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Our research is specifically focused on the ecosystem functions that affect water quality, climate regulation, and carbon sequestration in natural and human-modified ecosystems. These essential processes are often adversely affected by human activities at local and global scales.
We study the retention and processing of nutrients (nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus) and the flux of greenhouse gases in wetlands, streams, forests, agricultural, and urban ecosystems. We use approaches from ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry in our work and collaborate across social and biophysical sciences.
Lab location:
1719 SW 10th Ave
Science Research and Teaching Center, Room B1-13 (South)
Portland, OR 97201
+1 503 725 2722
Overview
In our lab, we are motivated to understand, quantify, and predict the biogeochemical processes that underlie the benefits that humans derive from nature, also known as ecosystem services.
Lab News!
2023
Fall: Welcome to Punyotoya Paul, incoming MEM student!
Fall: Two grants received to fund new and ongoing research:
Clean Water Services: to study the effects of recycled water on soil N cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in suburban Washington County.
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership: to estimate methane and CO2 emissions from a tidal wetland near Young's Bay, OR.
Spring: Woohoo! Justine Casebolt successfully defended her MEM proposal!
Spring: Congrats to Olamide Alo for passing her Comprehensive Exams and starting as a Water Quality intern at OR DEQ!
Spring: Congrats to Tris Kibbey for receiving the ESM Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant in June 2023!
Happy New Year 2023 and Welcome to Jacob Rudolph! Jacob is joining the CURB project as a new postdoctoral researcher, hailing from NC State University.
2022
Winter: Congratulations to Caitlin Costello for completing her BS degree in Environmental Science! Caitlin, a McNair Scholar, was recently featured in a KOIN segment on the McNair Program for first-generation college students to engage in research and prepare for graduate school.
Fall: Welcome to incoming students!
Justine Casebolt (MEM program)
Matt Yates (MS program)
Spring: Congratulations to Olamide Alo, who received the ESM award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant in June 2022!
Congratulations to Dr. Erin Rivers for her new paper, "Variability of Potential Soil Nitrogen Cycling Rates in Stormwater Bioretention Facilities" published in Sustainability in February 2022.
2021
Fall: Welcome to incoming students!
Maya Vertulfo (MS program)
Tris Kibbey (MEM program)
Spring: Congratulations to new 2021 grads!
Matt Cook completed his MS degree on conifer regeneration in Forest Park
Alexandra Vargas Quiñones and Evan Suemori finished their PSM degrees on sustainable green infrastructure for stormwater management on PSU campus
Erin McElroy completed her MEM degree on restoration of understory species in the Portland metro region with the Understory Species Increase Project
Alexandra Vargas Quiñones received the 2021 Graduate Sustainability Leadership Award in the ESM Department. Congratulations, Ale!
Erin McElroy received the 2021 Graduate Research Award in the ESM Department. Well done, Erin!
Emma Kohlsmith published her MS research in the May 2021 issue of Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment: Stormwater Treatment Effectiveness of Established Lined Bioretention Facilities in Portland, Oregon