Find Academic Supervisors

Alia KhanView profile

Associate Professor

• Cryospheric Sciences
• Remote Sensing
• Snow and Ice Albedo
• +5 more

Dr. Alia Khan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Western Washington University. Her research focuses on the impacts of light-absorbing particles (e.g., black carbon, snow algae) on cryospheric albedo and melt processes. She employs remote sensing (UAVs, satellites) and field-based biogeochemical analysis to study polar and high-mountain regions. Dr. Khan leads the Western Washington Cryospheric Sciences Remote Sensing and Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab and manages over $2.5 million in federal grants (NSF, NASA). Education: B.S.P.H. in Environmental Health Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2009) M.S. in Environmental Studies (Biogeoscience), University of Colorado Boulder (2012) Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder (2016) Research Interests: Light-absorbing particles in snow/ice Snow algae dynamics and remote sensing Cryospheric hydrology and biogeochemistry Climate impacts of cryospheric changes Funding & Projects: NSF-CAREER Award: Antarctic snow algae and light-absorbing particles NSF-EAGER: Arctic sea ice robotics and sampling NSF-RAPID: Greenland ice sheet smoke deposition NASA: SmallSat detection of snow algae Awards: NSF CAREER Grant (2022) US Fulbright Scholar (2019) Antarctic Service Medal (2012) Teaching: Courses include Watershed Biogeochemistry Capstone and Global Change in the Cryosphere , integrating fieldwork and geospatial analysis. Lab Opportunities: Seeks motivated M.S. students and research associates for fieldwork, lab analysis, and remote sensing projects.

Melissa A LambView profile

Professor

• Tectonics
• Sedimentation
• Alkaline Lake Systems
• +3 more

Dr. Melissa A Lamb is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Environment, & Society at the University of St. Thomas, where she specializes in tectonic evolution, sedimentary basin analysis, and environmental geoscience. She earned her PhD from Stanford University and maintains active research programs in Nevada's Lake Mead region and Mongolia. Research Focus Dr. Lamb's research integrates field geology, isotopic analysis, and basin modeling to investigate: Continental extension mechanisms in the Basin and Range province Evolution of alkaline lake systems through geologic time Tectonic-sedimentation relationships during orogenic transitions Geoscience education through research-based curricula She directs community-engaged projects with The Nature Conservancy and municipal partners on watershed management. Academic Activities Her current EDMAP grant supports collaborative work with USGS and Nevada Bureau of Mines examining Miocene fault systems. She teaches courses spanning environmental science to advanced geological field methods, emphasizing hands-on learning through: Field mapping programs in Nevada Capstone projects with Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Undergraduate research mentoring leading to national conference presentations

Caitlin TemsView profile

Professor

• Marine Geochemistry
• Paleoclimate
• Climate Change
• +4 more

Dr. Caitlin Tems serves as a faculty member in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences within the College of Science at Weber State University. Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Geology from Colorado College. She maintains an active office in Tracy Hall Science Center (Room 311) and engages with students through undergraduate geoscience courses. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Geological Sciences, University of Southern California Bachelor of Arts in Geology, Colorado College Dr. Tems focuses on marine geochemistry and paleoclimate research, utilizing stable isotopes to investigate oxygen minimum zones in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific and biogeochemical cycling in marine sediments. Her work extends to geoscience education research and science communication initiatives aimed at improving scientific literacy. She actively develops projects exploring paleoclimate signals in the Great Salt Lake and alpine environments, emphasizing the connection between oceanographic research and societal challenges related to climate change. Her teaching philosophy centers on active, inquiry-based learning across courses including Earthquakes and Volcanoes (GEO 1030), Historical Geology (GEO 1220), and Oceanography and Earth Systems (GEO 3010). She integrates problem-based learning, field trips, and technology-driven data analysis to cultivate critical thinking among both science majors and non-specialists. Dr. Tems collaborates with institutions like the Virginia Institute of Marine Science on science communication projects designed to bridge the gap between researchers and the public. These initiatives specifically target increasing participation of underrepresented students in geoscience careers while evaluating impacts on students' understanding of ocean systems and research pathways. Her laboratory work involves analyzing laminated marine sediments using nitrogen isotopes (δ 15 N) as proxies for water column denitrification, with research goals centered on identifying climate system mechanisms like the Pacific Decadal Oscillation that influence carbon production and oxygen minimum zone intensity during the late Holocene.

