Robert C. Anderson Memorial Award 2025

Trevor Tuma, recent Ph.D. graduate in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, conducts interdisciplinary research in two distinct fields—forest biotechnology and biology education—under the mentorship of professors Chung-Jui “C.J.” Tsai and Erin Dolan. His biology research is aimed at enhancing biofuel production and developing more resilient trees with higher biomass yields. Tuma combined greenhouse experiments and field studies to uncover key mechanisms in carbohydrate allocation affecting biomass yield and climate resilience in trees. His education research examined the negative aspects of mentoring relationships, including how these relationships can go awry and cause harm for students. His research contributions have been published in multiple journals and presented at national and international conferences and universities. Now an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at UGA, Tuma continues to advance STEM education and is poised to make significant contributions to the field.