Lara Hedrick, Ph.D.
Director of B.S. Conservation and Environmental Biology, Assistant Professor of Biology
Center for Natural Sciences, Room 348
(434) 582-3221
Education
- Ph.D., Wildlife and Fisheries Resources, West Virginia University
- M.S., Marine Estuarine and Environmental Science, Univ of Maryland Eastern Shore
- B.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Resources, West Virginia University
Biography
Dr. Lara Hedrick grew up on the eastern shore of Maryland which sparked a passion for estuarine ecology. Her research interests turned to human impacts on freshwater streams when she and her husband Jim (also a fisheries biologist) moved to his home state of WV in 2001. Prior to beginning her position as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Liberty University, Dr. Hedrick worked for 23 years as a research associate at West Virginia University studying the impacts of highway construction on benthic macroinvertebrate populations.
Dr. Hedrick and her husband enjoy raising their children (3 biological and 5 adopted), being foster parents, serving in their church, and a variety of outdoor activities from fishing and boating to hiking and hunting. Dr. Hedrick is passionate about the biological intricacy of God’s creation and looks forward to exploring this with her students.
Courses Taught
- BIOL224L – General Biology I Lab
- BIOL225L – General Biology II Lab
- BIOL310 – Ecology
- BIOL310L – Ecology Lab
Research Interests
Dr. Lara Hedrick is very interested in the interaction between abiotic and biotic factors in the environment, especially human impacts and interactions, and the way in which aquatic ecosystems respond to and recover from them. Her focus over the past 20 years has been small streams, and the influences of human impacts related to agriculture, mining, highway construction, and timbering on stream morphology and aquatic species.
Professional Memberships
American Fisheries Society
Publications