The Maine Forest Management Lab started up in the fall of 2022. We are housed within the School of Forest Resources and Center for Research on Sustainable Forests at the University of Maine, located in Orono. We work directly with private and public entities, industrial forest operations and research cooperatives, and provide leading edge data analytics and applied forest management research.
​
Get in touch to learn more and discuss potential consulting opportunities.
OUR TEAM
Mike Premer, PhD
Lab Director - Assistant Professor of Forest Management
Mike holds a B.A. in Environmental Science from Northeastern Illinois University, a Master of Forestry and PhD in Forest Science from Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He completed a postdoctoral appointment with the U.S. Forest Service and Michigan State University in the Lassen and Plumas National Forests in California. Most recently, he worked as Research and Development Coordinator, and Manager of Silviculture Research for Rayonier Inc. in the Pacific Northwest. He has extensive training and experience in silviculture, biometrics, and forest planning. His work focuses on quantifying site-vegetation dynamics and precision forest management. His specific research interests include digital soil, site, and vegetation mapping, strategic diversification of forested landscapes, and planted-forest silviculture.
Lila Beck
Lab Member, Ph.D. Student
M.Sc. Forest Resources, University of Maine
B.A. Biology, Gustavus Adolphus College
Project: Disentangling causal mechanisms of thinning response with C isotopes across U.S. Working Forests
​
Lila completed her M.Sc. in summer 2025 working with the Cooperative Forest Research Unit, the Center for Advanced Forestry Systems, and Weyerhaeuser on assessing the economic and ecological implications of density management in Acadian spruce/fir forests. Before coming to Maine, Lila served an AmeriCorps term with Climate Impact Corps MN and completed a forestry and natural resource management internship with the City of Eden Prairie, MN. She loves to run, read, and spend time outside.
Lexi Kincaid
Lab Member, M.Sc. Student - Co-advised with Dr. Raj-Kizha
B.Sc. Applied Ecology and Env. Science, Michigan Tech
Project: Long-term trends of Irregular shelterwood systems in the Acadian Forest Ecosystem Research Project (AFERP)
​
Before coming to Maine, Lexi earned her degree at Michigan Technological University in Applied Ecology and Environmental Science. During her undergrad, Lexi worked on projects with MTUs Red Oak genetics lab, the MTU forest health lab, and for the MTU sugarbush, which incited her curiosity for complex forested systems. She enjoys skiing, kayaking, and cold weather
Marcus Tingley
Lab Member, PhD. Student
A.A.S., B.Sc. Forestry, MPS, SUNY ESF
Project: Digital species-site-suitability systems for regenerating northern forests
​​
Before his start at the University of Maine, Marcus worked with a consulting forester and interned with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). Marcus also received his A.A.S from the State University of New York (SUNY) Onondaga Community College, a B.S. in Forest Resources Management at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), and his M.P.S. in Forest Resources Management at SUNY ESF. Marcus also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 2019 to 2025 where he worked as a Light Armored Vehicle repairman for Echo Company, 4th Light Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman.
Allie Heller
Lab Member, Ph.D. Student - co-advised with Dr. Simons-Legaard
M.Sc. Plant and Env. Sciences, New Mexico State University
B.A. Environmental Studies, Prescott College
Project: Development of ecological site description programs for Maine's forestlands
​
Allie holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Prescott College and a M.Sc. in Plant and Environmental Sciences from New Mexico State University. Prior to starting a doctoral program with University of Maine, Allie worked in a wide range of field ecology and quantitative ecology roles focused on studying drivers of ecosystem change in dryland ecosystems, quantifying ecosystem services, and communicating ecological dynamics to stakeholder groups. She has worked for federal land management and research agencies, for non-profit organizations, and as a Fulbright Research Scholar in 2024 (Mongolia). In her current doctoral student position, she is excited to apply her knowledge of ecosystem change to forest systems in her home state of Maine. Outside of her role as scientist and student, she can be found hiking, botanizing, knitting, cooking, and hanging out with horses.
_JPG.jpg)
Andrew Sperling
Lab Member, PhD. Student
B.Sc., MSc., University of Alberta
Project: Digital forestry tools for the western Great Lakes region
​​
Andrew holds both a B.Sc. in Forestry and an M.Sc. in Forest Biology and Management from the University of Alberta. Professionally, he has worked as a silviculture forester, managing large-scale reforestation and stand-tending programs throughout Alberta, Canada. He was registered as a professional forester with the Association of Alberta Forest Management Professionals from 2022 to 2025. Now pursuing a Ph.D., Andrew's research interests include quantitative silviculture and precision forestry. Outside of academia, he enjoys endurance sports of all kinds.
Ella Raymond
Lab Member, Research Technician​
​
Ella joined in the lab in the summer of 2025. She is from Portland, Maine, and a senior in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine. She enjoys backpacking, cross country skiing, running and generally anything outside.
​
Lab Alumni
Ashley Carter
MSc. Forest Resources, University of Maine
B.Sc. Forestry, State University of New York - Environmental Science and Forestry
A.A.S. Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation - State University of New York, Ranger School
​MSc Thesis: Enhancing spruce forest management in Maine: Digital habitat suitability modeling and structural-productivity dynamics of species mixtures​
​​Current Position: Planning Forester, Weyerhaeuser Northern Hardwoods
_JPG.jpg)
Tyler Locke
B.Sc. University of Maine
Former Lab Member, Summer Field Technician
Tyler worked in the lab in the summer of 2024. He is currently employed as forester, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Sam Curry
Former Lab Member - Field technician
Sam worked in the lab from 2024-2025 and recently graduated from UMaine with a BSc in Forestry. Word has it he is somewhere in Georgia.
Lab mascot and general helper
Zelda
Aussie shepherd/Labrador
Zelda moved to Maine from Olympia, Washington in 2022. She enjoys stealing snacks, belly rubs, and chasing most things through the woods.