Title: Principal Research Scholar
Institution: Boise State University
Address: 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725-1535
Email: davidhuber631@boisestate.edu
Phone: (208) 760-7196
Visit David’s Research Website
Research Interests: Wildfire, Drylands, Rangelands, Agriculture, Soil Health, Soil Organic Carbon, Soil Carbonate, Soil Hydraulic Processes
Biographical Sketch:
I am a Soil Scientist and Ecosystem Ecologist, with most of my research experience in hot and cold desert environments. My research centers around disturbance activities and events, including invasive plant species, wildfire, and changes in land-use, including agriculture. The aim of my work is to understand Earth-system processes using advanced techniques to both characterize core biophysical mechanisms and enhance our predictive capabilities. Below are listed several projects that highlight my research and outreach interests:
I am Lead-PI on the USDA-NRCS Soil CoRE (Conservation, Restoration, and Engagement) project. This $2,000,000 project builds regional capacity with producers throughout 13 western US states and territories, providing guidance to stakeholders on various Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities related to soil carbon, soil health, and soil nutrient management, as well as integration of these CEMAs with USDA-NRCS soil conservation methods. This program specifically trains and builds a private workforce sourced from local communities to facilitate conservation monitoring needs.
I am Lead PI on the NSF "Fire-Induced Carbonate Accumulation (FICA)" project: this $80,000 project examines the mechanisms of fire-induced carbonate formation in a sub-catchment of the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed and their effects on watershed carbon budgets. This project involved a controlled fire and was conducted in cooperation with the BLM, and has spurred additional collaborations as part of a NWRC Fire Workgroup, which studies the broader effects of prescribed fire on the Johnston Draw sub-catchment. The workgroup includes development of geospatial data products, shared workflows, and potential for collaborations and synthesis products related to the 2023 Johnston Draw prescribed fire. It fosters community connections and aims to address data gaps and research needs for western rangeland managers.
I am Co-PI on the NSF "Downstream water quality impacts of post-fire debris flows" project: this $50,000 project examines the provenance of sediment, carbon, and nutrients in post-fire debris flows that enter the south fork of the Payette River in central Idaho, and their geochemical and environmental impacts on downstream water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
As an Investigator on the NSF CZnet Dryland project, I examine ecohydrological controls on carbon and nutrient cycling, with an emphasis on land-atmosphere gas exchange. These investigations include changes in land-use, geologic and geomorphic landscapes, climate, and disturbance regimes in mixed shrub-grassland ecosystems. I also conduct independent and interdisciplinary research projects across multiple research sites, including the Northwest Watershed Research Center near Boise, Idaho, the Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory in Kimberly, Idaho, and the Jornada Experimental Range near Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Education:
PhD Biology (Summa Cum Laude), Idaho State University, 2017
- RESEARCH TOPIC: Experimental investigation of changing climate and vegetation on organic and inorganic carbon storage in dryland soils.
MS Soil Science (Magna Cum Laude), Colorado State University, 2011
- RESEARCH TOPIC: Characterization, modeling and remediation of saline agricultural soils.
BS Biology, Colorado State University, 2002
- RESEARCH TOPIC: Distribution and fecundity of the threatened plant species Mimulus gemmiperus in the Colorado Rocky Mountain region.
Professional Certifications:
Project Management Program Certificate - Boise State University, 2024
EMergent Ecosystem Responses to ChanGE (EMERGE) - Biology Integration Institute, 2023
Unsealed Sources - Ionizing Radiation Training, August, 2019
Remote First Aid Certification - St. Johns Hospital, August, 2019
Four wheel drive vehicle operation and maintenance - CSIRO, July, 2019
Remote Data Acquisition Workshop - University of New Mexico, June 2018
Bayesian Workshop for Ecologists - Texas State University, June 2016
Soils and Climate Change Workshop - University of Western Australia, January 2015
Isotope Biogeochemistry & Ecology Workshop - University of Utah, June 2012
Radiocarbon Short Course - University of California-Irvine, July 2011