hager H.A., L.D. Quinn, J.N. Barney, T.B. Voigt, J.A. Newman. Accepted, 2015. Germination and establishment of bioenergy grasses outside cultivation: a multi-region seed addition experiment. Plant Ecology.
Straker, K., L.D. Quinn, T. Voigt, D. K. Lee, and G. Kling. 2015. Black Locust as a Bioenergy Feedstock: a Review. Bioenergy Research. DOI: 10.1007/s12155-015-9597-y
Quinn, L.D., K.C. Straker, J. Guo, S. Kim, S. Thapa, G. Kling, D.K. Lee, and T.B. Voigt. 2015. Stress Tolerant Feedstocks for Sustainable Bioenergy Production on Marginal Land. Bioenergy Research. Open Access download here.
Hager, H.A., R. Rupert, L.D. Quinn, and J.A. Newman. 2015. Escaped Miscanthus sacchariflorus reduces the richness and diversity of vegetation and the soil seed bank. Biological Invasions, 17: 1833-1847.
Dougherty, R.F., L.D. Quinn, T.B. Voigt, and J.N. Barney. 2015. Response of naturalized and ornamental biotypes of Miscanthus sinensis to soil moisture and shade. Northeastern Naturalist, 22: 372-386
Quinn, L.D., D. Gordon, A. Glaser, D. Lieurance, and S.L. Flory. 2014. Bioenergy feedstocks at low risk for invasion in the U.S.: A "white list" approach. Bioenergy Research, 8: 471-481.
Quinn, L.D., E. Scott, B. Endres, J. Barney, T. Voigt, and J. McCubbins. 2014. Resolving regulatory uncertainty: legislative language for potentially invasive bioenergy feedstocks. GCB Bioenergy, 7: 909-915.
Quinn, L.D., A.B. Endres, and T.B. Voigt. 2014. Why not harvest existing invaders for bioethanol? Biological Invasions, 16: 1559-1566.
Dougherty, R.F., L.D. Quinn, A.B. Endres, T.B. Voigt, and J.N. Barney. 2014. Natural history survey of the ornamental grass Miscanthus sinensis in the introduced range. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 7: 113-120.
McCubbins, J.S.N., A.B. Endres, L.D. Quinn, and J.N. Barney. 2013. Frayed Seams in the “Patchwork Quilt” of American Federalism: An Empirical Analysis of Invasive Plant Species Regulation. Environmental Law 43: 35-81.
Quinn, L.D., J.N. Barney, J.S.N. McCubbins, and A.B. Endres. 2013. Navigating the “noxious” and “invasive” regulatory landscape: Suggestions for improved regulatory performance. BioScience 63: 124-131.
Matlaga, D.P., L.D. Quinn, A.S. Davis, and J.R. Stewart. 2012. Light response of native and introduced Miscanthus sinensis seedlings. Invasive Plant Science and Mangement 5: 363-374
Quinn, L.D., J.R. Stewart, T. Yamada, Y. Toma, M. Saito, K. Shimoda, and F. Fernandez. 2012. Environmental tolerances of Miscanthus sinensis in invasive and native populations. Bioenergy Research 5: 139-148.
Quinn, L.D., T.M. Culley, and J.R. Stewart. 2012. Genetic comparison of introduced and native populations of Miscanthus sinensis (Poaceae), a potential bioenergy crop. Grassland Science 58: 101-111.
Quinn, L.D., D. P. Matlaga, J.R. Stewart, and A.S. Davis. 2011. Empirical evidence of long distance dispersal in Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus x giganteus. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 4: 142-150.
** Cited in USDA Biomass Crop Assistant Program Environmental Assessment for Miscanthus x giganteus **
Quinn, L.D., S. S. Schooler, and R. D. van Klinken. 2011. Effects of land use and environment on exotic and native macrophytes: lessons from a large-scale survey of Australian rivers. Diversity and Distributions. 17: 132-143.
Quinn, L.D., D.J. Allen, and J.R. Stewart. 2010. Invasiveness potential of Miscanthus sinensis: implications for bioenergy production in the U.S. Global Change Biology Bioenergy. 2: 310-320.
