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Nicholas (Nick) Balster, Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Department of Soil Science
Appointment: (60% Instruction, 40% Research)
* Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology (affiliate faculty)
* Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
* Co-Chair of University of Wisconsin Teaching Academy
Abbreviated Curriculum Vita (pdf version)
Education and Training:
> 2002 – Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Science, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
> 2000 – Post Doctorate Fellow, Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
> 1999 – Ph.D. Physiological Ecology, University of Idaho, (w/ Dr. John Marshall)
> 1997 – Student – Stable Isotope Course, University of Utah
> 1995 – M.S. Forest Science, Michigan Technological University (w/ Dr. David Reed)
> 1989-1990 – Georgia Pacific-Forest Nursery, Jessup, Georgia
> 1992 – B.S. Forest Management (Environ. Science Minor), North Carolina State University
Teaching: (click here for courses)
Annually
* Soils 230 (Soils: Ecosystem and Resource)
* Soils 301 (General Soil Science)
* Soils 499 (Soils & Environmental Science Capstone)
* Biology 260/261 (Entering Mentoring)
* Soils 524 (Urban Soils and the Environment)
* Soils 875 (The College Classroom)
* 2-5 guest lectures
Bi-Annually
* Forestry 655 (Forest Soils - Summer Camp)
Other Institutions
* Physiological Ecology (University of Idaho) - past
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Ecology (University of Idaho) - past
Teaching and Learning Beyond Department
The University of Wisconsin Teaching Academy (2007 – present; current Faculty Chair)
Undergraduate Research Advisor (2003 – present)
Biology Major Advisor and Instructor (2003 – present)
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Leadership Program (2006 – present)
Delta Program for Teaching and Learning in the STEM disciplines (2007 – present)
Awards and Recognition: 2009 Univ. Wisconsin-Madison Teaching Fellow |
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Selected Research Publications:
Balster, N.J. ,and M. Nocco. 2009. Is all science created equal? Uncovering student perceptions of scientific discourse. J. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. (In press). (PDF to come)
Havlin, J., N.J. Balster, D. Ferris, T. Thompson, and T. Smith. 2009. Trends in soils science education and employment. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. (Accepted). (PDF to come)
N.J. Balster, C. Pfund, R. Rediske, and J. Branchaw. 2009. Entering research: A course that creates community and structure for beginning undergraduate researchers in the STEM disciplines. CBE-Life Sciences Education. In press). (PDF to come)
Balster, N.J., J.D. Marshall, and M. Clayton. 2009. Coupling tree-ring d13C and d15N to test the impact of fertilization on mature Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) stands across the interior northwest, USA. Tree Physiology 29:1491-1501.
Fujinuma, R., N.J. Balster, and J. Norman. 2009. An improved model of nitrogen release for surface-applied controlled-release fertilizer. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 73:2043-2050.
N.J. Balster. 2009. Vocation and occupation: An innovative course in the physical sciences to help students link personality with a rewarding career. NACTA 53:2-10.
Thompson, A.M, A.C. Paul, and N.J. Balster. 2008. Physical and hydraulic properties of engineered soil media for bioretention basins. Trans. ASABE 51(2):499-514.
Wells, A.J., N.J. Balster, S. VanWychen, and J. Harrington. 2008. Differences in belowground heterogeneity within a restoration of a dewatered reservoir in southwestern Wisconsin. Restoration Ecology 16(4):678-688. Cover Feature.
Fujinuma, R., J.G. Bockheim, and N.J. Balster. 2005. Base-cation cycling by individual tree species in old-growth forests of Upper Michigan, U.S.A. Biogeochemistry 74:357-376.
Balster, N.J., A. Covert, N. Horne, and J.D. Marshall. 2001. Mini poplar ecosystems: A collaborative learning
tool in natural resources. J. Nat. Resour. Life Sci. Education 30:1-8. Cover Feature.
Cernusak, L.A., J.D. Marshall, and N.J. Balster. 2001. Carbon isotope discrimination in photosynthetic bark. Oecologia (Berlin) 128:24-35.
