Education

Ph.D. Forestry and Natural Resources, Clemson University, 2006
M.S. Forest Resources, Clemson University, 2002
B.S. Biology, University of South Carolina Aiken, 1999

Experience

Professor, Division of Mathematics and Sciences
USC Salkehatchie (2018 - Present)
Associate Professor and Chair, Division of Mathematics and Sciences
USC Salkehatchie (2012 - 2018)
Assistant Professor, Division of Mathematics and Sciences
USC Salkehatchie (2006 - 2012)

Research Interests

Dr. Kilpatrick is a field biologist with research focused on herpetofauna and vascular plant ecology and natural history. His research, frequently coordinated with undergraduate mentees, is conducted in a variety of ecoregions and unique natural areas throughout the Carolinas. Current projects include a regional study evaluating hybridization and natural history patterns in the Eastern Newt, imaging and archiving specimens in the USC Salkehatchie herbarium to the Southeast Regional Network of Expertise and Collections, and identification of microbial flora isolated from the human hand.

Synergistic Activities

South Carolina Academy of Science (SCAS) Councilor, 2017 - present
Curator, University of South Carolina Salkehatchie Herbarium (SALK)
Institute of Higher Education Partner, Math and Science Partnerships Program (MSP): Transformational STEM Phase Two, 2015 - 2017
State Coordinator, USGS North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP), 2008 - 2016
State Collaborator, “Toads, Roads and Nodes: A Collaborative Course-Based Research on the Landscape Ecology of Amphibian Populations” (TRN), 2013 - 2014

Awards

2019 Chris P. Plyer Excellence in Service Award
2018 USC Distinguished Research Service Award
2014 John J. Duffy Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient
2014 University of South Carolina Salkehatchie Teaching Award Recipient
Nominee - Governor’s Professor of the Year Award, 2011
Xi Sigma Pi National Forestry Honor Society Member
USC Aiken Outstanding Senior in Biology 1998-1999

Selected Presentations

“Identification of Bacterial Isolates Originating from the Human Hand.” 92^nd Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science, 2019, Florence, SC.

“Digitization of the Herbarium Collection at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie: Contributing to a Regional Network of Herbaria.” Discover USC, 2018, Columbia, SC. 

“Phylogeographic Patterns Among Eastern Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens)in the Southeastern United States.” Northeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting, 2017, Charlottesville, VA.

“Results of a Course-Based Study Relating Amphibian Distribution and Land Use Features in South Carolina.” 90th Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science, 2017, Conway, SC.

“The Importance of Gas Line Right-of-Ways as Breeding Habitat for the Pine Barrens Treefrog
(Hyla andersonii) at Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge.” 77th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, 2016, Concord, NC.

“Phylogeographic Patterns Among the Subspecies of Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) in South Carolina.” 77th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, 2016, Concord, NC.

“A Comprehensive Survey and Comparison of Breeding Habitats for the Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii) at Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge.” 88th Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science, 2015, Furman, SC.

“Distribution and Habitat Characteristics of the Green-fly Orchid (Epidendrum magnoliae) in Four Coastal Plain Counties of South Carolina.” 73rd Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, 2012, Athens, GA

“Evaluation of Anuran Species Detection and Site Occupancy in the South Carolina Coastal Plain using the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program.” 73rd Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, 2012, Athens, GA

Selected Publications 

Rauch, L.M., A.M. Golonka and E.S. Kilpatrick. 2019. Identification of Bacterial Isolates Originating from the Human Hand. Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science 17(2): 14-16.

Marsh, D.M., B.J. Cosentino, K.S. Jones, J.J. Apodaca, K. H. Beard, J.M. Bell, C. Bozarth, D. Carper, J. Charbonnier, A. Dantas, E. Forys, M. Foster, J. General, K. Genet, M. Hanneken, K. Hess, S. Hill, F. Iqbal, N. Karraker, E. Kilpatrick, T. Langen, J. Langford, K. Lauer, A. McCarthy, J. Neale, S. Patel, A. Patton, C. Southwick, N. Stearrett, N. Steijn, M. Tasleem, J. Taylor, and J.R. Vonesh. 2016. Effects of roads and land use on frog distributions across spatial scales and regions in the Eastern and Central United States. Diversity and Distributions 23 (2): 158-170.

Lawson, G.R. and E. S. Kilpatrick. 2014. Phylogeographic patterns among the subspecies of eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) in South Carolina. Southeastern Naturalist 13(3): 444-455.

Cosentino, B.J., D.M. Marsh, K.S.Jones, J.J. Apodaca, C. Bates, J. Beach, K.H. Beard, K. Becklin, J.M.Bell, C. Crockett, G. Fawson, J. Fjelsted, E.A. Forys, K.S. Genet, M. Grover, J. Holmes, K. Indeck, N.E. Karraker, E.S. Kilpatrick, T.A. Langen, S.G. Mugel, A. Molina, J.R. Vonesh, R.J. Weaver, and A. Willey. 2014. Citizen science reveals widespread negative effects of roads on amphibian distributions. Biological Conservation 180: 31-38.