Dr. Frank Rohwer - Scientific Director

Frank Rohwer grew up on the Chesapeake Bay and began hunting with his dad and big brother in the marshes of the eastern shore of Maryland when he was 11.  Having fallen in love with the grasslands of Maryland marshes, it was an easy transition for him to the tall grass prairies and the Flint Hills that are the backdrop for Kansas State University.  Frank majored in Wildlife Biology and got a lot of on-the-ground waterfowl experience with his brother and favorite hunting partner.  A Delta graduate student from KSU introduced Frank to Delta, where Frank worked as a field assistant for two summers.  Frank went to Washington State University for his Master’s degree (coincidentally near his brother’s new home and more great duck hunting).  His research on the incubation success and duckling survival of Blue-winged Teal was funded by Delta.  His doctoral research took him away from great hunting to the University of Pennsylvania (although a reasonable drive from hunting on the Chesapeake with his dad), where he examined the energetic constraints of egg production in Blue-winged Teal – again funded by Delta.

Frank returned to Delta and became Scientific Director in 1991, at about the same time he began a faculty position in Renewable Natural Resources at Louisiana State University.  His time for duck hunting suffered a lot as he devoted much time to these two demanding positions.  The student research program grew considerably during Frank’s first tenure as Scientific Director (1991-1997).  Although Frank spent several years away from Delta, he continued to be involved with Delta as a graduate student advisor and remained a strong supporter of Delta’s mission.  Frank is thrilled to be back at Delta and sharing the job of directing the research program with his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Loos.