معرفی
Dr. Sally N. Aitken is a Professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry. Her research focuses on population, conservation, and ecological genetics and genomics of forest trees, particularly addressing how tree species adapt to environmental changes, including climate shifts. She leads projects such as the AdapTree initiative, exploring genetic mechanisms of local adaptation and informing reforestation strategies. Her work integrates field studies, common garden experiments, and genomic tools to understand tree responses to novel climates.
Education: Ph.D. in Plant Biology (implied from career trajectory, though exact details not provided in text).
Research interests include the genetic basis of drought resilience, disease resistance in conifers, and assisted gene flow strategies for climate adaptation. She collaborates on international initiatives like CRAAFT (Climate-Ready and Adapted Agroforest and ForesTs) and leads the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics. Her lab's fieldwork spans British Columbia's marginal oak populations and coastal forests, emphasizing practical applications for conservation and forestry.
Key projects include studying Sitka spruce hybrid zones, whitebark pine restoration, and genomic assessments of local adaptation. Her work bridges basic research with applied outcomes, such as guiding seed transfer policies for climate-ready forests.