Keith GibbsView profile

Assistant Professor

• Aquatic Resource Management
• Environmental Science
• Conservation Biology
• +4 more

Dr. Keith Gibbs is an Assistant Professor at Western Carolina University's College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Tennessee Tech University. His teaching focuses on natural resources management, including courses like NRM 140 (Conservation & Management), NRM 210 (Methods in Management), and GEOL 455 (Wetlands). His research emphasizes aquatic resource protection and restoration in Western North Carolina, collaborating with regional partners to address water quality, ecological integrity, and biodiversity. Key projects include riverine restoration, land-use impacts on aquatic systems, and rare species conservation. Dr. Gibbs has published extensively on topics such as watershed prioritization, macroinvertebrate sampling efficacy, and fish assemblage responses to environmental changes. His work often involves field-based studies in Appalachian mountain streams and the Tennessee River Basin. Research trends in his articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human and climatic impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Topics span restoration ecology, biodiversity conservation, and the effects of drought and urbanization on fish communities. Collaborative projects with organizations like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park demonstrate practical applications of his research. Dr. Gibbs actively engages in field-based education and applied conservation, aiming to bridge academic rigor with real-world environmental challenges. His teaching and research reflect a commitment to training students in applied natural resources management while advancing scientific understanding of aquatic systems. Current projects focus on improving watershed management strategies and enhancing sampling techniques for imperiled species.

Tobias RothView profile

Lecturer

• Environmental Geology
• Geological Field Studies
• Science Communication
• +3 more

Tobias Roth is an Environmental Geologist and Lecturer at Laurentian University's Harquail School of Earth Sciences since 2013. He specializes in geoscience education and outreach, teaching first-year geology labs and leading field trips in the Sudbury region. His instructional responsibilities include courses such as GEOL 1021/1022 (Understanding the Earth), GEOL 2021 (Earth Resources), and GEOL 3056 (Computer Applications in Geosciences). B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany Roth emphasizes hands-on learning through field-based research and community engagement, coordinating outreach programs for the Harquail School. His professional focus bridges geoscience education with practical applications in mineral exploration and structural geology.

Kirsten HodgeView profile

Lecturer

• Geology
• Geophysics
• Geoscience Education
• +3 more

Kirsten Hodge is a Lecturer and Director of Outreach & Communications at the University of British Columbia (UBC), leading the Pacific Museum of Earth. She holds a PhD in Geophysics (2012) and a M.Ed. in Museum Education (2024) from UBC, alongside a BA in Geology from Vanderbilt University (2006). Her academic roles include directing museum operations, fostering community engagement, and bridging scientific research with public understanding. Her research focuses on magma dynamics, continental crust formation, and science education. Affiliations: Pacific Museum of Earth, Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences (EOS). Education: PhD (Geophysics, UBC 2012), M.Ed. (Museum Education, UBC 2024), BA (Geology, Vanderbilt 2006). Her outreach efforts emphasize making geoscience accessible through innovative exhibits, AI-driven educational tools, and collaborative STEM initiatives. She teaches courses like EOSC 518 (Science Communication) and EOSC 310 (Earth & Solar System Science). Her work highlights the societal relevance of geoscience, particularly in addressing environmental challenges and media literacy around scientific issues. Recent publications focus on museum revitalization, AI in education, and magma dynamics, reflecting her dual expertise in volcanology and science communication. She collaborates regionally and internationally on projects like the SCI-LEnS science communication initiative and the Province-wide STEM Network. Key Projects: Climate Hero AI escape room, Pacific Museum of Earth exhibit design, UBC Fossil Collection revival.

• Environmental Governance
• Community Forestry
• Natural Resource Management
• +3 more

Dr Robert Fisher is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Geosciences at The University of Sydney and Senior Researcher with the Mekong Research Group. His research focuses on social and political ecology of natural resource management, particularly community forestry in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. He holds a PhD in anthropology from the University of Western Sydney and has conducted fieldwork across 20+ countries including Nepal, India, Mozambique, and Papua New Guinea. Fisher specialises in participatory action research methodologies, adaptive collaborative management frameworks, and policy analysis related to forest governance and poverty reduction. His academic career includes roles as Deputy Director at the Regional Community Forestry Training Center in Bangkok (1997–2001), and teaching at the University of Western Sydney. His work bridges theoretical research with applied conservation practices, emphasizing community engagement and sustainable development. Fisher is affiliated with the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and contributes to global initiatives like the Livelihoods and Landscapes Strategy. Research interests include: forest decentralization, climate adaptation strategies in mountain regions, transboundary natural resource management, and the intersection of indigenous rights with conservation policy. Notable outputs include seminal books such as Linking Conservation and Poverty Reduction (2008) and Community Forestry in Nepal (2018), along with over 40 peer-reviewed articles and policy reports. Current projects explore community-based reforestation in PNG, forest governance in Brazil's Amazon, and the role of sacred sites in biodiversity conservation. Fisher supervises three PhD candidates examining topics ranging from decision-making frameworks in land management to human-megafauna coexistence strategies.

