Dave started at Clemson in August 2018 and immediately began an extension and research program focused on forest health and invasive species management. His program has garnered local, regional, and national recognition from organizations including the Forest Landowners Association, Society of American Foresters, and Clemson University. Dave is active on both social media and traditional media, and travels extensively delivering educational programs. When he’s not working, he’s probably hanging out with his family, serving as a youth sports coach for his two young boys, playing with their dogs, or sampling a local adult beverage.

Jordan joined the Coyle Lab in January 2023 and immediately took a load of stress off Dave’s shoulders. Jordan handles much of the day-to-day lab business and generally keeps all of us in line and compliant. She leads research on chemical management of Miscanthus and helps run the Bradford Pear Bounty program. She’s originally from Jackson, Alabama, is married to a fella named Kyle, has a schnoodle named Baker, and cannot stand drivers who don’t signal before they change lanes.

Katy has been our outreach technician since January 2021, working on both local and regional projects. She is responsible for creating fact sheets and displays, helping to organize workshops, and running the regional webinar program. She still loves research and helps in the field anytime she can. She’s originally from Gilbert, South Carolina, has two labs named Boone and Gunner, and will soon call her partner Chris her husband (congrats!). Italian food and brownies are her favorite foods (no argument there) and she hates it when people are late.

Crystal joined the lab in November 2022 as our ALB research technician, and has  returned as a PhD student in August 2024 to take on a project examining interactions between the invasive Callery pear and prescribed fire. She'll be trying to figure out how much fire will kill seeds and seedlings, and how we can best integrate fire into a management plan for this nasty invasive tree. She lives with her partner Jeff, their ferret Jack, and several aquatic creatures. She grew up traveling between Georgia and Texas, hates fake or made-up accents (note to self), and loves pizza.

Steven joined the lab in January 2021, working on his PhD while he serves as the Assistant Director for Regulatory Services for the Clemson Department of Plant Industry. He'll be using his knowledge of the regulatory system (and contacts as former National Plant Board President) to investigate ways we can improve our current invasive pest management and regulatory strategies. When Steven isn't working, he's probably fishing, coaching his kids in youth sports, or spending time with his wife Claudia.

Ethan joined the lab in spring 2024 and is co-advised by Dr. Keisha Cook (Clemson School of Statistics and Mathematical Science). He is using current and historical ALB data to improve predictions on the beetle's movements so we can better predict its whereabouts. He uses complex math but still manages to explain it in a way that I understand (no small feat, I'll admit). He hails from Chapel Hill, NC, writes music, and loves sushi. His biggest pet peeve is tailgaiting (the driving kind, not the game time party kind).

Angela joined the lab in spring 2024 and is co-advised by Dr. Jess Hartshorn (also in our department). Angela's primary duties are to help create a regional invasive species management strategy to help the southern states consistently respond to new non-native forest pests. She is also helping with Joro spider management and ecology research. Originally from the Silicon Valley in California, Angela's favorite cuisine is Japanese and she's got lots of hydroponic plants and spider roommates. Her biggest pet peeve is getting around people who are slowly walking across the whole sidewalk (preach!).

Caleb joined the group in April 2024 as our lead  ALB research technician and immediately took the bull by the horns leading on-the-ground efforts with our research. He is a Clemson graduate and hails from Columbia, SC. His pet peeve is people that talk during movies, thinks a good steak can change your life. He has no pets (damn allergies), but loves dogs.

Wyatt joined us in fall 2024 and is our lab's jack of all trades, helping out wherever needed. He loves authentic Mexican food and grew up on a farm in Aiken, SC. He doesn't have pets per se, but growing up on a farm means all the animals (dogs, cats, horses, goats, chickens, pigs, etc.) are sorta pets (I can relate). His pet peeve is when people underseason their food.

We'll be hiring not one but TWO PhD students in spring/summer 2025 to work on a large NRCS funded invasive bamboo project.