Elizabeth Esser
樱花导航 樱花导航 doctoral student Elizabeth Esser is on a mission to protect the Magnolia 樱花导航鈥檚 forests and farmlands from cogongrass, a problematic invasive species gaining a foothold throughout the Southeast.
Her passion for this project stems from personal experience.
鈥淚 grew up surrounded by forestland, and my family worked hard to be good stewards of it,鈥 the Cedarburg, Wisconsin, native said.
When Esser was 8 years old, her county became the first in Wisconsin to report the presence of the emerald ash borer, which threatened her family鈥檚 acres of ash trees.
鈥淭he emerald ash borer impacting our land has been a constant throughout my life. It doesn鈥檛 kill trees instantly; it takes time,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 watched healthy trees become stressed, and on my most recent trip home, it looked like a tree graveyard. There were all these standing dead trees鈥攏o leaves, limbs or bark. It was sad to see this once-forested area becoming open land with nothing but grass and understory plants.鈥
Esser said the experience showed her the seriousness of invasive species.
鈥淚t made me want to study them and find ways to prevent that kind of devastation from happening to other species," she said.
Esser earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees in genetics and ecology from the University of Georgia before coming to MSU, where she began as a master's student and transitioned into her Ph.D. program.
鈥淭his project blends everything I love, from genetics and chemistry to ecology and real-world application,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working to understand cogongrass at the genetic level and explore the potential for autotoxicity, where chemicals from the plant harm its own species. If we can harness that, we might develop a new way to manage it.鈥
Current control methods for cogongrass are limited and labor-intensive.
鈥淚t spreads easily, resists herbicides and fuels hotter fires that damage native ecosystems,鈥 Esser said. 鈥淥nce it takes over, it鈥檚 incredibly difficult to restore forests and wildlife habitat.鈥
Beyond the lab, Esser leads the MSU Forestry Graduate Student Association as president. She also served as service and outreach coordinator of the MSU Graduate Student Association and volunteers at the Oktibbeha County Humane Society and the Equine Therapy Program through MSU Extension.
鈥淲e have two annual camping trips, monthly dinners and movie nights to support each other and stay connected,鈥 she said about the Graduate Student Association 鈥淚 grew up riding and volunteering in equine therapy, and I鈥檓 happy I get to help children with disabilities ride now.鈥
Set to graduate in 2027, Esser hopes to stay in research, whether that鈥檚 through industry, government or academia. She credits MSU with opening doors she never expected.
鈥淚鈥檝e had incredible support鈥攁ccess to equipment across departments, funding for travel and mentors who鈥檝e encouraged me every step of the way. I鈥檝e presented in Maryland, Idaho and Quebec, and soon I鈥檒l be heading to Indonesia for a forestry conference,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hese opportunities have been amazing, and I鈥檓 excited for what鈥檚 next.鈥