Quinn, L.D., A. Quinn, M. Kolipinski, B. Davis, C. Berto, M. Orcholski, and S. Ghosh. 2010. Role of horses as potential vectors of non-native plant spread: an overview. Natural Areas Journal. 30: 408-416.
** Sixth author was one of my undergraduate research mentees **
Quinn, L.D. and J.S. Holt. 2009. Restoration for resistance to invasion by giant reed (Arundo donax). Invasive Plant Science and Management 2: 279:291.
Quinn, L.D. and J.S. Holt. 2008. Ecological Correlates of Invasion by Arundo donax in Three Southern California Riparian Habitats. Biological Invasions 10: 591-601.
Quinn, L.D., S. Schooler, and R.D. van Klinken. 2008. Invasion of aquatic macrophytes in peri-urban waterways of south-east Queensland. In: R.D. van Klinken, V.A. Osten, F.D. Panetta, and J.C. Scanlan (eds.). Peer reviewed proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference. Queesnland Weeds Society, Brisbane QLD. Pg. 108.
Spencer, D.F., R.K. Stocker, P. Liow, L.C. Whitehand, G.G. Ksander , A.M. Fox, J.H. Everitt, and L.D. Quinn. 2008. Comparative growth of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) from Florida, Texas, and California. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 46: 89-96.
Quinn, L.D., M. Kolipinski, V.R. Coelho, B. Davis, J.M. Vianney, O. Batjargal, M. Alas, and S. Ghosh. 2008. Germination of invasive plant seeds after digestion by horses in California. Natural Areas Journal 28(4): 356-362.
** Fifth, sixth, and seventh authors were my undergraduate research mentees **
Quinn, L.D., M.A. Rauterkus, and J.S. Holt. 2007. Effects of nitrogen enrichment and competition on growth and spread of Arundo donax. Weed Science 55: 319-326.
Zabinski, C.A., L. Quinn, and R.M. Callaway. 2002. Phosphorus uptake, not carbon transfer, explains arbuscular mycorrhizal enhancement of Centaurea maculosa in the presence of native grassland species. Functional Ecology 16: 758-765.
BLOGS, BOOK CHAPTERS, AND TECHNICAL REPORTS
L.D. Quinn. 2015. Blog: ISTC Electronics Management Earns Gold Recognition. Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) blogs. Available online (published 4/15/15): http://wp.istc.illinois.edu/blog/2015/04/15/istc-electronics-management-earns-gold-recognition/
L.D. Quinn. 2015. Blog: New book cautions against the use of invasive biomass crops. Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) blogs. Available online (published 2/26/15): http://wp.istc.illinois.edu/blog/2015/02/26/new-book-cautions-against-the-use-of-invasive-biomass-crops/
L.D. Quinn. 2014. Blog: Choosing non-invasive feedstocks. Bioenergy Connection Magazine. Available online (published 10/8/14): http://www.bioenergyconnection.org/blog/choosing-non-invasive-feedstocks
L.D. Quinn, J.N. Barney, and D.P. Matlaga. In press. The bioenergy landscape: sustainable resources or the next great invasion? In: L.D. Quinn, D. Matlaga, and J. Barney (eds.) Bioenergy and Biological Invasions: Ecological, Agronomic, and Policy Perspectives on Minimising Risk. CABI Invasives Series. London, UK. Purchase here.
L.D. Quinn. In press. What would invasive feedstock populations look like? Perspectives from existing invasions. In: L.D. Quinn, D. Matlaga, and J. Barney (eds.) Bioenergy and Biological Invasions: Ecological, Agronomic, and Policy Perspectives on Minimising Risk. CABI Invasives Series. London, UK. Purchase here.
L.D. Quinn, E.C. Scott, A.B. Endres, T.B. Voigt, and J.M. Endres. 2013. Turning weeds into ethanol – why not? Farm Doc Daily. Available online: http://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2013/12/turning-weeds-into-ethanol-why-not.html
Scott, E.C., L.D. Quinn, and A.B. Endres. 2013. The Bioenergy Farm Lease, Part 4: Incorporation of Evolving Standards. Farm Doc Daily. Available online: http://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2013/11/bioenergy-farm-lease-4-evolving-standards.html
Endres, A.B., J. McCubbins, and L.D. Quinn, 2012. Definitional Debates and Uncertainty for Would-be Biofuel Producers, Farm Doc Daily, Available online: http://www.farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2012/05/definitional_debates_and_uncer.html.
