Alexandra Ponette-González (she/ella)
Ph.D. Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University, 2009Curator of Urban Ecology, Natural History Museum of Utah
Associate Professor of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah
Email: alexandra.ponette@utah.edu
Learn More: http://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, 2016Lab 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.
Yarong Cao (she/her)
M.E. Landscape Architecture, South China University of Technology, 2024Ph.D. student, Metropolitan Planning, Policy, and Design, University of Utah
Email: Yarong.Cao@utah.edu
M.E. Thesis Research: Constructing and Optimizing of Ecological Network in Urban-rural Landscape for the Synergy of Ecosystem Service Supply and Demand——A Case Study of Guangzhou-Foshan Metropolitan Area
Interests: Explore the dynamic interactions between ecological-social systems through the lens of ecosystem services to support sustainable landscape planning. I also like making coffee/tea, photography, swimming, and alternative rock!
Nick Barba (he/him)
B.S. Environmental Science (Sustainability & Resource Management)Graduate student, Geography, University of Utah
Email: u1526509@umail.utah.edu
Interests: island biogeography, urban greenspace, plant-pollinator interactions, disturbance ecology, environmental-and-community-focused worldviews, and environmental justice - alongside freediving, hiking, reading, baking, and trivia!
Talon Roberts (he/him)
B.S. Environmental and Sustainability Studies, University of Utah, 2023Graduate 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).
Emma Glende (she/her)
Undergraduate Student, B.S. Urban Ecology & Environmental Sustainability4+1 Student, Master's of City & Metropolitan Planning
Email: emmaglende@gmail.com
Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis 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!
Abbi Anderson (she/her)
Undergraduate, B.S. Environmental and Sustainability StudiesEmail: aanderson@nhmu.utah.edu
Undergraduate Research: Environmental and Sustainability, Land Managment and Conservation
Interests: Sustainable Tourism, Environmental Justice, Sociology, Sustainable Agriculture, backpacking, skiing, climbing, art, exploring the Wasatch, and my family/friends!
Ripley Dossett (they/them)
B.S. Environmental and Sustainability Studies - Conservation and Land ManagementMinor in Urban Ecology, University of Utah 2025
Interests: sustainable city planning and development, human-wildlife interactions, environmental justice, public transit, community engagement but also bouldering, birding, cosplay, and video games!
Rylee Babino
B.S. Geography and the EnvironmentEmail:
Undergraduate Research: Digital tools in urban forestry
Interests: Urban environment, trees, geomorphology, content analysis, national parks, camping, writing, birds, and water sports.
Rylee is joining the University of Utah MCMP program in fall 2024!
︎
LAB ALUMNI
Savannah Thomas, M.S. 2023
Now: Savannah recently completed an internship with the Scientists in Parks (SIP) program working with the Alaska Fire Ecology Program!
Cody Kimpton, B.S. 2022
Now: Working with the UNT Mean Green Fund.
Molly Burke, NSF Post-Bacc Student
Now: M.S. Student in Geography, University of Utah.
Shritha Gayathri, TAMS 2022
Shritha completed an awesome project on particulate matter effects on leaf health.
Now: Undergraduate Student, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Katherina Kang, M.S. 2020
Soil carbon accumulation in an urban ecosystem: canopy cover and management effects
Now: Ph.D. Student, 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: Researcher, 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: Owner, 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, 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: Education and Outreach Coordinator, Palouse Conservation District
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 (GIS) Specialist II at ALEX - Alternative Experts
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
Now: Savannah recently completed an internship with the Scientists in Parks (SIP) program working with the Alaska Fire Ecology Program!
Cody Kimpton, B.S. 2022
Now: Working with the UNT Mean Green Fund.
Molly Burke, NSF Post-Bacc Student
Now: M.S. Student in Geography, University of Utah.
Shritha Gayathri, TAMS 2022
Shritha completed an awesome project on particulate matter effects on leaf health.
Now: Undergraduate Student, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Katherina Kang, M.S. 2020
Soil carbon accumulation in an urban ecosystem: canopy cover and management effects
Now: Ph.D. Student, 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: Researcher, 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: Owner, 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, 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: Education and Outreach Coordinator, Palouse Conservation District
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 (GIS) Specialist II at ALEX - Alternative Experts
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