Christy Tyler

Christy Tyler is a Professor at the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, College of Science, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), specializing in aquatic ecosystem ecology. Her research investigates organism-environment interactions driving ecosystem function in vulnerable land-margin systems, with applications in restoration, pollution mitigation, and climate resilience.

Education:

• B.S. in Biological Sciences, Cornell University
• M.S., University of Virginia
• Ph.D., University of Virginia

Research Focus: Dr. Tyler’s work integrates field studies and remote sensing to address:

• Wetland restoration optimization for ecosystem services
• Impacts of microplastics/nanomaterials on freshwater systems
• Salt marsh carbon sequestration using hyperspectral imaging
• AI-driven invasive species monitoring
• Sustainable waste management to reduce ecological risks

Publications: Her 15 most recent articles emphasize environmental contaminants (plastics, fullerenes), biogeochemical cycling in aquatic systems, and remote sensing applications for ecosystem assessment. Dominant themes include pollution dynamics, climate interactions, and restoration ecology.

Leadership & Grants: Co-leads RIT’s interdisciplinary microplastics team, securing $10M+ funding since 2020. Advises students in thesis research and mentors through courses like BIOL-495 (Advanced Biology Research) and ENVS-615 (Aquatic Ecology Seminar).