Jesse Kurylo (BS, BS, MS)

Wetland Soil Scientist
University of Illinois - Illinois Natural History Survey

Office Address:

1816 S Oak Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Telephone: (217) 244-0692
E-mail: jkurylo@inhs.illinois.edu
INHS Staff Page

Education:

• MS, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, 2007
• BS, Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, 2000
• BS, Soils, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, 2000

About Me:

I am a wetland soil scientist with the wetlands group. I work in a team that delineates wetlands and hydric soil units throughout the state.  We also conduct site assessments and monitoring at mitigation sites where the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has created wetlands to compenstate for areas that have been degraded or destroyed by highway development.
I enjoy participating with different organizations that do public outreach around the state. This has primarily consisted of speaking to school children about wetlands and/or soils. I have also been involved with the planning and construction of rain gardens in the Champaign-Urbana area, and doing Illinois Natural History Survey service and service to local and professional organizations has been a large part of my time here.
My research interests are primarily centered around Rhamnus cathartica, Common Buckthorn, an aggressive exotic shrub. This shrub can cause problems in native communties by shading out smaller species and competing for nutrients.