Elizabeth Watson

Elizabeth Watson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley (2006). Her research focuses on understanding human impacts on coastal ecosystems to guide management and restoration. Watson’s work integrates field studies, geospatial analysis, and modeling to address challenges like nutrient pollution, sea level rise, and land use change. She collaborates with organizations such as the EPA, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Watson also emphasizes student training and public engagement, including climate internships and interdisciplinary courses. Her lab, the Coastal Change Lab, addresses both ecological and educational dimensions of climate change impacts.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2006 (Geography)

Research Interests:

• Coastal wetlands resilience under climate change
• Translational ecology and stakeholder collaboration
• Nutrient dynamics and eutrophication effects
• Geospatial tools for ecosystem management

Collaborations:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• National Estuarine Research Reserve System
• Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast

Recent Awards:

• Fulbright-García Robles Grant (Mexico, 2019)

Advising & Outreach:

• Developed climate change minors and interdisciplinary courses
• Mentored students in coastal resilience projects
• Hosted public engagement events and internships

Labs & Teams:

• Watson Lab (Coastal Change Lab)