Thomas Albright

Thomas Albright is an Associate Professor and Deputy Nevada State Climatologist at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), affiliated with the Department of Geography and the Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology Graduate Program. His work integrates landscape ecology, biogeography, and remote sensing to address environmental challenges at global and local scales. He has conducted international research across 15 countries, emphasizing conservation, climate impacts, and sustainability.

Educated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Ph.D. in Zoology, 2007) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (M.A. in Geography), he has held roles including Postdoctoral Associate at UW-Madison and Senior Scientist at the USGS EROS Center. His teaching focuses on physical geography, remote sensing applications, and climate solutions, emphasizing active learning and mentorship.

Research interests include conservation biogeography, ecoclimatology, and urban heat dynamics. Notable projects include studying invasive species in China and the US, avian responses to extreme weather, and Las Vegas urban heat hazards. He collaborates globally, including with Nicaraguan institutions and NASA initiatives.

His lab, the Laboratory for Conservation Biogeography, emphasizes environmental justice, community engagement, and policy-relevant science. Key collaborators include USGS, NASA, and international universities. Advised students include D Mutiibwa, G Sadoti, Nicole Shaw, and Lauren Phillips.