CV

Academic career

  • 09.2021 – present: Research Scientist. Alpine Environment and Natural Hazards Research Unit, CERC SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland.
  • 01.2020 – 08.2021: Research Associate. Forest Dynamics Research Unit, WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
  • 01.2017 – 12.2019: Postdoc, Project Coordinator Sumforest – ForRISK project. Forest Dynamics Research Unit, WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
  • 04.2016 – 12.2016: Visiting Scientist. Forest Dynamics Research Unit, WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
  • 03.2014 – 12.2015: Research Associate – NE CSC Postdoctoral Fellow. Department of Forest Resources (University of Minnesota); United States Forest Service (USFS) Northern Research Station, USA; NE Climate Science Center – US Department of the Interior.
  • 09-10.2013: Visiting Scientist, COST Action ES1203. Chair of Forest Ecology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland.
  • 03.2013-02.2014: Research Fellow. DISAFA, University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
  • 04-11.2011, 09-10.2012: Visiting Scholar. University of Colorado, Boulder (CO), USA.
  • 03.2010: Trainee, COST Action FP0703. University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
  • 01.2010-02.2013: Ph.D. in Forest Management and Silviculture (University of Torino, Italy) “Interactions and ecological feedbacks between natural and anthropogenic disturbances in mountain forests in the European Alps”. Supervisor: Prof. Renzo Motta, Univ. of Torino, IT; Co-Supervisor: Prof. Thomas T. Veblen, Univ. of Colorado, USA.
  • 06-11.2009: Post-graduate Fellow. Dept. Agro.Selvi.Ter., University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
  • 03.2007-02.2009: M.Sc. in Forest and Environmental Sciences (University of Torino, Italy) “Interacting effect of environment and land use on the structure of the forests of the Veglia-Devero Natural Park”. Graduated with Highest Distinction.
  • 09.2003-03.2007: B.Sc. in Forest and Environmental Sciences (University of Torino, Italy) “Protection forests in the upper Susa Valley”. Graduated with Highest Distinction.

Career breaks

Worked 85% in 01.2017-11.2019 (exception: worked 20% for 6 months in 2019 for medical reasons). Maternity leave 12.2019-04.2020. Worked 60% in 04.2020-08.2021 following the birth of first child (exception: worked 20% in 01.2021-02.2021). Worked 80% from 09.2021.

Prizes and Awards

  • 09.2013: “Premio Bagnaresi” Award for the Best Poster. IX SISEF National Congress. Bolzano, Italy.
  • 08.2010: Award for the Best Poster. Scientific Conference – Northern Primeval forests: Ecology, Conservation and Management. Sundsvall, Sweden.
  • 02.2010: Award for the Best Master Thesis (Academic Year 2007-2008). University of Torino.
  • 09.2009: “Premio Optime” Award for Honors in Study (Academic Year 2008-2009). Unione Industriale of Torino.

Grants obtained (list of projects) (PI and non-PI)

Total amount of project grants obtained: CHF 2’078’694

  • 2022: Project “Thinning and impact of drought in mountain forests: what are the trade-offs with forest ecosystem services? (TradeES)”. Role: PI. Funded by the WSL Internal Innovative Projects Call (CHF 57’650).
  • 2022: Project “Early detection and management of bark beetle damage in the canton of the Grisons (earlyBEETLE)” (Früherkennung und Aufarbeitung von Buchdruckerschäden im Kanton Graubünden). Role: PI. Funded by the Canton of Grisons Office for Forest and Natural Hazards (AWN)* (CHF 119’100).
  • 2022: Project “Bark beetle infestation in protective forests: early detection and priority setting” (Borkenkäferbefall im Schutzwald: Früherkennung und Prioritätensetzung). Role: PI. Funded by the Canton of Grisons Office for Forest and Natural Hazards (AWN)* (CHF 120’000). *The project participates to the project MOSAIC, part of the Interreg program – Alpine Space 2021–2027,
  • 2021: Project “Changing forests and natural hazard risks in Davos (FORISK)”. Role: Work package (WP) leader, Co-PI. Funded by the WSL Research Program CCAMM 2021-2024 (CHF 191’748).
  • 2021: Project “Mountain spruce forests as hotspots for extremes: impacts, resilience and management priorities (MountEx)”. Role: Co-investigator, Coordinator. Funded by the WSL Research Program Extremes 2021-2024 (CHF 587’810).
  • 2020: Project “Did the 2018 drought change the partitioning of stand growth among species and tree sizes? A quantitative approach for finding appropriate thinning regimes”. Role: Co-PI. Funded by the WSL Internal Innovative Projects Call (CHF 58’410).
  • 2019: Project “Climate-smart forestry directions based on National Forest Inventory data (ClimFin)”. Role: Deputy PI, Co-PI. Funded by the WSL Internal Innovative Projects Call (CHF 50’976).
  • 2016: Project “Forest density reduction to minimize the vulnerability of Norway spruce and silver fir to extreme drought – a risk assessment (ForRISK)”. Role: Deputy PI, Coordinator. Funded by ERA-NET Sumforest (€ 660’000 ~ CHF 750’000).
  • 2014: Project “Experimental Forest Monitoring for Climate Change (EFMCC)”. Role: Co-PI. Funded by the NE Climate Science Center – US Department of the Interior, USDA FS NRS, MN Agricultural Experiment Station ($ 144’000 ~ CHF 143’000).

