Find Academic Supervisors

Adrian V. RochaView profile

Associate Professor

• Ecology
• Environmental Biology
• Arctic Climate Change
• +5 more

Adrian V. Rocha is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on ecosystem ecology, particularly the biological and environmental controls on ecosystem exchanges of mass and energy in Arctic and boreal biomes. Ph.D., Earth Systems Science, University of California, Irvine (2008) M.S., Environmental Science, Ohio State University (2003) B.S., Earth Systems Science and Policy, California State University of Monterey Bay (2001) Rocha employs eddy covariance, remote sensing, and ground-based measurements to study climate change impacts on Arctic tundra and boreal forests, with emphasis on wildfire effects, carbon cycling, and vegetation recovery. Recent projects investigate post-fire carbon flux recovery, tundra phenology controls, and permafrost-wildfire interactions. His scientific work spans collaborations with international teams across the Alaskan North Slope and Arctic tundra ecosystems, contributing to journals like Environmental Research Letters , Global Change Biology , and Ecological Applications . Former lab members include Ph.D. students Salvatore Curasi and Bethany Blakely.

Laurence C. SmithView profile

Professor

• Arctic Studies
• Hydrology
• Remote Sensing
• +3 more

Laurence C. Smith is the John Atwater and Diana Nelson University Professor of Environmental Studies at Brown University, affiliated with the Institute at Brown for Environment & Society (IBES) and the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (DEEPS). Previously, he served as UCLA's Geography Department Chair and Professor. His research focuses on Arctic environments, water resources, and remote sensing, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and $16M in NSF/NASA grants. He has contributed to IPCC reports and leads NASA's SWOT mission for global water monitoring. Key awards include the Guggenheim Fellowship (2006-07), AGU Fellow (2015), and Walter P. Kistler Book Award (2012) for *The World in 2050*. Education: PhD, Cornell University (1996) MS, Indiana University (1991) BS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1989) Research Interests: Arctic systems, hydrology, satellite remote sensing, and climate change impacts. His work bridges natural and social sciences, addressing topics like Greenland meltwater dynamics and northern resource development. Recent projects include methane emissions from Arctic lakes and river avulsion monitoring via SWOT. Awards: Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar (2020-21) AGU Fellow (2015) Walter P. Kistler Book Award (2012) Guggenheim Fellowship (2006-07) Teaching & Grants: Teaches courses on water systems and scientific writing at Brown. Secured major grants from NASA and NSF, totaling over $16M. Advises graduate students in environmental studies and geosciences. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with IBES, DEEPS, and global institutions like the World Economic Forum on Arctic development and NASA's SWOT mission. Active in interdisciplinary research networks.

Kristopher McNeillView profile

Professor

• Environmental Chemistry
• Photochemistry
• Catalysis
• +2 more

Prof. Kristopher McNeill is a Full Professor at ETH Zurich's Department of Environmental Systems Science, where he heads the Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics. Born in 1970 in Tucson, Arizona, he earned his BA in Chemistry from Reed College (1992) and PhD from UC Berkeley (1997), followed by postdoctoral work at MIT. His academic career includes positions as Assistant and Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota and Visiting Professorship at Stanford. McNeill's research focuses on environmentally relevant chemical reactions, particularly catalytic and photocatalytic transformations in aquatic systems. Key areas include environmental fate of emerging contaminants, photochemistry in surface waters, and metal-mediated dehalogenation reactions. His group emphasizes mechanistic studies using modern spectroscopic techniques like NMR and time-resolved laser spectroscopy to understand degradation pathways of contaminants. His publication trends show consistent focus on photochemical processes in environmental systems, with recent work expanding into polymer degradation, DNA photochemistry, and atmospheric chemistry. The research demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary integration of analytical chemistry, materials science, and environmental modeling. McNeill teaches multiple courses including: Introduction to Environmental Organic Chemistry Organic Chemistry Term Paper seminars Human Health, Nutrition and Environment

Erik SperlingView profile

Associate Professor

• Geobiology
• Paleontology
• Marine Geochemistry
• +7 more

Erik Sperling is an Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Stanford University, affiliated with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment and holds a courtesy appointment as Associate Professor in the Department of Oceans. His research focuses on Earth’s environmental and biological evolution, particularly the interplay between atmospheric oxygen levels, marine redox conditions, and the emergence of complex life during the Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic eras. Research interests include paleoceanography, geochemical analysis of sedimentary records, early animal evolution, and the biogeochemical drivers of mass extinctions. He integrates fieldwork, laboratory geochemistry, and computational modeling to explore topics such as Ediacaran-Cambrian transitions, the role of oxygenation in metazoan diversification, and modern organismal responses to environmental stressors. His work spans geological time scales, from studying Precambrian shales and stromatolites to analyzing the physiological limits of marine organisms under deoxygenation scenarios. Recent studies emphasize the long-term oxygenation history of oceans, the ecological consequences of hypoxia-temperature interactions, and the application of novel geochemical proxies to reconstruct ancient environments. Laboratory activities include the Sperling Lab, which develops innovative methods for trace element analysis and integrates multi-proxy datasets to address questions in Earth’s history. Collaborations with institutions worldwide focus on global sedimentary geochemical databases and field projects in regions like the Yukon, Brazil, and Australia.

