Team

Saeed Hassan Kariunga

Saeed is fascinated by nutrient dynamics in streams. He will investigate how the interactive effects of temperature and nutrient levels influence ecosystem metabolism (organic matter breakdown) in streams. He hopes that his research will help to understand the role of nutrients in stream responses.
By Stephanie Mayer, ago

Allison Kelley

Using radiocarbon as a tool, Allison is interested in investigating arctic biogeochemical carbon cycling and the implications this cycling has on climate change.  She has a particular interest in the potential climatic feedback resulting from permafrost thaw.  Further, she hopes to apply her skillset and knowledge more broadly to effectively Read more…
By Stephanie Mayer, ago

Emma Lathrop

Emma is interested in quantifying the timing and magnitude of the permafrost carbon feedback, specifically in understanding how susceptible carbon in deep soils is to decomposition and emission to the atmosphere as greenhouse gas. A changing arctic impacts everyone and she strives to improve how science is communicated to inform Read more…
By Stephanie Mayer, ago

Nick Link

Nick Link is a PhD student in the Mack Lab co-advised by Michelle Mack and Xanthe Walker. He is interested in fire ecology at the landscape scale, and his research focuses on ecologically informed fuel treatments, their capacity to reduce wildfire risk, and downstream ecosystem impacts across Alaska and the Read more…
By Stephanie Mayer, ago

Jolie LoBrutto

Jolie is a PhD student at the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) and works under the advisement of Dr. Bruce Hungate. A particular curiosity to dive deep into the microscopic world driving Earth’s carbon cycle in soil has led her to study how soils microbes respond to climate Read more…
By Alanna Patterson, ago

Ayla Martinez

Ayla graduated from NAU in 2017 with two B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Microbiology with a certificate in Biotechnology. As a Master’s student, she is studying how chemistry governs life belowground. To do this, she uses isotopically labeled carbon substrates in soil incubations to relate microbial catabolic rates to carbon Read more…
By Stephanie Mayer, ago

Nelly McCuistion

Nelly is a MS student co advised by Dr. Matt Bowker and Dr. Anita Antoninka. She is interested in environmental restoration and materials science, and her research is primarily focused on how restoration impacts dryland ecosystems post-fire. She is equally interested in art and science illustration/communication.
By Stephanie Mayer, ago

Megan McGroarty

Megan McGroarty is a PhD student in Dr. Ted Schuur’s lab. She is interested in understanding the possible effects of permafrost thaw on carbon cycling in the Arctic, specifically with a focus on the possible impacts on decomposition. Further, Megan aims to learn communicative skills as well to bring what Read more…
By Stephanie Mayer, ago

Victoria Monsaint-Queeney

Tori’s experience is in anaerobic soil environments, specifically wetland soils. In Ecoss, her research will focus on using qSIP to quantify biogeochemical cycles in the Alaskan tundra. She hopes that her research will contribute to a better understanding of microbial communities and their role in soil biogeochemical cycles as these Read more…
By Stephanie Mayer, ago