Fellowships and other Grants

  • 09-10.2013: Short Term Scientific Mission Grant, COST Action ES1203. Chair of Forest Ecology, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland.
  • 03.2013-02.2014: Research Grant. DISAFA, University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
  • 06-12.2012: Academic Grant for Teaching support. Dept. Agro.Selvi.Ter., University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
  • 03.2010: Trainee Grant, COST Action FP0703. University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
  • 01.2010-12.2012: University of Torino Doctoral Fellowship.
  • 06-11.2009: Post-graduate Grant. Dept. Agro.Selvi.Ter., University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
  • 2009: “Homo Sapiens Sapiens” Graduate Fellowship (Academic Year 2006-2007), Istituto Nazionale di Previdenza per i Dipendenti dell’Amministrazione Pubblica (I.N.P.D.A.P.).
  • 2008: “Homo Sapiens Sapiens” Graduate Fellowship (Academic Year 2005-2006), Istituto Nazionale di Previdenza per i Dipendenti dell’Amministrazione Pubblica (I.N.P.D.A.P.).

Teaching (selected)

  • 2022-: Mountain Forest Ecology (Field Course). ETHZ, Davos, CH.
  • 06.2020: Teaching assistant: dendro lab and analysis support. WSL Birmensdorf, CH.
  • 06-12.2012: Academic Grant for Teaching support (AGR0366). Dept. Agro.Selvi.Ter., University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
  • 05.2010: Teaching assistant: field class support, interdisciplinary trainings. Dept. Agro.Selvi.Ter., University of Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.

Professional activities (academic and implementation, selected)

  • 04.10.2019: Presenter at the workshop on “Post-windthrow management in Swiss mountain forests: lessons learned from storms Vivian (1990) and Lothar (1999)”. Target audience: stakeholders and practitioners from NE Italy. Language: Italian.
  • 08.05.2014: Field day presenter: “Climate‐Informed Forest Management: Forum and Field Day”. Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative (SFEC), Grand Rapids (MN), USA. Target audience: forest managers.
  • 10.2012-03.2014: Active member and counsellor of the Italian volunteer forest firefighters corp, Regione Piemonte.
  • 09-10.2009: Professional activity as a Forester: Surveys and Management plan of Monte Caruso – Monte Gallo Regional Forest. Monteroduni (IS), Italy.
  • 08.2008-06.2009: Professional activity as a Forester: Surveys and Management of protection forests in the Susa valley. Villar Focchiardo (TO), Italy.
  • 05-07.2006: Professional activity as a Forester / Practical Trainee: Dendro-auxometrical, structural and ecological surveys, and management plan in the Susa Valley (Consorzio Forestale Alta Valle Susa), Maira Valley (Interreg IIIA project), and Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Natural Park (Dept. Agro.Selvi.Ter.).

Invited talks (selected)

  • 25.07.2023: Bottero A. Research at SLF / CERC – ‘Mountain Ecosystems’ Research Group. Special FOREST Jour Fixe Eurac Research.
  • 17.11.2022: Bottero A. Früherkennung und Aufarbeitung von Buchdruckerschäden im Kanton Graubünden. Tagung: Borkenkäfer zwischen Ökologie und Praxis – vom Stand der Wissenschaft zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung.
  • 29.10.2021: Bottero A. Case of Susa Valley (Italy) and future challenges of mountain forest management with special emphasis on bark beetle. The European Integrate Network – 7th Meeting in Switzerland: Forests in 2080: Biodiversity and adaptation to climate change in future forest management.
  • 16.02.2021: Bottero A. Managing drought in temperate mixed forests with silver fir and Norway spruce in central Europe. Research Unit Meeting Forest Dynamics WSL.
  • 05.03.2019: Bottero A. What drives resilience to drought in mixed Norway spruce-silver fir forests in central Europe? Research Unit Meeting Forest Dynamics WSL.
  • 27.02.2015: Bottero A., and R. Motta. Old-growth forests in the western Balkan Peninsula. SFR Seminar Series, University of Maine.
  • 19.02.2015: Bottero A., A. W. D’Amato, B. J. Palik, J. B. Bradford, S. Fraver, and C. C. Kern. Long-term effects of repeated prescribed burning on tree growth and drought vulnerability in red pine forests in northern Minnesota. Lake States Fire Science Consortium 2014-2015 Webinar Series.