Steve ThomasView profile

Professor

• Stream Ecosystems
• Community Ecology
• Nutrient Dynamics
• +5 more

Steve Thomas is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama. He is actively accepting graduate students and focuses on functional attributes of stream ecosystems, community composition effects, and interactions between ecosystem and evolutionary processes. His research spans nutrient dynamics, material transport, and management impacts in aquatic systems, with recent expansions into microbiome interactions and stoichiometry databases. Current funded projects include ecological impacts of urban/agricultural nutrient loading, microbiome functional roles, and large-scale ecological pattern analysis. Research interests emphasize both basic and applied questions in freshwater ecology, including: Longitudinal connectivity in stream networks Nutrient spiraling and bioactive layer processes Ecological consequences of land-use changes Hydropower impacts in tropical river systems Food web dynamics and methodological innovations Recent work highlights interdisciplinary approaches combining field experiments with advanced sensor technologies, particularly in tropical rainforest streams and agricultural-impacted systems. Collaborative projects involve global researchers addressing large-scale ecological patterns and conservation challenges. Current projects include: Stoichiometry database development for cross-scale ecological analysis Nutrient sensor networks quantifying urban/agricultural loading Trophic web reconstruction using isotope tracer experiments

Ian SpoonerView profile

Professor

• Environmental Change
• Paleolimnology
• Hydrogeology
• +3 more

Dr. Ian Spooner is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at Acadia University, where he has worked for 31 years. His research focuses on environmental change, surface water-groundwater interactions, and contamination assessment across eastern Canada. Ph.D. in Geoscience (University of Calgary, 1994) M.Sc. in Geology (Queen's University, 1988) B.Sc. (Honours) in Geology (Queen's University, 1984) His scholarly work spans three decades, with recent publications highlighting mercury contamination in seabird soils, sediment dewatering techniques, and paleolimnological tools for pollution assessment. He has developed tidypaleo , an R package for visualizing environmental archives. Key research trends include industrial pollution impacts on coastal ecosystems, long-term contamination records in lake sediments, and geological responses to climate change. His work bridges field studies with computational methods for environmental data analysis. Distinguished Service Award (Atlantic Geoscience Society) 2020 Acadia Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching 2022 Donald Stanley Award (Canadian Society for Civil Engineering) As Manager of the Morton Centre and coordinator of the M.Sc. Applied Geomatics program, he leads collaborative projects in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and British Columbia. Funding sources include NSERC grants and industry partnerships.

Burke HalesView profile

Professor

• Ocean Acidification
• Coastal Oceanography
• Biogeochemical Cycling
• +3 more

Burke Hales is a Professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University, serving as Chief Scientist for PacWave with expertise in Biogeochemical Oceanography. His research focuses on coastal carbon cycling and ocean acidification dynamics in estuarine and shelf systems. Dr. Hales earned his educational degrees from the University of Washington: BS in Chemical Engineering (1988) MS in Chemical Oceanography (1992) PhD in Chemical Oceanography (1995) His research spans critical oceanographic domains: Ocean-Margin Carbon Cycling: Investigating carbonate chemistry processes in coastal waters and their impacts on acidification and hypoxia Coastal Oceanography: Analyzing physics-biology-chemistry interactions using high-speed sampling systems Mesoscale Surface Processes: Studying surface ocean dynamics through advanced observational techniques Analytical Environmental Chemistry: Developing robust sensors for ocean chemistry measurements Benthic Biogeochemistry: Conducting in situ sediment porewater studies and transport modeling Recent publications (2021-2024) reveal strong emphasis on coastal acidification mechanisms, SOCAT database development, Arctic productivity studies, and biological responses to changing carbonate chemistry. His work integrates field observations with experimental approaches to address anthropogenic impacts on marine systems. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. Information regarding student advising and research grants was not specified in available documentation. As PacWave Chief Scientist, Dr. Hales leads wave energy research while maintaining active field programs in coastal upwelling zones and estuaries, utilizing specialized high-resolution measurement technologies for carbonate system analysis.

