معرفی
Sasha Wagner is an Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), serving as Associate Director of the Center for Environmental Stable Isotope Analysis and Graduate Program Director. Her research focuses on the biogeochemistry of dissolved organic matter (DOM), particularly black carbon's role in global carbon cycles. She holds a PhD in Environmental Chemistry from Florida International University (2015) and a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Delaware (2009).
Her work integrates geochemical techniques to study how anthropogenic activity and climate change affect DOM and black carbon dynamics in aquatic systems. Key areas include glacial black carbon deposition, wildfire impacts on riverine carbon export, and the development of novel analytical methods for BPCA quantification. Collaborations span institutions like the Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education Center and international river systems (e.g., Fraser, Yukon).
Recent studies highlight hydrology's influence over wildfire severity in carbon export, the impact of dams on organic matter transport, and volcanic ash effects on marine ecosystems. Her lab emphasizes field experiments and cutting-edge analytical tools to address gaps in understanding DOM persistence and microbial interactions.
Despite no listed awards, her research has yielded over 37 indexed publications since 2011, focusing on fire-affected watersheds, DOM optical properties, and cross-disciplinary environmental challenges. She advises students on topics like pyrogenic carbon cycling and organic geochemistry, while her grants include NSF-funded projects on black carbon characterization and hydrothermal vent systems' roles in carbon formation.
Her lab (swagnerlab.com) serves as a hub for innovative projects, including experimental open-air burning studies and paleo-wildfire reconstructions. Ongoing work explores DOM-labile levoglucosan mobilization post-wildfire and spatiotemporal variability in Lake George's DOM composition.
