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2300 Tadpole Road
Pennsylviania Furnace, PA 16865
(814) 231-8751
E-Mail: jxf123@psu.edu

Office:

220 Forest Resources Lab
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 865-4092
Fax: (814) 863-7193
Education
1994-1996 MASTER OF SCIENCE

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Intercollegiate Graduate Ecology Program

Course work: plant ecology, plant physiology, population dynamics, environmental resource management, forest ecology, statistical analysis, experimental design and analysis, research techniques and data analysis.

Thesis title: Leaf morphology and ozone sensitivity of black cherry by genotype, tree size and light environment.

May 1991 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Coursework: conservation biology, forestry, biometrics, dendrology, ichthyology, environmental resource management, forest science, ecotoxicology.

Additional coursework (credits): statistics (9), engineering graphics (9), technical physics (6), engineering mechanics (6), computer science (6), chemistry: organic/inorganic (9)
Academic and Professional Experience

June 2003 - Present Senior Research Assistant, Penn State Institutes of the Environment.

Coordinate Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Bureau of Air Quality Ground Level Ozone Monitoring Program.

Develop and teach graduate level course - Environmental Resource Management: Air Pollution Effects to Terrestrial Ecosystems.

Technical operation of Penn State Air Quality Learning and Demonstration Center.

Instructor : Environmental Resource Management 430. Air Pollution Impacts to Terrestrial Ecosystems (3 credits).

1998-2003 Research Assistant, Environmental Consortium, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Primarily responsible for the implementation of our Penn State University involvement within the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Bureau of Air Quality Ground Level Ozone Monitoring Program.

Major responsibilities include the installation, calibration, and preventative maintenance of ozone monitoring equipment and data acquisition systems. Data retrieval, manipulation, analysis, and QA/QC protocols are also a major part of this position.

Currently operate six ambient air-quality monitoring stations - Inclusive of the following:

Operation of particulate matter as PM-2.5 m ambient air station -PSU and PDEP/BAQ, including sample collection, maintenance, and verification procedures.

Operation of chemical speciation particulate matter ambient air station -PSU and PDEP/BAQ, including sample collection, maintenance, and verification procedures.

Operation of National Acidic Deposition Monitoring Station- PSU and USDA/USGS (1998).

Operation and maintenance of computerized greenhouse continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) facility. Responsible for the daily operation of ozone fumigations, control and data acquisition system, data analysis and presentation.

Work in cooperation with principal investigators, professors, research associates, and graduate students within several field and greenhouse research projects dealing with interactions among air pollutants, environmental variables, and plant responses due to pollutant exposure.

Assist in the preparation of research proposals and reports to sponsors including statistical analysis, interpretation, and presentation of ozone, ozone foliar injury, and environmental data.

Presentation of air quality monitoring data and plant response findings to current and future funding agencies to assist in maintaining and expanding the Air Pollution and Forest Effects Program.

Responsible for the maintaining, updating, and the administration of Air Pollution-Forest Effects web page.

Spring 2003 - Teaching Assistant: Environmental Resource Management 430. Air Pollution Effects to Terrestrial Ecosystems. (Will teach entire course Spring 2004)

1998 - Present Independent:

Battelle Memorial Institute

Participation in the National Dioxin Air Monitoring Network (NDAMN) for the U. S Environmental Protection Agency.

Operate two PS-1 high volume air samplers according to Standard Operating Procedure. Duties include sample collection, calibration, and service.

1996-1998 Research Technician, Department of Plant Pathology, Pennsylvania State University.

Studied the relationships among environmental variables, disease cycles, and pesticide application to control late blight epidemic in potatoes and tomatoes. Develop methods of soil and tissue isolation of Phytophthora infestans for field surveys.

1993-1994 Research Technician, Environmental Resources Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University.

Worked in conjunction with professors and graduate students on various research projects examining ozone effects on vegetation.

1992-1993 Instructor, Carbon County Environmental Education Center, Tamaqua, PA.

Taught environmental education programs in grades 1-12. Assisted with raptor salvage, rehabilitation, and tag/release programs.

1988-1991 Student Research Technician, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Pennsylvania State University.

Worked with senior research technicians establishing and maintaining remote air pollution research sites. Assisted with equipment calibration, data retrieval, QA/QC protocol, and various ozone exposure/response studies.