Angela KnappView profile

Professor

• Marine Biogeochemistry
• Nitrogen Cycling
• Dissolved Organic Nutrients
• +3 more

Professor Angela Knapp is a Chemical Oceanographer at Texas A&M University’s Department of Oceanography, College of Geosciences. Her research focuses on marine nutrient cycling, particularly nitrogen fixation and dissolved organic nutrient dynamics. She leads a 7-PI NSF-funded project in the Gulf of Mexico and serves on the US GEOTRACES Steering Committee and the NSF Research Coordination Network for Aquatic Nitrogen Fixation. Her work spans physiological to ocean-basin scales, studying nutrient sources fueling primary production in oligotrophic systems. Key projects include quantifying nitrogen fluxes using geochemical tracers and investigating dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP) roles in nutrient limitation. She has advised numerous PhD and undergraduate students, including Zhou Liang (PhD 2024) and Chelsie Bowman (Postdoc). Recent publications highlight advancements in global DOP databases, nitrogen isotope budgets, and natural iron fertilization’s impact on diazotroph blooms. Her teaching includes courses on ocean communication, marine biogeochemistry, and geochemical tracers. Knapp’s lab collaborates internationally, integrating fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and modeling to address global nutrient cycles and climate interactions. Current research explores lateral advection’s role in nitrogen export and DON’s contribution to oligotrophic systems.

Patrick A. RafterView profile

Assistant Professor

• Chemical Oceanography
• Isotope Geochemistry
• Paleoceanography
• +4 more

Patrick A. Rafter is an Assistant Professor in the Chemical Oceanography department at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science . His research focuses on marine carbon cycling , isotope geochemistry , and paleoceanography , with specific interests in understanding carbon dynamics across geological timescales and developing methods for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) . Key Research Themes Carbon cycling in modern and ancient oceans Application of stable and radiocarbon isotopes Biogeochemical impacts of climate change Deep-sea circulation and carbon sequestration Marine carbon removal strategies Recent Work explores carbonate dissolution fluxes, glacial-interglacial CO2 cycles, and alkalinity enhancement in the California Current System. His Ocean and Climate Lab integrates field measurements with modeling to trace carbon pathways. Contact : prafter@usf.edu

Agneta AnderssonView profile

Professor

• Marine Ecology
• Aquatic Microbiology
• Eutrophication
• +5 more

Agneta Andersson is a Professor at Umeå University's Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, and affiliated as Professor at the Umeå Marine Sciences Centre (UMF). She leads research projects in marine ecology and coordinates the strategic EcoChange program. Her work focuses on microbial ecology, eutrophication impacts, and climate change effects on marine ecosystems. She supervises PhD student Meifang Zhong and collaborates with postdoc Alef dos Santos and lab members Sonia Brugel, Kesava Ramasamy, Karolina Eriksson, and Li Zhao. Research Interests Her research explores microbial community dynamics, predator-prey interactions in aquatic systems, and the ecological consequences of terrestrial organic matter inflow. Key topics include mercury contamination in sediments, phytoplankton responses to environmental changes, and the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in coastal ecosystems. She investigates how climate-driven environmental shifts affect food web efficiency and toxin bioaccumulation patterns. Current Projects Scientific Coordinator for the strategic EcoChange program Leading a 2025–2026 project assessing eutrophication threats in the Bothnian Bay Developing DNA-based monitoring tools for marine phytoplankton Grants & Collaborations Her work is supported by grants funding studies on Baltic Sea microbial diversity and coastal DOM dynamics. She contributes to international initiatives like the CoastDOM database and collaborates with institutions globally to address climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Labs & Teams Her research group focuses on microbial ecology and environmental monitoring. The lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining molecular techniques, field observations, and experimental mesocosm studies to address pressing environmental challenges.

John HarteView profile

Professor

• Global Change
• Ecosystem Ecology
• Biodiversity
• +2 more

John Harte is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. His research centers on global change, ecosystem ecology, and biodiversity, with a focus on human impacts on ecological systems across scales. Utilizing field experiments, natural pattern analysis, and mathematical modeling, his work examines biodiversity patterns, climate feedbacks, and ecosystem-climate linkages. Recent research explores ecological equations of state, climate change impacts on species distributions, and information theory applications in complex systems. His publications demonstrate strong interdisciplinary connections between physics, data science, and conservation biology. Key themes in Harte's recent work include: Development of unified theories for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning Climate change impacts on tundra ecosystems Mathematical foundations of ecological complexity Integration of macroecology with conservation practice

