Amy Frazier

Amy Frazier is a Professor and Jack and Laura Dangermond Endowed Chair of Conservation Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Department of Geography. She joined UCSB in 2023, following faculty roles at Arizona State University (2018–2023) and Oklahoma State University (2013–2018). Her research integrates remote sensing, GIS, landscape ecology, and machine learning to address global environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change impacts. She leads the SCALE Lab, affiliated with the Center for Spatial Studies and Data Science.

Dr. Frazier holds an A.B. in Environmental Earth Science from Dartmouth College, an M.A. in Geography from West Chester University, and a Ph.D. in Geography from the University at Buffalo. Her work has secured over $48 million in grants from NSF, NASA, and USDA. Key projects include predicting climate zone shifts, optimizing cropland allocation, and mapping coastal soil salinity using drones and AI.

Her research emphasizes actionable conservation outcomes, bridging science with policy. Notable contributions include frameworks for thermal refuge connectivity in deserts, biodiversity forecasting under climate change, and urban heat vulnerability assessments. She advises three graduate students and actively collaborates on global initiatives like the Biodiversity Forecasting Initiative (BioFI).