McDowell, N.G., N.J. Balster, and J.D. Marshall. 2001. Below-ground carbon allocation of Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca). Can. J. For. Res.31:1425-1436.
Balster, N.J., and J.D. Marshall. 2000. Eight-year responses of light interception, effective leaf area index, and stemwood production in fertilized stands of interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca). Can. J. For. Res. 30 (5):733-743.
Balster, N.J., and J.D. Marshall. 2000. Decreased needle longevity of fertilized Douglas-fir and grand fir in the northern Rockies. Tree Physiology 20:1191-1197.
Balster, N.J. 1996. Science and ethics: A distinction for leadership. J. For. 94(5):44.
Reed, D.D., G.D. Mroz, H.O. Liechty, E.J.A. Jones, P.J. Cattelino, N.J. Balster, and H. Yunfeng. 1994. Above- and below-ground biomass of pre-competitive red pine in northern Michigan. Can. J. For. Res. 25:1064-1069.
Book Chapters and Proceedings
Fujinuma, R., N.J. Balster, and L. Hyun Kyung. 2010. Fertilizer use efficiency of northern red oak (Quercus rubra) seedlings in bare-root tree nurseries of south-central Wisconsin. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report. p. xx-xx. (In press).
Williams, A., N.J. Balster, and A. Wells. 2009. Determining soil respiration under native and invasive plants in a restoration on dewatered sediments. National Science Foundation Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program. pp. 127-129.
Selbig, W.R., and N.J. Balster. 2009. Evaluation of turf grass and prairie vegetated rain gardens in a clay and sand soil: Madison, Wisconsin, water years 2004-2008. USGS Scientific Report 2009.
McCarthy, A., N.J. Balster, and A. Wells. 2008. The difference between decomposition rates of native and invasive vegetation in dewatered sediments. National Science Foundation Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program. pp. 83-86.
Balster, N.J. (co-ed.) 2008. Proc. 24th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, Madison WI. 5-8 August 2008.
Extension Publications
Balster, N.J., and R. Fujinuma. 2009. Estimating N-release from controlled-release fertilizer in forest tree nurseries. UW-Extension Publication A3886. I-5C-0908.
Balster, N.J. (2004-2009) Soil Fertility analysis, interpretation, and fertilizer recommendation reports (35 to date) - cataloged in the Department of Soil Science
Fujinuma, R., and N.J. Balster. 2007. Controlled-Release nitrogen in tree nurseries. Proc. Wisconsin Fertilizer, Aglime & Pest Management Conf. 46:60-66.
Johnston, M., and N.J. Balster. 2006. The effects of prairie gardens on the physical properties of urban soil in Madison, WI. A story through photographs. Homeowner outreach booklet
Balster, N.J., C. Noll, and R. Fujinuma. 2005. Spatial distribution of soil pH at Wilson State Forest Tree Nursery in Boscobel, WI.
Recent Scholarly Presentations (2008-2009 only)
Fujinuma, R., and N.J. Balster. 2009. Can we maximize nitrogen-use-efficiency while reducing controlled-release fertilizer applications in bareroot nurseries of northern red oak seedlings? In meeting abstracts. 17th Central Hardwood Forest Conference, Lexington, KY.
Balster, N.J. 2009. Entering research: A course that creates community and structure for beginning undergraduate researchers in the STEM disciplines. Annual Conference of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.
Wells, A., and N.J. Balster. 2009. Restored vegetation effects on the carbon cycle of a dewatered basin in Southwestern Wisconsin. Annual Conference of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.
Fujinuma, R. and N.J. Balster. 2009. Late season fertilization and nitrogen uptake of 2-0 northern red oak seedling in bareroot nurseries in Wisconsin. Annual Conference of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.
Johnston, M.R., N.J. Balster, and K.S. Schott. 2009. Quantifying the relative affect of vegetation type on rain garden infiltration. Annual Conference of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.
Johnston, M.R., and N.J. Balster. 2009. Vegetation type modifies the hydrologic budget of urban rain gardens in Madison, WI. Annual Conference of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.