Fabian GansView profile

Researcher

• Earth System Science
• Biogeochemistry
• Climate Extremes
• +7 more

Fabian Gans is a Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, affiliated with the Department Biogeochemical Integration led by Prof. Dr. M. Reichstein. He leads the Scalable Spatiotemporal Data Structures and Analytics (SSDSA) research group and is actively involved in the Empirical Inference of the Earth System group under Dr. Miguel D. Mahecha, as well as the Energy and Earth System group under Dr. A. Kleidon. His work is central to advancing data-driven methodologies in Earth system science. His research focuses on Earth system dynamics, particularly through the development and application of Earth System Data Cubes (ESDCs), which integrate multivariate spatiotemporal datasets for robust analysis. He employs machine learning, remote sensing, and hybrid modeling to study carbon and water fluxes, climate extremes, and ecosystem responses. His work bridges observational data with modeling frameworks to improve understanding of biosphere-atmosphere interactions. The 15 most recent publications highlight a strong trend toward data integration, scalability, and the use of artificial intelligence in Earth sciences. Key themes include the FLUXCOM framework for upscaling carbon fluxes, the development of Earth System Data Cubes, analysis of compound climate extremes, and hybrid modeling approaches. His research consistently emphasizes open science, reproducibility, and the need for integrated data platforms to tackle global environmental challenges. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. Advising and Grants: No formal advisees or students are listed. No specific grants or funding sources are mentioned, though his involvement in large collaborative projects like FLUXCOM and Earth System Data Cubes suggests participation in significant research initiatives. Labs and Teams: Fabian Gans leads the Scalable Spatiotemporal Data Structures and Analytics (SSDSA) group and is a key member of the Empirical Inference of the Earth System team. He is also involved in the DeepESDL platform, an open collaborative environment for Earth system research, indicating leadership in developing research infrastructure and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Claudia CzimczikView profile

Professor

• Climate Change
• Carbon Cycle
• Biogeochemical Cycles
• +3 more

Claudia Czimczik is a Professor in the Department of Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on climate change impacts on carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in high-latitude regions like Arctic tundra and boreal forests. Her work combines field observations with geochemical methods, including trace gas analysis and stable/radiocarbon isotope measurements. Key areas address feedbacks between ecosystem changes and climate systems, wildfire and urbanization effects on carbon dynamics, and carbonaceous aerosol contributions to air pollution. Recent publications highlight Arctic isoprene emissions, permafrost carbon vulnerability, wildfire impacts on boreal photosynthesis, and urban-rural carbon gradients. She serves as Chair of Earth System Science (2023–present) and collaborates with UCI’s Keck C Cycle Accelerator Mass Spectrometry facility and remote sensing/modeling experts.

• Forest Ecology
• Disturbance Ecology
• Community Ecology
• +5 more

Anne McIntosh is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta, with an adjunct appointment in the Department of Renewable Resources at the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. Her research spans forest ecology, disturbance dynamics, and ecological reclamation, focusing on post-disturbance recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services. PhD in Biology MSc in Ecology BSc (Honours) in Environmental Science Her research explores: Ecological recovery after natural and anthropogenic disturbances (mountain pine beetle, oil sands, reclamation) Microbial and plant community interactions Functional trait variability in forest ecosystems Conservation in mixed-use landscapes Teaching innovations in ecology and biology Her recent publications emphasize trait-based forest restoration, invasive species impacts, and monitoring reclaimed ecosystems globally. She leads the Ecological Recovery Lab and collaborates on cross-continental studies in Canada, Sweden, and Costa Rica. She teaches advanced courses in: AUBIO 315 - Advanced Biological Analysis (statistical methods) AUBIO 323 - Plant Biology AUBIO 253 - Ecological Interactions AUBIO 411 - Capstone Biology Perspectives AUSTA 215 - Statistical Methods for Natural Sciences Her lab focuses on long-term ecological monitoring, using field surveys and UAV technology to assess recovery trajectories in forest and grassland ecosystems.

• Biogeochemistry
• Stable isotopes
• Carbon cycling
• +8 more

Dr. Joanne Oakes is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Southern Cross University, where she also serves as Deputy Director of the Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry and Deputy Director of Higher Degree Training and Research. She holds a BSc(Hons) and PhD from Griffith University. With over 20 years of research experience, Dr. Oakes specializes in applying stable isotope techniques to investigate biogeochemical processes across coastal, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems. Her research examines carbon and nitrogen cycling under environmental changes including nutrient enrichment, ocean acidification, and warming. Key focus areas include: Tracing element flows using isotope labelling in microphytobenthos, seagrass, and mangrove systems Climate change impacts on sediment biogeochemistry from the Arctic to tropics Coastal carbon dynamics including blue carbon ecosystems and greenhouse gas fluxes Her recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on coastal biogeochemistry (65% of last 15 articles), climate change interactions (40%), and methodological innovations in stable isotope applications (20%). Research spans fundamental microbial processes to global-scale carbon databases. Awards & Recognition: Southern Cross University Research Award (2023) Academic Leadership: Dr. Oakes has secured over $2.2M in research grants, supervises 5 current PhD students (with 2 completed), and has mentored 5 Honours students. She teaches undergraduate units including Cells and Molecules, Ecology for Natural and Managed Systems, and Biogeochemistry. She leads research teams at the Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry focusing on isotope-enabled investigations of ecosystem processes. Current projects examine carbon-climate feedbacks in Australian estuaries and tropical blue carbon systems.