Graduate Directory
- Pronouns he, him, his
- Title
- Senior Drone Pilot | UAV Instructor | GIS Analyst
- Division Baskin School of Engineering
- Department
- Baskin School of Engineering
- Environmental Studies Department
- Office Location
- Engineering Building 2, 543A
- Office Hours By Appointment
- Mail Stop CITRIS/ITI
Summary of Expertise
{University California, Santa Cruz}{2023} {PhD Environmental Studies} {Dissertation: A Drone's View of Plant Disease Ecology and Ethics}
Biography, Education and Training
Jon recently earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz and serves as a Senior Drone Pilot and Pilot Instructor at CIDER. He is involved in all aspects of drone flight operations and plays a key role in the “Cultivando Lideres” project, a USDA NIFA-funded education initiative, in collaboration with Professor Stacy Philpot and Dr. Becca Fenwick.
Jon's background includes work in ecology and science education. He has experience as an undergraduate science educator, consulting biologist, and California native plant restorationist. He earned a B.S. in Earth Systems Science & Policy from CSU Monterey Bay and an M.S. in Organismal Biology and Ecology from San Jose State University. Jon combines his knowledge of local ecosystems with practical drone applications in his teaching and fieldwork.
Honors, Awards and Grants
- National Science Foundation - Graduate Research Fellowship
- UC Regent's Fellowship
Teaching Interests
- Drone Education
- Remote Sensing / GIS
- Statistics
- Ecology
- Science Education
