Catherine M. Dieleman

Dr. Catherine M. Dieleman is an Assistant Professor in Boreal Forest Ecology at the University of Guelph. Her research focuses on biogeochemical cycling in northern ecosystems, addressing impacts of climate change, permafrost thaw, wildfire, and anthropogenic disturbances. She collaborates with governmental agencies, NGOs, and academic partners globally.

• Associate Graduate Faculty, Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University
• Natural Resources Canada
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• NASA’s Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE)
• Bonanza Creek Long-Term Experimental Research Site – Alaska Peatland Experiment

Her research integrates soil, water, vegetation, and atmospheric data to study boreal ecosystem resilience. She emphasizes interdisciplinary training for students and leads the NorthCore research group in projects spanning Alaska, Northwest Territories, and Ontario’s Ring of Fire.

Recent publications highlight her work on wildfire-carbon dynamics (2020), permafrost thaw impacts (2022), and peatland ecosystem shifts (2015). Collaborative projects like the Bonanza Creek and ABoVE experiments underscore her pan-regional focus.

• NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellowship
• NSERC and L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Finalist

Dr. Dieleman mentors graduate students through weekly meetings, lab sessions emphasizing communication and professional skills, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. She advocates for safe, dynamic learning environments to tackle complex environmental challenges.