John Rybczyk

John Rybczyk is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Western Washington University, affiliated with the Huxley College of the Environment. His research focuses on applied ecology, particularly the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise on coastal systems. He models ecosystem responses to environmental stressors and evaluates restoration strategies for wetlands. Dr. Rybczyk's work emphasizes quantifying carbon sequestration and resilience in Pacific Northwest coastal wetlands.

Education: PhD in Oceanography (Louisiana State University), MS in Ecosystem Biology (Eastern Michigan University), BS in Wildlife Biology (Michigan State University).

Research Interests: Climate change effects on coastal ecosystems, sea-level rise resilience, tidal marsh restoration, carbon dynamics modeling, and ecosystem adaptation strategies. His lab uses field and modeling approaches, including gamma-ray spectroscopy for sediment analysis.

Current Projects: Funding available for a 2025 M.Sc. student to study blue carbon stocks or coastal wetland resiliency in the PNW. Collaborates on surface elevation tables and restoration monitoring in Puget Sound estuaries.

Labs/Teams: Director of the Wetlands Ecology Lab, which operates gamma-ray detectors for sediment accretion studies. Engages in interdisciplinary partnerships for restoration and policy guidance.