His doctoral research involved using fossil pollen to learn about past vegetation and changes in climate in Upper Michigan, as well as in Indiana, the Smoky Mountains, Puerto Rico, and here in St. Lawrence County. Professionally, he has continued to study and do research on regional vegetation and climate change in the Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence River Valley. He focuses on how forests respond to short and long term distubances from insect outbreaks to hurricanes to climate change.