Daniel Griffin

Dr. Daniel Griffin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Environment & Society at the University of Minnesota, where he serves as faculty liaison to the University Honors Program and member of the Earth & Environmental Sciences graduate faculty. His research focuses on developing tree-ring records to study climate processes and environmental history, with a particular emphasis on drought dynamics, ecosystem productivity, and open science technologies.

• PhD in Geography, University of Arizona
• MA and BS in Geography, University of Arkansas

Griffin's lab integrates student-driven fieldwork, numerical analysis, and scientific manuscript development. Key projects include ultra-high-resolution imaging of tree rings, paleoclimate reconstructions, and climate-forest biogeography studies. His 2022 Nature Reviews Earth and Environment paper on megadroughts has received 99 citations.

• National Science Foundation grants
• USGS funding
• NSF Collaborative Research awards

His work connects dendrochronology with climate services, conservation strategies, and science communication. Media coverage includes NPR, BBC, and New York Times opinion pieces.