Dr. LaRue’s areas of interests focus on uncovering mechanisms underlying spatial patterns in plant species distributions and the structural diversity and function of ecosystems. She is also interested in improving the monitoring and management of nuisance species and those of conservation concern across dryland and forest ecosystems.

• Grand Valley State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence (11/01/2024)

• Ph D in Biological Sciences, Purdue University (2017)
• MS in Biology, Grand Valley State University (2012)
• BS in Biology, Grand Valley State University (2010)
• AAS in Transfer, Muskegon Community College (2008)

• NEON-SD: A 30-m Structural Diversity Product Derived from the NEON Discrete-Return LiDAR Point Cloud Scientific Data 11 1 (2024), Jianmin Wang, Dennis H. Choi, Elizabeth LaRue, Jeff W. Atkins, Jane R. Foster, Jaclyn H. Matthes, Robert T. Fahey, Songlin Fei, Brady S. Hardiman.
• Spatial prediction of plant invasion using a hybrid of machine learning and geostatistical method Ecology and Evolution 14 6 (2024), Liang Shen, Elizabeth LaRue, Songlin Fei, Hao Zhang.
• Long- and short-term soil storage methods other than freezing can be useful for DNA-based microbial community analysis Soil Biology & Biochemistry 191 (2024), Joseph Edwards, Sarah Love, Richard Phillips, Songlin Fei, Grant Domke, John Park, Melissa McCormick, Elizabeth LaRue, Jennifer Schweitzer, Joseph Bailey, J A. Fordyce, Stephanie Kivlin.
• Positive association between emerald ash borer residence time and accumulation of invasive plants Ecosphere 14 12 (2023), A Gougherty, J M. Elliott, Elizabeth LaRue, J Gallion, S Fei.
• Forest structural diversity is linked to soil microbial diversity Ecosphere 14 11 (2023), A Lang, Elizabeth LaRue, S Kivlin, R Phillips, J Gallion, N Kong, J D. Parker, M McCormick, G Domke, S Fei.

• Bird species diversity and Diel activity across water sources in The Chihuahuan Desert (2025), Grace Lee, Elizabeth LaRue, Michael G. Harvey.
• Bird species diversity across water sources in the Chihuahuan Desert (2025), Grace Lee, Elizabeth LaRue, Michael G. Harvey.
• Bird species diversity across water sources in the Chihuahuan Desert (2024), Grace Lee, Elizabeth LaRue, Michael G. Harvey.
• Resolving vegetation volume and structural diversity controls on ecosystem function: Experience of a postbaccalaureate in the new NSF RaMP Program (2024), Volume Virtual, Priscilla Castaneda, Kathleen Schaeffer, Jennie R. McLaren, Elizabeth LaRue.
• Resolving vegetation volume and structural diversity controls on ecosystem function: Experience of a postbaccalaureate in the new NSF RaMP Program (2024), Volume Virtual, Priscilla Castaneda, Kathleen Schaeffer, Jennie R. McLaren, Elizabeth LaRue.

• Employing a Structural Diversity Framework to Integrate Biocrusts as a Dynamic Soil Property into Desert Southwest Ecological Sites and State-and- Transition Models
• RaMP: Research opportunities and access for diverse scientists (ROADs) in extreme dryland environments
• MSA: RESOLVING STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY CONTROLS ON ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION ALONG A VOLUME GRADIENT ACROSS NEON DOMAINS
• EXPLORING NEW DIMENSIONS OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS WITH STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY
• REMOTE SENSING OF STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY AS AN OPEN-SOURCE TOOL FOR MONITORING FOREST ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION
• Structural diversity: An unexplored dimension of biodiversity in Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems
• Collaborative Research: MRA: Elucidating Plant and Mycorrhizal Fungal Relationships and Consequences across Space and Time (Based at Purdue University)
• Workshop: Exploring New Dimensions of Forest Ecosystems with Structural Diversity (Based at Purdue University)