My research at Woodwell Climate is broadly focused on assessing the impact of permafrost thaw and wildfire on the carbon dynamics of Arctic ecosystems. Working as part of a team, my current work is focused on investigating the changes in greenhouse gas emissions occurring in Alaska’s Yukon Kuskokwim Delta.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in environmental science with a concentration in biogeochemistry from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada. While working as an undergraduate research technician, I worked with a team to design and build automated soil respiration stations to monitor year-round carbon fluxes from soils in boreal and tundra environments. Partnering with Woodwell Climate, I was able to travel to the Arctic and deploy this equipment and fell in love with Arctic research. Some of the stations we deployed in 2016 are still collecting data today.
I moved to Alaska to earn a master’s degree in biology from the University of Alaska Anchorage. My research focused on Arctic treeline dynamics in the Brooks Range of Alaska, examining the impact of experimentally increased snow depth on the fine root dynamics of treeline white spruce.
I currently live and work remotely in Anchorage, AK. In my free time I love to explore the local trails and hike, bike, and cross country ski.