Employed at the University of Idaho since 1983, Dr. Reese became department head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in 2004.  As an avian ecologist, his research interests focus on native game birds, especially those species with declining populations.  Research projects on Greater Sage-grouse, Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, Blue Grouse, Caucasian Black Grouse, Mountain Quail, Chukars, Wild Turkeys, Trumpeter Swans, Spotted Owls and other species have taken him to field sites in Idaho, Utah, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado and the country of Georgia.  He has worked with sage-grouse for over 25 years, advised 19 completed graduate students on grouse research projects and currently advises five (three doctorate and two master's of science) graduate students working on sage-grouse. He has published 27 refereed papers on grouse and over 20 other papers on grouse.  Dr. Reese has served as an invited member of the 34-person Sage Grouse Forum, United States Institute of Environmental Conflict Resolution (2005-2006), invited member of a six-person expert panel to assess risks of extinction for Greater Sage-grouse in Idaho (2005), invited member of seven-person science panel to assess risks of extinction for Greater Sage-grouse, USFWS (2004), member of the Grouse Habitat Restoration Fund, North American Grouse Partnership (2004-2006), reviewed Sage Grouse Plan for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (2003) and is a member of the Grouse Specialist Group of IUCN/Species Survival Commission (2002-present).