Welcome to the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Science!
 

Front row: Dr. Henri Grissino-Mayer, Jessica Slayton, Yashar Taleb-Haghipoor, Chris Corliss, Lucrecia Martinez, Saskia van de Gevel, and Jessica Pollock. Middle row: Dr. Ken Orvis, Mark Spond, Nicole Samu, Kenric McCay, Phillip White, and Bobby Braly. Back row: Ian Feathers, John Sakulich, Dr. Sally Horn, Kasra Taleb-Haghipoor, Lisa LaForest, and David Mann. Not shown: Daniel Lewis and Whitney Kocis.
Lab Picture 2004-2005      Lab Picture 2005-2006      Lab Picture 2006-2007

The LTRS

Here at the University of Tennessee, we are proud to house a world-class state-of-the-art laboratory for tree-ring research. The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Science was funded by the Department of Geography and the College of Arts and Sciences, supplemented by funds from the National Science Foundation and many private donations. The laboratory is housed in the Science and Engineering Research Facility (SERF), occupying four spacious, well-equipped laboratory rooms with all the amenities. We currently consist of 3 faculty members, 9 graduate students, and 9 undergraduate students, all actively involved in dendrochronology, engaged in various research projects that cover archaeology to fire history to climate reconstruction. We also engage in active research with faculty and graduate students in the Departments of Anthropology, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, as well as with personnel from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Park Service, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Our Mission

Dendrochronology is a retrospective science that can provide glimpses into our environment long before humans pervasively altered the natural environment. We seek to learn more about the past to better understand the present so that we may be better prepared for the future. While the present may be the key to the past, without a doubt, the past may be the key to the future. Our goal is to conduct cutting-edge research in many facets of the Physical and Cultural sciences, and provide new knowledge concerning processes, both natural and human, that affect our environment. Our research is applied research. We believe that science is more fulfilling and rewarding when applied to improve the quality of living for humankind in some way.

Come Study With Us!

If you're interesting in joining a dynamic laboratory engaged in the full spectrum of dendrochronological research to further your graduate and professional careers, contact me and I'll be glad to talk with you about opportunities we have available. I can promise you that your training in our laboratory will prepare you for a satisfying and rewarding career upon graduation. Graduates from the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Science are currently employed with such institutions and agencies as: the U.S. Military Academy (two of our graduates), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, The University of Tennessee, The University of West Georgia, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the University of North Alabama, the Meteorology and Oceanography Command of the United States Navy, the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission (Virginia), and the Open Space and Mountain Parks Department of Boulder, Colorado. Two former master's students are currently working towards their Ph.D. degrees at the University of Minnesota and the University of Tennessee.