Education
B.A. Biology St. Louis University June 1973
M.S. Biology University of Houston June 1976
Ph.D. Botany Brigham Young University December 1979
Professional Experience
| 2023-now | Regents Professor Emeritus, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX |
| 2017-2022 | Sid Kyle Endowed Chair of Semi-Arid and Arid Land Biogeochemistry, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX |
| 2011-2017 | Associate Department Head for Graduate Programs, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. |
| 2013-2018 | Graduate Faculty Member, Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Texas A&M University at Kingsville, Kingsville, TX. |
| 2009-2014 | Graduate Faculty Member, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. |
| 2006-2009 | Affiliate Faculty Member, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. |
| 2006-2007 | Visiting Scholar, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. |
| 1994-now | Regents Professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Senior Faculty Fellow, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Faculty of Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, and Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. |
| 1987-1994 | Associate Professor, Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, and Faculty of Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. |
| 1985-1987 | Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and USDA Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX. |
| 1983-1985 | Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and USDA Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX. |
| 1982-1983 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and USDA Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX. |
| 1980-1982 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biology, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD. |
Honors and Awards
Fellow, Ecological Society of America, 2021
Sid Kyle Endowed Chair of Semi-arid and Arid Land Biogeochemistry, Texas A&M, 2017
Outstanding Graduate Professor, Dept. Ecosystem Science & Management, 2014
Senior Faculty Fellow, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, 2010
Regents Professor, Texas A&M University System, 2006
Outstanding Graduate Professor, Dept. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 2006
Leu Distinguished Lecturer, Center for Grassland Studies, University of Nebraska, 2004
Outstanding Achievement Award, Society for Range Management, 2004
Faculty Fellow, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, 2003
Best Poster, Forest and Rangeland Soils, Soil Sience Society of America Meeting, 2002
Fellow, Soil Science Society of America, 2001
Fellow, American Society of Agronomy, 2001
Most Effective Graduate Course, Texas A&M University, 2000 and 2002
Stapledon Lecturer, Institute for Grassland & Environmental Research, Exeter, UK, 1999
Royal Society of Chemistry Lecturer, 1997 and 1999
Editor’s Citation for Excellence, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1994
Sigma Xi Outstanding Dissertation of the Year, Brigham Young University, 1980
Julia Greenwell Award, Brigham Young University, 1977 and 1979
Recent Professional Activities
Co-Director, Stable Isotopes for Biosphere Sciences Laboratory, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, TAMU. Lab consists of three isotope ratio mass spectrometers that provide δ13C, δ15N, δ2H, δ18O, and δ34S analyses on a wide variety of organic and inorganic matrices, specific compounds, environmental waters, and atmospheric trace gases. Related instrumentation includes elemental analyzers, a discrete chemistry analyzer, DOC/DON analyzer, a gas chromatograph, and other sample preparation equipment. This lab has supported the research of approximately 200 faculty, postdocs, and graduate students from TAMU and other universities, 1987-present.
Core Member, North American Carbon Program, U.S. Global Change Research Program, 2019-present.
Member, Mass Spectrometry Collaborative Core, Texas A&M University. This university-wide core unit facilitates the investigation of complex chemical, biological, and environmental phenomena by offering stable isotope-ratio analyses, the characterization of synthetic molecules and polymers, and the study of complex biomolecules including proteins, 2016-present.
Session co-organizer and co-chair, “Integrating biogeochemical and microbiological approaches to understand ecosystem processes and responses to environmental change,” annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, 2016.
Session co-organizer and co-chair, “Global Change and the Biogeochemistry of Dryland Ecosystems,” annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, 2012.
Advisory Panel Member, US Department of Energy, Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Program, 2011-2013.
Committee Member, NEON Domain Science and Education Coordination Committee, Southeastern Region, 2009-2012.
Advisory Panel Member, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., 2008-2013.
Program Leader and Faculty Mentor, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Minority Ph.D Fellowship Program, Texas A&M University, 2007-2014.
Visiting Scholar, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, 2006.
Executive Committee Member: Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University, 2006-2011.
Guest Editor: Special issue of Soil Biology and Biochemistry, “Ecosystems in Flux: Molecular and Stable Isotope Assessments of Soil Organic Matter Storage and Dynamics”, 2005-2006.
Session co-organizer and co-chair, “Ecosystems in Flux: Molecular and Isotopic Assessments of Soil Organic Matter,” annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, 2004.
