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Deborah J. Picking

Undergraduate Program Director
Department of Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences
French Hall Room 103
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003-0910
Tel. (413) 545-2249
Fax. (413) 545-3075
dpicking@psis.umass.edu

Education

Ph.D. 2002, University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Plant & Soil Sciences
M. S. 1993, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA. Biology
B. S. 1985, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA. Biology
1982-1984, Cook College/ Rutgers -the State University, NJ.

Research Interests

• Hydrogeochemical cycling in New England freshwater wetlands
• Plant community ecology and hydric soil correlations in calcareous wetland systems.

Professional History

1998 - present:

Undergraduate Program Director, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Lecturer, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Courses titles include:

* Soil Science
* Plants, Soils and the Environment

1993 - present:

Course Instructor, Division of Continuing Education. University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Short course titles include:

* MA DEP Soil Evaluator Program
* Inland Wetland Plant Identification
* Hydric Soils
* Winter Botany

1989 - 1992:

Assistant Project Manager. Environmental Permitting Specialist. Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., Elmwood Park, NJ.

1987 - 1989:

Wetland Scientist. J.H. Crow Company, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ.

Selected Publications & Abstracts

Prostak, R.G. and D.J. Picking. 2007. The Massachusetts Example: One stream bank, multiple jurisdictions. Northeastern Weed Science Society. Proceedings Volume 61. Baltimore, MD. p118.

Stockman, Emily K.D., D.J. Picking, and P.L.M. Veneman. 2006. Phosphorus Release and Retention by Organic Materials under Different Redox Conditions, electronic abstract #319-5, 2006 International Annual Meetings of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, November 12-16, 2006, Indianapolis, IN.

Picking, D. 2005. What’s the Buzz About Pelletized Lime? (Parts I, II, & III) Hort Notes. Extension publication. Volume 16, Number 5, 6, & 7.

Picking, D. J. and P. L. M. Veneman. 2004. Vegetation Patterns in a Calcareous Sloping Fen of Southwestern Massachusetts, USA. Wetlands 24(3): 514-528.

Picking, D. J. and P. L. M. Veneman. 2004. Two Phase Hydrology in a Sloping Wetland in Western Massachusetts. Annual Meetings Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Seattle, WA, Agronomy Abstracts.

Picking, D. J. 2002. Vegetation Patterns and Associated Hydrogeochemical Cycles in a Calcareous Sloping Fen of Southwestern Massachusetts . Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.

Picking, D. J. and P. L. M. Veneman. 2002. Vegetation and Environmental Gradients in a Calcareous Sloping Wetland of Western Massachusetts. pp. 139-140. In Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting Abstracts. Lake Placid, NY.

Picking D. J. and P. L. M. Veneman. 2001. Hydrogeochemical Cycling and Soil Morphological Patterns along a Calcareous Sloping Fen of Western Massachusetts, USA. p. 52. In Society of Wetland Scientist Annual Meeting Abstracts, Chicago, IL.

Picking, D. J. and P. L. M. Veneman. 2000. Vegetation dynamics in a calcareous sloping fen of western Massachusetts. p 431. In Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting Abstracts. Quebec, Canada. Quebec 2000 publication.

Instructional Materials

Picking, D. J. 2007. Laboratory Manual for PLSOILIN 105: Soil Science . Pp. 83. (Revised annually)

Picking, D. J. 2007. Discussion Workbook for PLSOILIN 105: Soil Science. Pp. 39. (Revised annually)

Picking, D. J. 2007. Class Notes for PLSOILIN 105: Soil Science. Pp. 113. (Revised annually)

Picking, D. J., A Soils. @ Chapter in Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professionals Training Manual, 5 th Edition. Associated Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts, 2006. Electronic/CD format

Picking, D. J., A Soil Science. @ Chapter in Massachusetts Arborist Association 2005 Massachusetts Certified Arborist Study Guide Version 1.0. CD/Electronic format.

Picking, D. J. 2005. Massachusetts Envirothon Workshop: Introduction to Soil Science. Electronic study guide.

Picking, D. J., A Soils. @ Chapter in Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professionals Training Manual, 4 th Edition. Associated Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts, 2004. CD/Electronic format.

Picking, D. J., A Composting @ Chapter in Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professionals Training Manual, 4 th Edition. Associated Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts, 2004. CD/Electronic format.

Selected Presentations

Professional Affiliations and Registrations

Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England, Professional Member

Soil Science Society of America, Certified Professional Soil Scientist, ARCPACS Cert. #24769

Society of Wetland Scientists

Town of Montague Conservation Commission, Vice-Chair

Outstanding Teaching Award. UMASS College of Natural Resources & the Environment. 2004.

Outstanding Advising Award. UMASS College of Natural Resources & the Environment. 2003.

Nominated for University Outstanding Advisor Award. 2005-2006

Nominated for University Outstanding Teaching Award. 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005

Election to Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Xi.