Area of Specialization

Skills
Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office - including MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Front Page. Experience with powerful statistical analysis packages such as - Statistical Analysis System (SAS), Minitab, SPLUS, and ArcView. Web page design and administration under several platforms. Data base management, remote data acquisition and reporting systems, and integration of data acquisition systems and web servers.
Publications

Schaub, M., J. M. Skelly, K. C. Steiner, D. D. Davis, S. P. Pennypacker, J. Zhang, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage, R. E. Stevensen. 2002. Physiology and foliar injury responses of Prunus serotina, Fraxinus americana, and Acer rubrum seedlings to varying soil moisture and ozone. Accepted – Environmental Pollution.

Krupa, S., Nosal, J. A., Ferdinand, J. A., Stevenson, R. E., Skelly, J. M. 2002. A multi-variate statistical model integrating passive sampler and meteorological data to predict the frequency distributions of hourly ambient ozone (O 3) concentrations. Accepted - Environmental Pollution.

Orendovici, T., J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage, M–J. Sanz, G. C. Smith. 2002. Response of native plants of the northeast United States and southern Spain to ozone exposures; determining exposure – response relationships. Accepted – Environmental Pollution.

Yuska, D. E., J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage. 2002. Determination of ozone in forest areas of north central Pennsylvania utilizing native plant species. Accepted – Environmental Pollution.

Skelly, J. M., J. A. Ferdinand, J. A. Jagodzinski, J. E. Savage, J. D. Mullik. 2002. A Thirteen Week Comparison of the Ogawa Passive Ozone Monitor with TECO Continuous Ozone Monitors at Eleven Forested and High Elevation Sites in north central Pennsylvania. Journal of Air and Waste Management Association. 51:1280-1287.

Ferdinand, J.A., T. S. Fredericksen, K. B. Kouterick, and J. M. Skelly. 2000. Leaf morphology and ozone sensitivity of two open pollinated genotypes of black cherry (Prunes serotina Ehrh.). Environmental Pollution. 108:297-302.

Kouterick, K. B., J. M. Skelly, T. S. Fredericksen, K. C. Steiner, T. E. Kolb, and J. A. Ferdinand. 2000. Foliar injury, leaf gas exchange and biomass responses of black cherry (Prunes serotina Ehrh.) half-sibling families to ozone exposure. Environmental Pollution. 107:117-126.

Zhang, J., J. A. Ferdinand, D. J. Vanderheyden, J. M. Skelly, J. L Innes. 2001. Variation of gas exchange within native plant species of Switzerland and relationships with ozone injury: an open-top chamber experiment. Environmental Pollution. 109: 78-84.

Ferdinand, J. A. 1996. Relationships between leaf morphology and visible ozone injury in black cherry trees of different tree size, genotype, and light environment. MS Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University.

Fredericksen, T.S., K.C. Steiner, J.M. Skelly, B.J. Joyce, J.A. Ferdinand. 1995. Diel and seasonal patterns of leaf gas exchange and xylem water potentials of different-sized (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) trees. Forest Science. 28:234-242.

Kouterick, K.B., J.M. Skelly, T.S. Fredericksen, K.C. Steiner, T.E. Kolb, J.A. Ferdinand. 1999. Foliar injury, leaf gas exchange, and biomass responses of black cherry (Prunes serotina Ehrh.) half-sibling families to ozone exposure. Environmental Pollution. 107:117-126.

J. A. Ferdinand, R. E. Stevenson, J. M. Skelly, J. Mahinske. Air Quality Monitoring in Rural Areas of Central Pennsylvania. 2002. Environmental Resources Research Institute, the Department of Plant Pathology, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air. Poster publication - The 34 th Air Pollution Workshop, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

T. Orendovici, J.M. Skelly, M.J. Sanz, G. Smith, J.E. Savage, J.A. Ferdinand. 2002. Screening Native Plants or Northeast United Stated and Southern Spain for Sensitivity to Ozone. Poster publication - The 34 th Air Pollution Workshop, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

D. F. Paar, J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage, R. E. Stevenson. 2002. Developing an Air Quality Learning and Demonstration Center. Poster publication - The 34 th Air Pollution Workshop, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

J.E. Savage, J.M. Skelly, J.A. Ferdinand, D.E. Yuska, G. Smith and T. Hall. 2002. Evaluation of Ozone Sensitive Species within Bio-indicator Plots Associated with the USDA-Forest Service, Forest Health Monitoring Program in Pennsylvania. Poster publication - The 34 th Air Pollution Workshop, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

C. Wei, J. A. Ferdinand, and J. M. Skelly. 2002. Uptake and Plant Responses to Ozone in Two Clonal Hybrid Poplars (Populus L.). Poster publication - The 34 th Air Pollution Workshop, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

D.E. Yuska, J.M.Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage, R. E. Stevensen, J. D. Mulik and A. Hines . 2002. Detection of Tropospheric Ozone in North Central Pennsylvania Utilizing Passive Samplers and Bio-indicator Plants. Poster publication - The 34 th Air Pollution Workshop, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

C. Wei, J. A. Ferdinand, J. M. Skelly. 2001. The influence of light flecks on ozone uptake and plant responses to ozone in Hybrid poplar clones. Poster publication. The 33 rd Air Pollution Workshop, Riverside California.

