Elizabeth Weidner

Elizabeth Weidner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut, where she leads the Polar Acoustics Lab (also known as the Broadband Acoustics Lab). Her research focuses on using broadband acoustic systems to study high-latitude oceans, particularly the rapid changes occurring in polar coastal waters. She combines active acoustic observations with in situ measurements and theoretical acoustic scattering models to investigate marine-terminating glaciers, thermohaline structure, gas bubbles, and fluid emissions.

Dr. Weidner received her Ph.D. in oceanography from a joint program between the University of New Hampshire and Stockholm University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego. She earned her M.Sc. in Ocean Mapping from the University of New Hampshire (2018) and her B.S. in Oceanography from the University of Washington (2012). Prior to her academic career, she worked as a geophysicist for C&C Technologies and Oceaneering in Seattle, WA.

Her research spans underwater acoustics, physical oceanography, and polar science, with a particular focus on characterizing ocean dynamics in high-latitude coastal seas. Dr. Weidner's work aims to better quantify interactions between marine and terrestrial systems at the ice-ocean interface of marine-terminating glaciers. She employs broadband acoustic systems to safely study dangerous glacial environments where ship access is limited due to calving events. Her research also investigates thermohaline structure influenced by freshwater input from glaciers and carbon flux from bubble seeps in Arctic waters.

Analysis of Dr. Weidner's publications reveals a strong emphasis on acoustic techniques for polar ocean observation. Her research demonstrates how broadband acoustic systems can characterize stratification interfaces, track thermohaline structures, and detect bubble plumes. Her work bridges theoretical acoustic modeling with practical field applications in challenging polar environments, contributing significantly to our understanding of climate change impacts on high-latitude ocean systems.

Dr. Weidner is actively recruiting undergraduate interns for summer field activities and encourages prospective postdoctoral scholars interested in polar processes or underwater acoustics to contact her. While not currently recruiting graduate students, she has previously mentored students through research projects and field work. Her lab receives support through research grants focused on polar oceanography and acoustic techniques.

The Polar Acoustics Lab at UConn conducts field research in high-latitude regions including Svalbard, where they collect acoustic data in polar fjords. The lab uses echosounders to observe seafloor scattering, water column mixing, and biological aggregations. Dr. Weidner's team collaborates with researchers from multiple institutions to study ice-ocean dynamics, thermohaline structure, and methane bubble emissions in polar environments.