MSU graduate students, alumnus sweep national forestry research competition

Contact: Kaitlyn Church

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Two Mississippi State University graduate students and an alumnus earned top recognition at the 2025 Society of American Foresters national convention for their research posters highlighting advancements in forestry and natural resources.

Simran Pandey, a forestry master’s student from Nepal, earned first place for her research poster “Economic Impacts of Natural Disturbances in Mississippi’s Pine Forests: A Case Study of Southern Pine Beetle” that examined the financial effects of pest-related disturbances on the state’s timber market. Her research bridges ecology and economics, revealing how natural events impact local industries.

Bipin Paudel, also a master’s student in the Department of Forestry from Nepal, placed second for his research poster “Predicting Leaf Area in Eastern Cottonwood and Poplar Hybrids Using Tree and Site Data” that focused on developing models linking tree physiology and productivity across diverse environments.

Maxwell Schrimpf, an MSU alumnus from Michigan who completed his master’s in forestry in 2023, placed third with his poster “Growing Warm Trees with Cold Feet” that explained the assisted migration of southern pine species to northern environments, determining if the trees could withstand harsher winter conditions. Now pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, Schrimpf continues researching sustainable forest management and climate adaptation.

The success of these students reflects a long tradition of excellence within MSU’s forestry community. The university’s Society of American Foresters Student Chapter placed third nationally in this year’s SAF Outstanding Student Chapter competition and has ranked in the top three for the past 29 years.

The Society of American Foresters National Convention brings together forestry professionals, researchers and policymakers from across the country to share scientific insights and practical applications in forest management, sustainability and policy.

To learn more about MSU’s College of Forest Resources’ Department of Forestry, visit www.forestry.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.