ECOSYSTEMS LAB

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Alexandra Ponette-González (she/ella)

Ph.D. Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University, 2009

Curator of Urban Ecology, Natural History Museum of Utah
Associate Professor of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

Email: alexandra.ponette@utah.edu

Learn Morehttp://scholar.google.com/citations?user=saYhPjYAAAAJ&hl=en

Interests: our changing atmosphere, atmosphere-biosphere interactions, biogeochemical cycles, global change, terrestrial ecosystems, urban ecology, design, and planning, museum collections, interdisciplinary science, diversity in & for science ... hound dogs, cooking, hiking, all the mountains!



Noortje Grijseels (she/her)

M.S. Biological Sciences – Limnology & Oceanography, University of Amsterdam, 2016

Lab Manager, Natural History Museum of Utah

Email: ngrijseels@nhmu.utah.edu

M.S. Thesis Research: Transitions in riparian vegetation structure along a rural-to-urban land use gradient in western North America

Interests: how the physical/natural and human elements of the urban ecosystem interact, green infrastructure/making use of vegetation to mitigate storm water, air quality and other issues in urban settings, water wise landscaping, ecosystem services, sustainability and reuse of materials, community engagement. . . riding bicycles, exploring the mountains, swimming, good food, people.

Noortje is ...the best!!! We are so happy she joined the lab.


Talon Roberts (he/him)

B.S. Environmental and Sustainability Studies, University of Utah, 2023

Graduate Student, City and Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah
Research Assistant, Natural History Museum of Utah

Email: u1095683@utah.edu

Interests: Interests: urban ecology, sustainable planning and development, paleoclimatology, drought,  climate change, climate science, air quality, environmental justice, and the interconnectivity of people and the environment. I also love food, playing the drums, exploring the outdoors, exploring new cities, astronomy, and my family (my wife, cat, and plants).

Talon is a new graduate student and member of the lab! He has all sorts of cool research experience.

Emma Glende (she/her)

Undergraduate Student, B.S. Urban Ecology & Environmental Sustainability
4+1 Student, Master's of City & Metropolitan Planning


Email: emmaglende@gmail.com

Undergraduate Research: Tree preferences in Salt Lake City’s urban forest

Interests: environmental justice, urban ecology, biophilic design, community engagement, historic preservation, walkability, greenspace... distance running, hiking, reading, playing piano, and taking road trips with my husband!

Emma is going to start her honor’s thesis looking at tree preferences in Salt Lake. Here we go!

Rylee Babino

Undergraduate student, Geography and the Environment

Rylee completed a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates student at the Natural History Museum, University of Utah, last summer!

Email: ryleebabino@my.unt.edu

Undergraduate Research:
Digital tools in urban forestry

Interests:
Urban environment, trees, geomorphology, content analysis, national parks, camping, writing, birds, and water sports.

Rylee is finishing up her degree at UNT and thinking about what comes next. She’s having fun!


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LAB ALUMNI


Savannah Thomas, M.S. 2023
Now: Savannah just got a an internship with the Scientists in Parks (SIP) program and will be working with the Alaska Fire Ecology Program!

Cody Kimpton, B.S. 2022
Now: Working in Denton.

Molly Burke, NSF Post-Bacc Student 
Now: Molly began a M.S. in geography at University of Utah with Andrea Brunelle this Fall 2023!

Shritha Gayathri, TAMS 2022
Shritha completed an awesome project on particulate matter effects on leaf health.
Now: Shritha is moving to the University of North Carolina-Chapel HIll!

Katherina Kang, M.S.  2020
Soil carbon accumulation in an urban ecosystem: canopy cover and management effects
Now: Kat is doing a Ph.D. with Tara Trammell at the University of Delaware!

Tate Barrett, Ph.D.  2019
Now: Owner and Chief Scientist, Barrett Environmental LLC
https://www.barrettenv.com

Claire Pitre, B.S.  2019
Bird feathers as biomonitors of soot pollution
Now: Claire is working as a researcher for Global Energy Monitor

Brett Luce, B.S.  2018
Mapping and measuring PM2.5 concentrations in a rapidly growing urban area: a student cyclist perspective
Now: Albuquerque, New Mexico, running an amazing business called Enchantment Glamping.

Jenna Rindy, M.S.  2018
Urban trees as sinks for soot: Deposition of atmospheric elemental carbon to oak canopies and litterfall flux to soil
Now: Environmental and Sustainability Specialist for the Sibelco Group

Matthew Thompson, B.S.  2018
Now: Environmental Specialist, Florida Department of Health

Cassidy Winter, B.S. 2017
Now: In Denton, Texas

Zachary Rowen, M.S. 2017
Are streams protected? Outcomes of environmental regulation
Now: Stormwater Inspector, City of Denton, Texas

Patrick Edington, M.S. 2017
Assessing rainfall interception by urban tree canopies in Denton, Texas
Now: Land surveyor, Bureau of Land Management, Salem, Oregon

Jennifer Bailey, M.S. 2016 
Western spruce budworm effects on throughfall C, N, and P fluxes in a Central Washington forest
Now: Science Educator at Outschool, Grand Junction, Colorado

Ingrid Patel, M.S. 2014
Structure, composition, and regeneration of Cross Timbers forest fragments in different land-use contexts
Now: Owner and Head, Redbird Equestrian, Chesterfield Virginia

Alicia Leacox, M.S. 2014
Importance and spatial distribution of Phytophthora ramorum host species in a coast redwood forest
Now: Assistant Interpretive Center Director, The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho   

Kereen Joseph, 2014
Effects of vegetation exposure and canopy structure on small-scale variation in atmospheric deposition in a mixed conifer forest
Now: Geographic Information Systems Analyst, 3C Shared Services, England

Matthew LaFevor (postdoctoral mentee/collaborator 2014-2016).
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014-16, National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), Annapolis, Maryland 
Now: Assistant Professor, 2016-current, Department of Geography, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
http://www.matthewlafevor.com