Patty Oikawa

Patty Oikawa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at California State University, East Bay (CSU East Bay). Her research focuses on nutrient cycling and climate change, particularly examining how wetland restoration in the Bay Area and Sacramento Delta can mitigate climate change. She joined CSU East Bay in 2016 after a postdoctoral position at UC Berkeley. Her work integrates field measurements and biogeochemical modeling to assess greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem carbon balances.

Key research projects include:

• A network of North American tidal wetlands (NATURA) using eddy covariance towers, such as the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve site in South San Francisco Bay.
• Development of the PEPRMT model for predicting carbon and methane budgets in wetlands, now approved for carbon offset markets.
• Investigating compost amendment impacts on rangeland carbon sequestration and water budgets at CSU East Bay's Concord Campus field station.
• Collaborations with the Berkeley Biometeorology Lab on Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta restoration and carbon sequestration potential.

Her teaching emphasizes hands-on learning with active group work and field data collection. She actively mentors students interested in biogeochemical measurements and lab research.

Current projects include the California Soil Carbon Accrual Project (funded by UC Office of the President), exploring regenerative agriculture's impacts on soil health and carbon sequestration.