Frank T. van Manen,
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Frank T. van Manen is a Research Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Southern Appalachian Research Branch, located at the University of Tennessee. Dr. van Manen holds an Adjunct Professor appointment with the Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries.
The Southern Appalachian Research Branch conducts applied environmental research focusing on Department of Interior lands in the southern Appalachians. Dr. van Manen is an ecologist who blends his interest in mammals, particularly carnivores, with landscape ecology. He specializes in habitat and landscape modeling using statistical techniques and geographic information systems (GIS).
Frank was born in Arnhem, The Netherlands and earned a combined B.S. and M.S. degree from Wageningen Agricultural University. After an internship at the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, he entered the doctoral program at University of Tennessee with a major in Ecology and a minor in Statistics. Frank was a Research Assistant Professor with the Department of Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries from 1997 through 2000, when he joined the U.S. Geological Survey. Primary research themes include (1) responses of mammals to landscape changes; (2) management of large carnivores; (3) international bear conservation; and (4)habitat models to support protection and restoration of plants and trees.
Dr. van Manen has authored or co-authored 90 technical articles and reports. He has presented over 65 technical papers at regional, national, and international conferences. Dr. van Manen is a frequent reviewer for primary wildlife journals, such as the Journal of Wildlife Management, Journal of Mammalogy, Biological Conservation, Wildlife Biology, and Ursus. Frank is Associate Editor for the peer-reviewed Journal Ursus. Frank is a member of the Wildlife Society, American Society of the Mammalogists, and the International Association for Bear Research and Management; he was treasurer for the latter organization from 2001 to 2007 and was elected President for the 2007-2010 term. Dr. van Manen chairs the Southern Appalachian Black Bear Study Group and is Chair of the Grants Committee of the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association.
Dr. van Manen supervises M.S. students, Post-Doctoral Research Associates, and several Research Associates working on a variety of species, ranging from several bear species and other carnivores to American ginseng plants and butternut trees. Frank uses every opportunity to go hiking, biking, and camping in the Smokies and enjoys traveling, drawing, and photography. Frank and his wife, Jennapher, reside south of Maryville, Tennessee.