Invited participant, U.S. Climate Change Science Program, Ecosystems Workshop, Silver Spring, Maryland, February 2004.
Session co-chair, “Ecosystems in Flux: Isotopes as Indicators of Ecosystem Change,” annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, 2003.
Associate Editor, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1999-2002.
Advisory Panel Member, NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., 2001-2003.
Invited participant, 9th US-Japan Workshop on Global Climate Change, Tokyo, October 2001.
Invited participant, NSF National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Workshop and Symposium, San Diego Supercomputer Center and University of California at San Diego, March 2000.
Keynote speaker, British Stable Isotope/Mass Spectrometry Users Group (Exeter, UK, January 1999). “Stable isotopes in ecosystem science.”
Invited seminars at: Cornell University, Argonne National Laboratory, Rothamsted Research (Harpenden, UK), James Hutton Institute (Aberdeen, UK), Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen, UK), University of Alberta, University of Texas, Purdue University, Oregon State University, University of Nebraska, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Nairobi), Kenyatta University (Nairobi), Instituto de Nutricion de Centro America Y Panama (Guatemala City), University of Saskatchewan, University of Texas at San Antonio, Baylor University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USDA Beltsville, USDA Miles City, USDA Temple.
Media Coverage
North American Carbon Progam Citation Classics. Recognized for four NACP publications with >100 citations. November 2024. https://www.nacarbon.org/nacp/pubs_citaclass.html
North American Carbon Program Researcher Spotlight, U.S. Global Change Research Program. December 30, 2019. https://www.nacarbon.org/nacp/research_spot.html?spotlightid=29
Researchers find flaws in high-profile study on trees and climate. The Scientist, Oct. 17, 2019. https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/researchers-find-flaws-in-high-profile-study-on-trees-and-climate–66587
Planting a trillion trees will not halt climate change. AgriLife Today, October 17, 2019. https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2019/10/17/planting-a-trillion-trees-will-not-halt-climate-change/
Two Texas A&M ecosystem sciences research graduates earn distinguished student award. AgriLife Today, May 23, 2018. https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2018/05/23/two-texas-am-ecosystem-sciences-research-graduates-earn-distinguished-student-award/
Sid Kyle Endowments announced at Texas A&M. Bryan/College Station Eagle, March 29, 2017. https://www.theeagle.com/landandlivestockpost/agrilifetoday/sid-kyle-endowments-announced-at-texas-a-m/article_e5f4fa71-ac1c-548c-afd9-62ea0b17288d.html
Sid Kyle Endowments announced at Texas A&M. AgriLife Today, March 29, 2017. https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2017/03/29/sid-kyle-endowments-announced-texas/
Decadal-scale changes in forest soil carbon and nitrogen storage are influenced by organic matter removal during timber harvest. Editors’ Highlight, Journal of Geophysical Research, April 12, 2017. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/article/10.1002/2016JG003738/editor-highlight/ 10.5555/MIGHO.187e5bc7-32f1-4dd1-9882-463530aea833
Texas A&M to establish premier stable isotope capabilities. AgriLife Today, Nov. 17, 2016. https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2016/11/17/texas-establish-premier-stable-isotope-capabilities/
Texas A&M to establish premier stable isotope capabilities. Bryan/College Station Eagle, Nov. 17, 2016. https://www.theeagle.com/landandlivestockpost/agrilifetoday/texas-a-m-to-establish-premier-stable-isotope-capabilities/article_c1318319-16d6-5afe-87f4-770dab15cd36.html
Research on spatial variation in soil δ15N values highlighted in a special issue of the journal Ecosphere addressing isoscapes. Ecosphere 2013. http://www.esajournals.org/page/isoscapes
Thirty-one faculty honored as minority recruiting mentors in Agriculture and Life Sciences. AgriLife Today, Dec. 11, 2007. https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2007/12/11/31-faculty-honored-as-minority-recruiting-mentors-in-agriculture-and-life-sciences/
Boutton receives Regents Professor Award. AgriLife Today, December 1, 2006. https:// agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2006/12/01/boutton-receives-regents-professor-award/
A&M Regents honor service, teaching of 14. Bryan/College Station Eagle, December 1, 2006. https://www.theeagle.com/news/a_m/a-m-regents-honor-service-teaching-of/article_bbbc7923-8d38-5862-8f59-869504bea5c6.html
Researchers have a bone to pick. UPI article in San Antonio Light, August 7, 1991.