D. E. Yuska, J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage. 2001. Determination of tropospheric ozone in north central Pennsylvania utilizing passive samplers and bio-indicator plants. Poster publication - The 33 rd Air Pollution Workshop, Riverside California.

J. A. Ferdinand. 2001. Air quality monitoring in rural areas of north central Pennsylvania. Poster publication - The 33 rd Air Pollution Workshop, Riverside California.

T. Orendovici, J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage, M.–J. Sanz. 2001. Screening native plants the northern United States and southern Spain for sensitivity to ozone. Poster publication - The 33 rd Air Pollution Workshop, Riverside California.

J. M. Skelly, J. E. Savage, J. A. Ferdinand, T. Hall. 2001. Evaluation of ozone sensitive species within bio-indicator plots associated with USDA – Forest Service, Forest Health Monitoring Program in Pennsylvania. Poster publication - The 33 rd Air Pollution Workshop, Riverside California.

J. A. Ferdinand, J. M. Skelly. 1999. Three years of ozone monitoring at three rural locations in north central Pennsylvania. Poster publication – The 31 st Air Pollution Workshop, Oregon State University.

Ferdinand, J.A., J.M. Skelly, T.S. Fredericksen, and K.C. Steiner. 1996. Leaf morphology, leaf physiology, and light environment in relation to visible foliar ozone injury in different-sized black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) trees. Poster publication - 28 th Air Pollution Workshop NCSU, Raleigh, NC.

Ferdinand, J.A., J.M. Skelly, K.C. Steiner, and T.S. Fredericksen. 1995. Relationships between leaf morphology and ozone sensitivity of two half-sib black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) genotypes which differ in ozone sensitivity. Poster publication - 27 th Air Pollution Workshop, Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Research Proposal
Ferdinand, J. A., J. W. Zhang, J. M. Skelly, S. P. Pennypacker 1998. The influence of light on ozone uptake and plant response in three eastern hardwood tree species. Accepted for funding by Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Exxon Corporation. $35,000/year renewed 3 years; $115,000.
Reports to Sponsors

J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage. 2003. The use of passive ozone monitors for monitoring ambient ozone and evaluation of bio-monitoring plots in southwest Pennsylvania as part of the national forest health monitoring program. United States Forest Service and National Forest Health Monitoring Program. Final Report.

Ferdinand, J. A., J. M. Skelly, R. E. Stevenson. 2001. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality. Standard Operating Procedure and Quality Assurance Plan for Ozone Monitoring in 5 Rural Areas of Central Pennsylvania.

Wei, C., J. A. Ferdinand and J. M. Skelly. 2001. The influence of light on ozone uptake and plant response in three eastern hardwood tree species. Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Progress Report.

J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, R. E. Stevensen, J. E. Savage, J. Halbrandt, N. Halbrandt. 2001. Screening fruit tree species within the genus Prunus grown under open-top chamber conditions and ambient ozone exposures in south central Pennsylvania. Combined 1 st and 2 nd year report. USDA, ARS, Beltsville, Md.

Schaub, M. et al., 2001. Final report of ozone air pollution and effects to native plants in Switzerland for 2000 and 2001. Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape, Berne, Switzerland.

J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand, J. E. Savage. 2000. Screening fruit tree species for sensitivity to ambient ozone exposures in south central Pennsylvania. First Year Report. USDA, ARS, Beltsville, Md.

Wei, C., J. A. Ferdinand and J. M. Skelly. 2000. The influence of light on ozone uptake and plant response in three eastern hardwood tree species. Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Progress Report.

Orendovici, T., J. M. Skelly, J. A. Ferdinand and J. E. Savage. 2000. Screening plants for sensitivity to ozone. Progress report. Submitted to Fundacion Centro de Estudios del Mediterraneo (CEAM).

Skelly, J. M., T. Orendovici, J. A. Ferdinand, and J. E. Savage. 2000. Sensitivity of native plant species of eastern United States to ozone. USDA Forest Service, Univ of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.

Schaub, M. et al., 2000. Ozone air pollution and effects to native plants in Switzerland. Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape, Berne, Switzerland. 44p.