Balster, N.J. 2009. An emerging trend in higher education: linking disciplinary strength with vocational identity. International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Annual Conference, Bloomington, IN.
Balster, N.J., C. Turner, R. Deitz, and M. Conners. 2009. Changing classroom boundaries. Teaching and Learning Symposium, Univ. Wisconsin-Madison.
Balster, N.J., W.R. Selbig, and B. Barkley. 2009. Soil characteristics of two rain gardens under different vegetation types. Amer. Water Resources Assoc. – Wisconsin Section.
Balster, N.J. and M. Johnston. 2008. The effect of native prairie on rain garden function and qualitative assessment by homeowners. Annual meeting abstracts. Ecological Soc. America annual meeting, Milwaukee, WI.
Johnston, M., M.J. O’Halleran, and N.J. Balster. 2008. Earthworm density in soil beneath prairie and turfgrass vegetation in residential lawns of Madison, WI. Soc. America annual meeting, Milwaukee, WI.
Fujinuma, R., and N.J. Balster. 2008. Reduced environmental impact from using controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer in two public bare-root nurseries. In Annual meeting abstracts. Ecological Soc. America annual meeting, Milwaukee, WI.
Johnston, M., and N.J. Balster. 2008. Earthworm abundance beneath prairie and turfgrass vegetation in residential lawns of Madison, WI. In Annual meeting abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Houston, TX.
Wells, A., A. McCarthy, and N.J. Balster. 2008. Differences in belowground heterogeneity between anthropogenic sediments and buried soil within a restoration of dewatered sediments in southwestern Wisconsin. In Annual meeting abstracts. Ecological Soc. America annual meeting, Milwaukee, WI.
Hyun Kyung, L., R. Fujinuma, and N.J. Balster. 2008. Effect of controlled-release fertilization on nitrogen leaching and nitrogen use efficiency in red pine seedlings. In Annual meeting abstracts. Ecological Soc. America annual meeting, Milwaukee, WI.
Johnston, M.R., N.J. Balster, and E.M. Kuether. 2008. Biomass allocation of two types of prairie vegetation used for bioretention in urban-compacted soil. In Annual meeting abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.
Advising:
21 Soil Science Majors
24 Biology Majors
38 Undergraduate Research Scholars
4 Special Students
3 CALS Leadership Students
Service:
Department of Soil Science
Undergraduate Recruiting Committee (2004 to present; Chair, 2007 to present)
UW-Madison Majors Fair – Faculty Representative (2004-2007)
Instruction Committee (2002-2006)
Soils Environmental Science Committee, Chair (2002 to present)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Undergraduate Awards Committee (2006-present)
West Madison Agricultural Research Station Strategic Planning Committee (2003 to present)
Environmental Science Committee (2002 to present)
CALS Executive Leadership Program Committee (2006 to present)
Study Abroad Program (2007 to present, Department Representative)
Scholastic Policies and Actions Committee – Dean Appointed (2007 to present)
CALS Student Council – Faculty Advisor (2008 to present)
University of Wisconsin - Madison
UW-Madison Teaching Academy (2006 – present; Faculty Chair, 2009-2010)
Reaccreditation Project (Teaching and Learning Team), Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison (2008)
Environmental Science Major Committee (2004 to present)
Undergraduate Research Scholars Program Executive Committee (2007 to present, Session Moderator)
Teaching Academy Summer Institute Planning Committee Officer (Co-Chair, 2008)
Distance Teaching and Learning Committee (2006-2008)
Exploratory Committee for Undergraduate Research Center – Provost Appointed (2008)
Wisconsin Ecology Group (2007 to present; Executive Board, 2008-2009)
UW-Madison Science Alliance (2002 to present)
University of Wisconsin System
Women in Science Executive Committee – UW-Madison Representative (2007 to present)
Personal Interests:
* My Family
* Working outdoors
* Birding
* History of all Kinds (mostly science, WWII, and early explorers)
* Reading
* Writing
* Anything Science (esp. Physics, Math, and Language)
* Travel
* Baseball
* Polar Environments
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Abbreviated Curriculum Vita |
Nick Balster Lab copyright 2009