Holly R. Barnard

Holly R. Barnard serves as Professor and Associate Dean of Research in the Geography Department at the University of Colorado Boulder's College of Arts and Sciences. She is also Co-Director of the Hydrologic Sciences Graduate Program and leads the Ecohydrology Lab, contributing to several major initiatives including the Dynamic Water critical zone project and Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD from Oregon State University (2009)
• MS from Colorado State University (2000)
• BS from University of Washington (1998)

Dr. Barnard's research focuses on ecohydrology, specifically investigating how vegetation processes affect water flow dynamics in mountainous terrain and how water flow paths influence vegetation function. Her work integrates tree physiology and stable isotope geochemistry to examine evapo-transpiration partitioning, carbon-water dynamics in the critical zone, and micro-climate effects on tree function. She employs state-of-the-art techniques across scales from leaf to watershed to understand how land-use and climate changes impact water resources and ecosystems.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on groundwater dynamics, critical zone processes, and mountain hydrology. Her work increasingly integrates remote sensing, interdisciplinary approaches, and human dimensions of environmental change, with a focus on Western US watersheds and climate change impacts on water resources.

Her notable scientific achievements include:

• Excellence Award from Boulder Faculty Assembly (2021)
• National Science Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship (2009)
• Horton Research Grant from American Geophysical Union (2007)
• Pre-doctoral Fellowship from Ford Foundation (2005)
• Minority Pipeline Fellowship from Oregon State University (2004)

Dr. Barnard actively mentors graduate students and postdocs, currently supervising Karla Jarecke (Postdoctoral Scholar), Theo Kuhn (MS Student), Christopher McNabb (PhD Student), and Rahila Yilangai (PhD Student). She has secured significant research funding including a five-year, $6.9 million NSF grant studying the critical zone in the American West. Her teaching portfolio includes advanced courses on stable isotopes, ecohydrology, research design, and forest geography.

She leads the Ecohydrology Lab and collaborates extensively through the Stable Isotope Lab, contributing to interdisciplinary projects that bridge science, art, and community engagement, such as the Colorado Art Science Environment program that addresses climate challenges through artistic-scientific partnerships.