Wei, C., J. A. Ferdinand and J. M. Skelly. 1999. The influence of light on ozone uptake and plant response in three eastern hardwood tree species. Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Progress Report.

Most Resent Lectures and Presentations

5 th Bienneial Blasting and Vibration Technology Conference – January 2004 Presented most recent information concerning particulate matter as related to the aggregate industry in terms of the national ambient air quality standards, dust monitoring technology and implementation, and the use of air dispersion models for particulate matter.

Pennsylvania Grape Growers, Penn State Ag Extension Service – April 2003. Results of first year study examining the effect of ambient ozone on chambourcin grape varieties using open-top chambers. Results of visible foliar injury, vine growth, and yield reductions were shown.

Environmental Resource Management 430 – Spring 2003. Presented lectures to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in ERM 430, Air Pollution Effects to Terrestrial Ecosystems. Lecture topics include plant physiology, physiological effects of air pollutants to plants, air borne particulate matter, and interpreting the air quality index.

PADEP Bureau of Air Quality – Jan 10, 2003. Provided summary of research conductedduring the 2002- ozone monitoring season for projects funded and supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality.

PA DEP Bureau of Air Quality – November 12, 2002 State Wide Ozone Action Meeting. Presented ozone monitoring results from the 2002 ozone season from six Penn State operated rural ozone monitoring sites in north-central Pa.

PA DEP Bureau of Air Quality – 2002 Ozone Action Day – Introducednewly funded PA DEP-BAQ Project involving the use of passive ozone monitors, plant ozone bio-indicators species, and citizen scientists for examining tropospheric ozone concentrations, plant response, and interactions with environmental factors.

Environmental Resource Management (ERM) 413 Spring 2002 – Addressed graduate and undergraduate students with method, procedures, data analysis, interpretation, and results of 2001 ambient ozone monitoring season for ozone monitoring sites operated by Penn State University in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality.

April 11, 2002 – Penn State University Inter College Graduate Ecology Program. Ecology Panel Discussion – The Monarch Butterfly Biology and Conservation in conjunction with seminar series – The Monarch – A Focal Point of Modern Ecological Mysteries. Presented data on 2001 Central PA ambient ozone concentrations in relation to visible foliar ozone injury survey work in conjunction with passive ozone monitoring; Potential for Negative Interactions.

April, 2002 – 34 th Air pollution Workshop - The Pennsylvania State University rural ozone monitoring program within central Pennsylvania in relation to common milkweed and the monarch butterfly; relationships between ozone exposure, plant injury, environmental factors, and potential negative effects to monarch butterflies.

January 22, 2002 – Presented summary of passive ozone monitoring results from 1999, 2000, 2001, and preliminary results of ozone effects to Chambourcin grape at PA DEP Bureau of Air Quality meeting directed toward future funding and expansion of current PA DEP ground level ozone monitoring task as well as expanded passive ozone monitoring network.

December 2001, USEPA – NCEA Raleigh NC. Ambient Ozone, Common Milkweed, and the Monarch Butterfly, Potential for Negative Interactions.

Environmental Resource Management (ERM) 413 Spring 2001 – Addressed graduate and undergraduate students with method, procedures, data analysis, interpretation, and results of 2000 ambient ozone monitoring season for ozone monitoring sites operated by Penn State University in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality.

2001 PA Nursery Conference - Presented an overview of rural and urban ambient ozone concentration for 1998 - 2001 as related to National Ambient Air Quality Standards set for ozone.

PA DEP Bureau of Air Quality – 2001 Ozone Action Day - Overview of rural ozone monitoring efforts and ozonelevels in north-central PA as related to current and proposed National Ambient Air Quality Standards set for ozone.

Penn State University – Proposed Arboretum First Tour – Addressed general public and PSU arboretum committee with explanation of the Air Quality Monitoring Station located within the proposed Penn State University arboretum. Topics included what ozone is, why it is being monitored, potential effects of ozone to native plants of Pennsylvania, and public access to real time ozone and meteorology data for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Introduction of planned Air Quality Learning Center – Mission and Objectives.

PA DEP Bureau of Air Quality – 2000 Ozone Action Day –Effects of ambient ozone to vegetation native to Pennsylvania and the use of ozone bio-indicator species. Introduced the Penn State University Forest Effects Research Program. The talk was targeted toward the general public.

Environmental Resource Management (ERM) 413 Spring 2000 – Addressed graduate and undergraduate students with method, procedures, data analysis, interpretation, and results of 1999 ambient ozone monitoring season for ozone monitoring sites operated by Penn State University in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality.

(References supplied upon request)