Beth Lawrence

Dr. Beth Lawrence is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut, with a joint appointment in the Center for Environmental Science & Engineering. She holds a BS from Cornell University (2001), MS from Oregon State University (2005), and PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison (2011), followed by postdoctoral work at Loyola University Chicago and prior faculty experience at DePaul University.

Her plant ecology research examines how anthropogenic stressors—including invasive species, nutrient pollution, sea-level rise, and road salts—impact wetland community composition and ecosystem functions like carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. Current projects investigate coastal marsh resilience to sea-level rise, restoration of retired cranberry farms, and sustainable management of invasive cattails. Methodologies include field experiments on sediment amendments, hydrologic connectivity, and vegetation harvesting for pollutant removal.

She leads collaborative initiatives such as thin-layer placement trials for marsh elevation enhancement and studies on greenhouse gas emissions from restored wetlands. Her work informs conservation practices in Great Lakes coastal wetlands and southern New England salt marshes.