The faculty teaching in RCTC’s Environmental Science program bring both their academic knowledge and also their industry work experience. This combination of academics and industry experience is another valued aspect of the RCTC program.
Dr. Cory Rubin, Instructor of Biology at RCTC, has M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, as well as a B.S. from University of Illinois in Animal Sciences. His main focus of study is in the field of Conservation Biology. Dr. Rubin has extensive experience working with imperiled wildlife and vegetation, ranging from the threatened Blanding’s turtle and endangered greater prairie chicken to prairie ecosystems. Other organisms Dr. Rubin has studied include migratory songbirds, waterfowl, and small mammals.
Prior to teaching at RCTC, Dr. Rubin was a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) in northwestern North Dakota (Des Lacs, Lostwood, and Upper Souris NWRs). During that time, he did research on wildlife and vegetation inhabiting northern mixed-grass prairies that included migratory bird nesting success and the effects of controlled fire and grazing on prairie restoration. Dr. Rubin has extensive experience using GPS and GIS technology to map, locate, and analyze wildlife and vegetation. Dr. Rubin brings a combination of diverse academic and field experience in Environmental Sciences and Conservation Biology, experience with diverse organisms and habitats, and a variety of teaching experiences to the Environmental Science Program at RCTC.
Resources:
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (nres.illinois.edu)
- USFWS (www.fws.gov/)
- Des Lacs NWR (www.fws.gov/jclarksalyer/deslacs/)
- Lostwood NWR (www.fws.gov/lostwood/)
- Upper Souris NWR (www.fws.gov/uppersouris/)
Dr. Jennifer Rubin, Jennifer Rubin, Ph.D. joined the RCTC Biology Department in 2004. She completed a B.A. in Biology at St. Olaf College and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Biology at the University of Illinois. She did post-doctoral research in plant ecology and part-time teaching in North Dakota before coming to RCTC. She currently serves as the Science Division Coordinator and a co-advisor of the RCTC Ecology Club.
Resources:
- Department of Plant Biology (https://sib.illinois.edu/departments/plant-biology)
- Biology Department (wp.stolaf.edu/biology)
- St. Olaf College (www.stolaf.edu)
- Des Lacs NWR (www.fws.gov/jclarksalyer/deslacs/)
- Lostwood NWR (www.fws.gov/lostwood/)
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Phone Contact: 507-285-7557