Presentations (selected, presenter in bold)

  • 2019: Bottero A., D. I. Forrester, M. Cailleret, U. Kohnle, A. K. Bose, J. Bauhus, H. Bugmann, M. Cuntz, A. Gessler, L. Gillerot, M. Hanewinkel, M. Lévesque, J. Sainte-Marie, J. Schwarz, R. Yousepfour, J. C. Zamora, and A. Rigling. Relative importance of climate, thinning and light use efficiency on drought vulnerability of Norway spruce and silver fir in central European mixed forests. XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019 (Sept. 29-Oct. 5). Curitiba, Brasil.
  • 2018: Bottero A., D.I. Forrester, U. Kohnle, M. Cailleret, A. Gessler, A.W. D’Amato, B.J. Palik, J.B. Bradford, S. Fraver, M.T. Curzon, and A. Rigling. Effetto della riduzione della densità del popolamento sulla resilienza alla siccità degli ecosistemi forestali. IV Congresso Nazionale di Selvicoltura (Nov. 5-9). Torino, Italy.
  • 2017: Bottero A., M. Cuntz, M. Hanewinkel, M. Brunette, H. Bugmann, M. Cailleret, D. Forrester, A. Gessler, U. Kohnle, J.C. Zamora, and A. Rigling. Sumforest – ForRISK: Forest density reduction to minimize the vulnerability of Norway spruce and silver fir to extreme drought – a risk assessment. ERA-NET Sumforest Conference (Oct. 17-18). Barcelona, Spain.
  • 2017: Bottero A., M. Cuntz, M. Hanewinkel, M. Brunette, H. Bugmann, A. Gessler, U. Kohnle, J.C. Zamora, and A. Rigling. Forest density reduction to minimize the vulnerability of Norway spruce and silver fir to extreme drought – a risk assessment (ForRISK). Poster. IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress 2017 (Sept. 18-22). Freiburg, Germany.
  • 2017: Bottero A., A.W. D’Amato, B.J. Palik, J.B. Bradford, S. Fraver, M.A. Battaglia, and L.A. Asherin. Thinning enhances the resistance and resilience of forest ecosystems to drought. IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress 2017 (Sept. 18-22). Freiburg, Germany.
  • 2015: Palik B.J., L. Nagel, A.W. D’Amato, A. Bottero, and C. Kirschbaum. Adaptive silviculture for climate change in Minnesota red pine forests. Society of American Foresters National Convention (Nov. 3-7). Baton Rouge (LA), USA.
  • 2015: Bottero A., F. Meloni, and R. Motta. Ungulate browsing exclusion. Effects and medium-term trends in coppice woods in north-western Italy. IUFRO International Symposium – Effects of ungulate browsing on forest regeneration and silviculture (Oct. 14-16). Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
  • 2015: Bottero A., A.W. D’Amato, B.J. Palik, J.B. Bradford, and S. Fraver. Thinning reduces vulnerability of forest ecosystems to drought. X National Congress of the Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology (Sept. 15-18). Florence, Italy.
  • 2015: Bradford J.B., A. Bottero, A.W. D’Amato, B.J. Palik, S. Fraver, D.M. Bell, M.A. Battaglia, L.A. Asherin, and W.K. Lauenroth. Forest vulnerability to drought: disentangling weather from stand structure. North American Forest Ecology Workshop (June 14-18). Veracruz, México.
  • 2014: Bottero A., A.W. D’Amato, B.J. Palik, J.B. Bradford, and S. Fraver. Forest thinning alters drought vulnerability in temperate North American forests. Poster. Society of American Foresters National Convention (Oct. 8-11). Salt Lake City (UT), USA.
  • 2012: Bottero A., C.E. Naficy, and T.T. Veblen. Western Spruce Budworm outbreaks: a dendrochronological reconstruction and trend analysis in the Northern Rocky Mountains, Montana, U.S.A. Poster. Mountain Climate Research Conference (MTNCLIM) (Oct. 1-4). Estes Park (CO), USA.
  • 2010: Bottero A., V. Dukić, M. Garbarino, Z. Govedar, E. Lingua, T.A. Nagel, and R. Motta. Gap-phase dynamics in the old growth forest of Lom (Bosnia-Herzegovina). Poster. Scientific Conference – Northern Primeval forests: Ecology, Conservation and Management (Aug. 9-13). Sundsvall, Sweden.

Professional and Scientific Affiliations

Boards and Committees

  • 02.2022 – present: Co-representative of the Swiss eLTER team at the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), together with Esther R. Frei.

Editorial / Review activities

  • 2022-2023: Topic Editor of the Research Topic “Impacts of Global Change on Protective Forests in Mountain Areas”, Frontiers in Forests and Global Change – Forest Management.
  • 05.2021 – present: Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
  • 06.2018 – present: Review Editor for Forest Growth / Frontiers in Forests and Global Change.

Reviewer for scientific journals: Acta Oecologica;  Agricultural and Forest Meteorology;  Annals of Forest Science;  Current Forestry Reports;  Ecological Applications;  Ecology;  European Journal of Forest Research;  Fire Ecology;  Forest Ecology and Management;  Forest Science;  Global Change Biology;  iForest;  Journal of Ecology;  PLOS ONE;  Trees.

Reviewer for scientific institutions: Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE – INRAe Nancy (France); Future of UK Treescapes programme – Natural Environment Research Council, Arts & Humanities Council, Economic & Social Research council, Defra, Welsh Government and Scottish Government (UK).