Quinn, L.D., S.S. Schooler, and R.D. van Klinken. 2009. Prevention and management of aquatic plant invasions in Australian rivers. Land and Water Australia, Weeds R&D Program. Available online: http://lwa.gov.au/files/products/defeating-weed-menace/pn22366/pn22366.pdf
Lawrence, L., and L. Quinn. 2008. The effect of urbanization on aquatic weeds in Australia. Outlooks on Pest Management 19(6): 268-269.
Quinn, L.D. S.S. Schooler, and R.D. van Klinken. 2008. Effect of Land Use and Peri-Urban Development on Aquatic Weeds. Final report to Land and Water Australia, Defeating the Weeds Menace Programme. Project no: CEN20. Available online: http://lwa.gov.au/files/products/defeating-weed-menace/pn22406/pn22406.pdf
RECENT PRESENTATIONS (# invited talk, * presenter)
#Quinn, L.D.* 2014. Avoiding invasion by novel feedstocks: Risk assessment and policy solutions. Congressional Briefing. National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species Fly-In. Washington, D.C.
#Quinn, L.D.*, D.R. Gordon, and A. Glaser. 2013. Invasion concerns for bioenergy feedstocks: choosing wisely. 9th Annual Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium, Urbana, IL.
Glaser, A.*, L.D. Quinn, and D.R. Gordon. 2013. Minimizing the potential for bioenergy crops to become invasive. National Advanced Biofuels Conference, Omaha, NE.
Quinn, L.D.*, J. Barney, J. McCubbins, B. Endres, and T. Voigt. 2012. Developing an improved regulatory regime for invasive plants in natural areas: should they be “noxious” too? 52nd Annual Meeting of the Weed Science Society of America, Waikoloa, HI.
Dougherty, R*., L.D. Quinn, T. Voigt, A.B. Endres, and J. Barney. 2012. A natural history survey of “invasive” Miscanthus sinensis. 66th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Weed Science Society, Philadelphia, PA.
#Quinn, L.D*., T. Voigt, J.R. Stewart, D.P. Matlaga, and A.S. Davis. 2011. Documenting invasiveness in Miscanthus sinensis: Should the bioenergy industry be concerned? 38th Annual Natural Areas Conference, Tallahassee, FL. (#invited as part of an organized symposium)
#Endres, A.B.* and L.D. Quinn. 2011. Sustainable bioenergy: Revisiting ex ante and ex post legal approaches to ecological protection. Sustainable Countryside: Regulating New Technologies for Food, Farming, and Ecology. Conference sponsored by Newcastle University College of Law, Newcastle, England. (#Keynote address)
Matlaga, D.P.*, A.S. Davis, and L.D. Quinn. 2011. Evaluating the invasive potential of Miscanthus biofeedstocks: Estimating population parameters for current and hypothetical candidate species. Botanical Society of America Annual Conference. St. Louis, MO.
#Quinn, L.D.* 2011. Using invasion theory to inform policy and management: the case of Arundo donax. Department of Agronomy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
#Quinn, L.D.* 2010. Invasiveness and Invasibility: using ecological principles to inform policy and management. Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.
#Quinn, L.D.* and J.R. Stewart. 2010. Assessing the invasiveness of Miscanthus sinensis, a potential bioenergy crop. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA. (#invited as part of an organized symposium)
#Quinn, L.D.* 2009. Invasiveness and Invasibility: the case of Arundo donax. Department of Biology, Indiana University – Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN.
#Quinn, L.D.* 2009. Roles of habitat and species traits in plant invasions. Faculty of Agricultural Science Seminar Series, Hokkaido University. Sapporo, Japan.