Ryan PereiraView profile

Associate Professor

• Carbon Cycling
• Water Security
• Climate Change Impacts
• +3 more

Ryan Pereira is an Associate Professor and Lyell Fellow at Heriot-Watt University's Global Research Institutes (The Lyell Centre). He leads the Carbon-Water Dynamics team, focusing on Earth's modern water, carbon, and nutrient cycles across critical interfaces. His work spans soil-river, land-ocean, and water-atmosphere interactions, with active grants from ERC, UKRI, and industry partners. He previously held a position at Newcastle University (2016–2024). His research integrates five themes: carbon-pollutant transport dynamics, atmospheric gas exchange, environmental sensing technologies, water security, and immersive VR education. Key contributions include studying Greenland lakes' climate resilience, tropical river biogeochemistry, and surfactant impacts on air-sea CO₂ fluxes. Education: PhD in Environmental Science (details unspecified) Grants: ERC Starting Grant (2020), UKRI GCRF funding Leadership: Chair of Iwokrama International Centre and School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society Research outputs include 33+ peer-reviewed articles, with notable work on Arctic lake transformations, tropical river modeling, and surfactant effects. Awards include the 2021 Best PhD Supervisor accolade and a 2022 Hans-Wissenschaftskolleg Fellowship. He pioneers VR tools for climate literacy and advises on sustainable development goals (SDGs 6, 13, 14, 15). Collaborations span global institutions, focusing on high-latitude to tropical ecosystems.

Alisa BokulichView profile

Professor

• Philosophy of Science
• Philosophy of Geosciences
• Philosophy of Physics
• +4 more

Alisa Bokulich is a Professor of Philosophy at Boston University, affiliated with the Department of Philosophy and the Center for Philosophy & History of Science (CPHS), which she has directed since 2010. She is also an Associate Member of Harvard University’s History of Science Department and served as a Harvard Radcliffe Fellow (2021-22). Her research focuses on scientific modeling, data interpretation, and explanation in physical and geosciences, particularly addressing conceptual and methodological challenges in fields like geomorphology and stratigraphy. She leads the Φ-Geo research group and teaches courses on philosophy of science, geosciences, physics, and science ethics. Education: Ph.D. in History & Philosophy of Science from the University of Notre Dame. Affiliations include visiting roles at the University of Edinburgh’s Eidyn Research Centre and Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study. Research interests span philosophy of geosciences, philosophy of physics, and the history of science. Key themes include the role of models in scientific inquiry, data reliability, and the integration of historical and philosophical perspectives in scientific practice. She has published extensively, with notable works on quantum-classical relations, scientific explanation, and geochronology. Awards: 2021-22 Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship; elected to AAAS Section L Steering Committee. Her work bridges philosophy with empirical sciences, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and the ethical implications of scientific methodologies.

Karin RebelView profile

Professor

• Biogeochemistry
• Ecohydrology
• Climate Change
• +5 more

Prof. Karin Rebel is a Professor of Geosciences and Director of Education for Geosciences at Utrecht University's Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. Her work bridges environmental biogeochemistry, ecohydrology, and interdisciplinary education. She leads research on carbon-nitrogen-water cycle interactions, climate change impacts, and spatial modeling of vegetation dynamics. Rebel also pioneers sustainability education through challenge-based learning and serious gaming, such as the Utrecht2040 game, which engages students in envisioning sustainable urban futures. Her research spans global ecosystem modeling, nitrogen leaching in natural systems, and remote sensing applications for canopy nutrient analysis. Education & Research Focus: Rebel's interdisciplinary approach integrates natural and social sciences, emphasizing transformative learning and systems thinking. She develops innovative educational frameworks like the 'Inter-University Sustainability Challenge' and the 'Worldview Journey' methodology to foster sustainability competencies. Research collaborations include ClimateMani and Future Deltas initiatives, addressing nutrient cycling, drought impacts, and vegetation feedback mechanisms. Grants & Projects: Current projects include NWO-funded studies on futuring pedagogies in secondary education and eco-identity development. Past work includes modeling global nitrogen leaching, Amazon deforestation hydrology, and Mediterranean forest canopy nitrogen mapping. Rebel advises international PhD students and leads workshops on interdisciplinary teaching and land surface modeling. Public Engagement: Her work appears in Nature Plants , Global Biogeochemical Cycles , and education-focused journals. Media features highlight her Utrecht2040 game and strategies for climate-resilient urban planning. Rebel actively participates in policy-oriented initiatives like Pathways to Sustainability and contributes to Dutch climate adaptation frameworks.

