2025-2026 Fellows

Sarah wearing a life jacket with water in the background

Sarah Kienle | Researcher Fellow
University of Rhode Island | Kingston, RI

Sarah leads the Comparative Animal Ecophysiology Lab, and her research broadly focuses on understanding how animals work in the context of their environment. Her lab group studies the ecology, physiology, behavior, and evolution of large carnivorous predators (Seals! Whales! Wolves! Oh my!) to understand how individuals, populations, and species are coping with rapidly changing environments. She is an avid and fast reader (mostly fiction books), a COVID-inspired gardener, a slow but steady runner, a world traveler, and mother of two hilarious, busy, and awesome sons.

Ari poses on the stairs of a ship

Ari Friedlaender | Researcher Fellow
University of California, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA

Ari Friedlaender focuses much of his research on the foraging behavior of marine mammals and their interactions with prey. He works on a wide range of marine mammal species including baleen and toothed whales and dolphins across a range of geographic regions. In Antarctica, he is involved in the Long-Term Ecological Research program at Palmer Station, where he studies the ecological roles of cetaceans in a rapidly changing environment. As a principal investigator in the Southern Ocean Research Partnership, he leads non-lethal research on cetaceans in the Southern Ocean, contributing to a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems in this critical region.

Mark in front of a map

Mark Lara | Researcher Fellow
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL

Mark is an ecologist who studies the causes and consequences of high-latitude land cover change driven by warming, wildfire, and permafrost thaw/degradation. His research focuses on detecting, modeling, and forecasting permafrost-driven landscape evolution using drones, aircraft, and satellites. This is done while measuring, mapping, and modeling associated patterns of vegetation change. He aims to enhance our understanding of the state and fate of the Arctic system in a changing climate.

Naruki in front of a gray background

Naruki Hiranuma | Researcher Fellow
West Texas A&M University | Canyon, TX

Naruki’s career objective is an integration of climate science and pedagogy. He has developed and implemented a series of mobile online hands-on laboratory modules to achieve his goal. He is deeply involved in STEAM outreach collaborations with local organizations in the Texas Panhandle and beyond. His research interests exist in atmospheric aerosol-cloud-climate interactions, precipitation, and assessment of aerosol particles’ impact on public health.

Taylor with cacti in the background

Taylor Ohlstrom | Educator Fellow
Lakeside High School | Atlanta, GA

Taylor is a high school math teacher who believes math is a tool students should use to investigate their world. Her mission is to make math relevant for all students and show them it can help make predictions and guide solutions for global problems. For example, her students used geometry to determine the best places for grocery stores in various food deserts around the city. Outside of teaching, Taylor enjoys coaching tennis, spending time outdoors with her husband and dogs, and playing board games.

Amanda in front of a blue background

Amanda Watson | Educator Fellow
Orange Park Elementary School | Orange Park, Fl

Amanda is a 6th-grade integrated science and ancient history teacher. She believes in the power of educators being able to transform the walls of their classrooms into fun and interactive learning environments for all of their students. Her students are often exploring the fundamentals of science through hands-on STEAM labs and diving into ancient history through the art of storytelling and investigations. She is looking forward to being able to bring Polar STEAM education, real-life science connections, and critical Earth’s System concepts to her students in sunny Florida. She values collaboration in education and hopes to be able to facilitate getting educational resources and curriculum to other educators around the country.

Jesse in front of a snowy mountain and trees

Jesse Cusack | Researcher Fellow
Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR

Jesse is a physical oceanographer and polar researcher. He is broadly interested in turbulent ocean currents and their role in Earth’s climate. Recently, he has focused on currents occurring adjacent to marine terminating glaciers and their impact on ice melt. Jesse uses a range of instruments, including autonomous robots and drifters, deployed from ships to collect observations in ice-choked environments.

Sebastian in front of a green field and mountains

Sebastian Zavoico | Researcher Fellow
University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks, AK

Sebastian is an ecologist focused on arctic community ecology. He is currently working on his PhD, studying the biodiversity impacts of beaver ponds – which are rapidly expanding in number across the Arctic – in arctic areas underlain by permafrost. Sebastian harbors a love and enthusiasm about the tundra and the mountains, and is passionate about sharing knowledge of the unique, beautiful arctic ecosystem.