Quinn, L.D.*, S.S. Schooler, and R.D. van Klinken. 2008. Do freshwater plant communities behave by Elton’s rules? Poster presentation. Fifty years of invasion ecology – the legacy of Charles Elton. University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Quinn, L.D., M.A. Rauterkus, and J.S. Holt*. 2008. Effects of nitrogen and competition on growth and spread of giant reed (Arundo donax). Poster presentation. Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.
Quinn, L.D..* 2007. Ecological invasibility: the case of Arundo donax. Long Pocket Seminar Series, CSIRO Entomology. Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia.
Orcholski, M*., I. McFadden, M. Alas, A. Martinez, R. Hanson, L. Quinn, M. Kolipinski, and S. Ghosh. 2007. Field house study of Northern and Central California equine feces for non-native weed seeds. Poster presentation. National Conference on Undergraduate Research. San Rafael, CA
Quinn, L.D.* and J.S. Holt. 2005. Plant invasion into an experimental riparian restoration project. Oral paper presentation. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Montreal, QC, Canada
Quinn, L.* and J.S. Holt. 2005. Invasion of an experimental riparian restoration project by Arundo donax. Oral paper presentation. Aquatic Plant Management Society 45th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
** Student Paper Award Winner **
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Collaboration (2010-present)
Co-PI on grant to investigate invasion of bioenergy species in Ontario, Canada.
Co-advisor to postdoctoral researcher conducting research fulfilling the grant.
Research Collaboration (2009-2011)
Working with scientists at Hokkaido University (Sapporo, Japan) and others across Japan to examine the behavior of Miscanthus sinensis in its native range
Invited Talk (2009)
Faculty of Agricultural Science Seminar Series
Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Research Collaboration (2007-2009)
Worked with scientists across Australia to identify invasible habitats for aquatic river plants
Research Presentation (2008)
Poster presentation at an international symposium held in Stellenbosch, South Africa
Invited Talk (2007)
Long Pocket Laboratory (CSIRO) Seminar Series
Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND CITIZENSHIP
Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy (2013)
Earned Statement of Accomplishment through Coursera.com
Course taught by University of North Carolina Law School Professor Don Hornstein
Mentoring Undergraduate and Graduate Researchers (2012)
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Workshop presented by the U of IL Postdoctoral Affairs Office
Theories, Strategies, and Tips to Improve Your Classroom Presentations: PowerPoint and Beyond (2012)
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Workshop presented by the U of IL Center for Teaching Excellence
Facilitating Online Discussions (2012)
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Workshop presented by the U of IL Center for Teaching Excellence
CSIRO Cross-Divisional Invasive Species workshop (2008)
Atherton, QLD, Australia
Organized by Drs. B.D. Hardesty & H. Murphy
Served on NSF panel for proposal review (2007)
Bioclimatic Modelling workshop (2007)
University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Presented by Dr. Richard Pearson & Dr. Miguel Araújo
Effective Science Writing workshop (2007)
Canberra, ACT, Australia
Presented by Dr. Peter Hairsine
Introduction to ArcGIS I training course (2007)
Brisbane QLD Australia
Advisory council member for the Greener Dominican Task Force (2006)
Dominican University
Served on California Department of Food and Agriculture proposal review panel (2004)
Student representative to the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences Educational Advisory Committee (2003-2004)
University of California, Riverside
Chair: Department of Botany and Plant Sciences Graduate Student Association (2002-2003)
University of California, Riverside
ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
Attended D.C. Fly-In for the National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species (2014)
• Spoke at a Congressional briefing on the issue of invasion potential in bioenergy crops
• Met with U.S. legislators and policymakers to raise awareness of invasion issues
Attended Illinois Environmental Council’s Environment Lobby Day (2013)
• Met with Illinois legislators to lobby for passage of four pending bills relating to alternative energy and other environmental issues
Served as Natural Resources Chair, Champaign County (IL) League of Women Voters (2012-2013)
• Developed and advocated for LWV’s local environmental agenda, including educating members and the public about environmental hazards of coal mining pollutants in local waterways
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Ecological Society of America (current)
Weed Science Society of America (current)
Midwest Invasive Plant Network (current)
Ecological Society of Australia (past)
Botanical Society of America (past)
Western Society of Weed Science (past)
Association of College and University Biology Educators (past)