Wim HoekView profile

Associate Professor

• Climate Change
• Environmental Change
• Geomorphology
• +5 more

Wim Hoek is an Associate Professor in Physical Geography at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences. He specializes in Quaternary Geology and Global Change Geomorphology, focusing on climate change impacts on landscapes and vegetation. His research integrates geomorphological and palynological methods, with notable contributions to the INTIMATE project linking ice-core, marine, and terrestrial records. Hoek earned his PhD from VU Amsterdam (1995) and has held academic roles since 2000 at Utrecht University. He investigates topics like Lateglacial vegetation dynamics, Arctic paleoecology, and Holocene environmental changes in deltas. Collaborations include international projects on Svalbard, Greenland, and Mexico's Maya regions. His work bridges disciplines like geochemistry, sedimentology, and archaeology. Research highlights include studies on Lake Hämelsee's biodiversity responses to climate shifts and the role of volcanic eruptions in Mesoamerican history. He co-authored textbooks on Dutch geomorphology and contributes to science communication through blogs on fieldwork and podcasts.

Valerie ReijersView profile

Assistant Professor

• Coastal Dynamics
• Plant-Flow-Morphology Interactions
• Plant Ecology
• +3 more

Dr. Valerie Reijers is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Geography at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences. Her research focuses on biophysical interactions shaping coastal landscapes, particularly the roles of plants in ecosystem engineering and landscape dynamics. She holds a PhD (cum laude) from Radboud University, where she previously conducted postdoctoral and doctoral research on coastal plant dynamics and dune formation. Education: PhD (cum laude, top ~5%) in Biology, Radboud University (2019) MSc Biology (Communities and Ecosystems Track), Radboud University (2014) BSc Biology, Radboud University (2012) Research Interests: Coastal dynamics, plant-flow-morphology interactions, ecological complexity, and landscape ecology. She combines complex systems theory with field data to address fundamental and applied questions in coastal conservation and restoration. Notable themes include ecosystem engineering by plants, climate impacts on dune systems, and the role of avian subsidies in island biogeomorphology. Recent Research Directions: Her work emphasizes multifunctional coastal adaptation (e.g., sand nourishment strategies) and the ecological consequences of human infrastructure on sandy coasts. Key projects include the DUNEFRONT initiative and collaborations with the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). Labs/Teams: Active in the Future Deltas research group and teaches courses like Biogeomorphology and Coastal Ecology at Utrecht University.

Katinka WijsmanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Urban Planning
• Climate Adaptation
• Environmental Politics
• +9 more

Dr. Katinka Wijsman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences. Her research focuses on the political and ethical dimensions of spatial planning in the context of environmental and climate change, emphasizing justice, resilience, and inclusive futures. Key areas include climate adaptation strategies, nature-based solutions, and the intersection of feminist, posthumanist, and decolonial theories with urban planning practices. Her empirical work examines infrastructure projects and deliberative processes across the US East Coast, Suriname, and the Netherlands. She teaches courses such as the Graduate Planning Studio and Planning Theory, integrating interdisciplinary approaches to address complex urban challenges. Recent publications explore sustainability transitions, equity in urban governance, and the trade-offs inherent in nature-based solutions.

• Critical Minerals
• Sensor-Based Characterization
• Mining Waste Management
• +1 more

Adriana Guatame is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Science, with a joint appointment in the School of Public Policy. She obtained her PhD in Resource Engineering from Delft University of Technology and specializes in critical mineral resources and sustainable mining practices. Her research program focuses on three key areas: developing advanced characterization methods for primary and secondary mineral resources, implementing sensor-based technologies throughout the mining value chain, and creating policy frameworks for resilient critical minerals supply chains. She has particular expertise in geostatistical mapping, mining residue characterization, and developing remediation strategies for mine waste. Guatame received the 2020 Eramet Best Young Scientist Award and contributes to diversity initiatives as a co-founder of GeoLatinas. Her recent work addresses emerging environmental concerns such as thiolated arsenic speciation in legacy mine tailings and multi-isotope assessment of metal sedimentation in the Great Lakes.

Cathy RyanView profile

Professor

• Hydrogeology
• Groundwater Monitoring
• Mountain Hydrology
• +4 more

Cathy Ryan is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment at the University of Calgary, holding professional engineering and geoscience credentials. Education: PhD Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, 1994 MSc Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, 1987 BASc Geological Engineering, Queen's University, 1984 Research Focus: Leads applied field- and lab-based research on mountain watershed hydrology, groundwater-surface water interaction, fugitive methane, and geogenic gases including radon. Current projects include groundwater monitoring in energy contexts and geogenic gas characterization. Funding and Collaboration: Secured support from NSERC, Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada, and Alberta Innovates. Encourages student internships with industry partners. Awards: Peak Scholar Award (2018) Faculty Service Excellence Award (2019) Fieldwork: Conducts community-engaged research across Alberta, featuring groundwater well installation and environmental monitoring.