After 31 years of research and teaching at Texas A&M University, Carol Loopstra, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, retired on Jan. 2, 2026. As a forest geneticist, Loopstra’s research focused largely on loblolly pine, the most commercially important tree species in the southeastern U.S. Alongside her graduate students, she advanced forest genetics and genomics for a rapidly evolving field.

Among those contributions was groundbreaking work in marker development. One of her doctoral students identified more than 2.8 million genetic markers in loblolly pine—far exceeding what had previously been available. That work contributed to the development of genetic marker tools and informed research into drought tolerance, a growing concern for Texas forests.

“My work shifted to drought tolerance in pine trees because it’s a research area where we could make an incredible impact for growers, especially those with small tracts,” Loopstra says. “Landowners put a lot of work and investment into regenerating their forests, and losing 50% of their seedlings to drought could be devastating.”

Loopstra’s impact extended well beyond applied research—she became a steady advocate for the university’s forestry program. Serving as undergraduate forestry program leader she ensured students received a rigorous, accredited forestry education based in strong science.

Loopstra advised 17 graduate students, including seven seeking their doctorate. Over the past several years, her focus shifted toward undergraduate students.

That student-centered philosophy carried into the classroom, particularly in her Forest Trees of North America course, where students learned hands-on tree identification techniques— first outdoors, then through herbarium specimens representing forests across the continent.