Ruth Varner

Ruth Varner is a Professor of Biogeochemistry at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), affiliated with the Department of Earth Sciences and the Earth Systems Research Center within the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space. She holds a Ph.D. in Geochemistry and Earth Sciences from UNH, alongside an M.S. in Hydrology and a B.A. in Geology from Hartwick College.

Her research focuses on trace gas emissions from terrestrial, aquatic, and human-managed ecosystems, with a long-term emphasis on methane dynamics in wetlands and permafrost peatlands. She collaborates with microbial ecologists, remote sensing experts, and modelers to address climate change impacts. Notable roles include directing UNH’s Leitzel Center (K-12 STEM teacher development), leading NSF-funded programs like the Northern Ecosystems REU and the CLOSES-GAP initiative (broadening geoscience participation), and co-directing the EMERGE Biological Integration Institute.

Key research areas include biogeochemical processes in permafrost thaw, microbial interactions in wetlands, and scaling environmental processes globally. Recent articles highlight methane isotope dynamics, climate-driven carbon shifts, and microbial genomics in ecosystems. Awards include AGU recognition for mentoring.

Teaching includes advanced courses like Biogeosciences of Earth Systems and Arctic seminars. Varner integrates undergraduates into research, emphasizing interdisciplinary outreach and underrepresented group engagement. Current projects explore Arctic lake methane emissions, phenolic inhibition of carbon mineralization, and permafrost carbon fate.