Benjamin M. Jones

Benjamin M. Jones is a Research Professor at the Water and Environmental Research Center (WERC), University of Alaska Fairbanks. His work integrates field investigations, geospatial analysis (GIS/remote sensing), and laboratory methods to study Arctic/permafrost landscapes, emphasizing climate change impacts, thermokarst dynamics, coastal erosion, and hydrological-ecological feedbacks. He leads multi-institutional projects funded by NSF, CRREL, and others, focusing on landscape vulnerability and adaptation.

Research Interests: Dr. Jones examines permafrost degradation drivers, thermokarst lake evolution, coastal erosion mechanisms, and Arctic biogeochemical cycles. His interdisciplinary approach bridges geophysics, ecology, and climate science to predict landscape responses to warming.

Publication Trends: Recent articles (2023–2025) predominantly address thermokarst dynamics, coastal processes, ice-wedge systems, and permafrost-agroecosystems, utilizing remote sensing, field data, and modeling. Recurring themes include climate feedback loops, infrastructure impacts, and community-scale vulnerabilities in Arctic Alaska.

Grants & Collaborations:

• NSF: Thaw Below Zero (2024–2027) – Saline permafrost processes.
• CRREL: ISOPS (2024–2026) – Polar sea operations.
• NSF NNA: Permafrost Grown (2022–2027) – Sustainable agroecosystems.
• NSF A-BON (2021–2026) – Beaver-induced disturbance tracking.
• NSF PerCS-Net (2019–2024) – Coastal community resilience.

He collaborates with Iñupiat communities, government agencies (e.g., North Slope Borough), and global researchers, emphasizing co-produced knowledge for climate adaptation.