UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Laura Leites, a research associate and instructor in forest biometrics in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was named to the board of directors of the Resource Modeling Association.
Also known as the RMA, the association is an international organization of scientists who analyze models to understand and educate others in how to sustainably manage environmental resources.
Leites' research interests include the use of quantitative methods and statistical modeling techniques to address natural resources issues; statistical modeling of forest communities and species responses to climate and global climate change; and development of quantitative tools that improve on-the-ground planning of adaptation strategies in forest ecosystems.
In October, she will host the annual Northeastern Mensurationist Organization meeting on Penn State's University Park campus. This association of forest researchers meets annually to discuss quantitative research in forest biometrics.
Leites also is a member of the American Statistical Association, the Ecological Society of America and the Society of American Foresters. She earned her bachelor's degree from Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Idaho.