Haley poses with a fish

Haley Carlton | Researcher Fellow
Oregon State University CEOAS | Corvallis, OR

Haley is a PhD student who studies zooplankton community ecology in Arctic fjord systems. Her project is focused on exploring relationships between these communities and water masses in glacial fjords throughout Greenland. This is done through community analysis and defining trophic interactions using stable isotopes. Outside of science, she is an avid runner, swimmer, mountaineer, and global language learner.

Will wearing a backpack in front of a mountain

Will Hendricks | Researcher Fellow
National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) | Fairbanks, AK

Will is an ecologist with a passion for plant and fungal diversity—which unfortunately means any attempt to get from here to there in the wilderness with him will take a little longer than it should as he documents and identifies plants along the way. His research focuses on ancient lineages of plants and how they respond to seasonal events like snow melt in the spring. Will has found a calling working in the backcountry leading teams of early career biological field technicians teaching them field botany skills and field science methods. When not working outside, Will spends free time adventuring with his dogs, fishing, foraging, rock climbing, and getting out on snowmachines, ATVs, and boats.

Julia in front of rocks

Julia Guimond | Researcher Fellow
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | Woods Hole, MA

Julia is a groundwater hydrologist studying coastal groundwater dynamics along temperate and Arctic coastlines. Her research incorporates field campaigns and uses numerical models to better understand the two-way interactions between groundwater and the ocean. Julia is particularly interested in how sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and permafrost thaw impact the health and function of coastal ecosystems.

Eric on a ship

Eric Sanders | Educator Fellow
Sci-Port Discovery Center | Shreveport, Louisiana

Eric is the Assistant Director of a science center and museum and has a passion for merging the scientific with the creative. He is perpetually curious and enjoys exploring new places, ideas, and subject matters. After obtaining a Masters of Fine Arts and spending ten years in the Army and Air Force Reserves, he is now a doctoral student of Leadership Studies at LSUS. When not working or studying, Eric can be found spending time with family and friends, illustrating wildlife, and training for Spartan obstacle course races.

Hannah in front of snow

Hannah Joy-Warren | Researcher Fellow
University of Washington | Seattle, WA

Hannah is a polar biogeochemical oceanographer at the Applied Physics Laboratory. She is interested in how different phytoplankton use different amounts of carbon, and whether this influences how much carbon the Southern Ocean takes up from the atmosphere. She especially loves finding fun ways to communicate her science to non-expert audiences.

Emelia in front of a body of water and mountains

Emelia Chamberlain | Researcher Fellow
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | Falmouth, MA

Emelia Chamberlain is a biological oceanographer who studies the microscopic life that thrives at the icy extremes of our planet. Using a combination of field observations and modeling approaches, her current research focuses on quantifying the impact of microbial diversity on climate-relevant biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem function in the rapidly changing Arctic Ocean.

Chloe in front of a city skyline

Chloe Branciforte | Educator Fellow
Harold Washington College | Chicago, IL

With degrees in geology and paleontology and more than fourteen years of teaching experience at the community college level, Chloe embraces her love and curiosity of the natural world. She is committed to scientific literacy and improving access to the earth sciences and is an advocate and author of Open Educational Resources (OERs). In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, and exploring museums and parklands.

Jacklyn in front of a background with tropical trees and birds

Jacklyn Drewry | Educator Fellow
Lincoln Park Zoo | Chicago, IL

As the Student and Teacher Programs Coordinator, Jacklyn helps develop and facilitate educational programs for all ages with a focus on the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment. Working in a large urban city, access to natural spaces can be challenging so she seeks to foster connections between students and wildlife in creative ways. In her free time, she loves to read, cook, and exploring new places locally and globally.

Shakira wearing a lab coat in front of beakers and science equipment

Shakira Khan | Educator Fellow
Broward College | Coconut Creek, Florida

Shakira is an assistant professor currently teaching several physical science courses including Earth Science, Coastal and Marine Science, Environmental Science and Geology. Having spent 10 years working in coastal hazard assessments and climate change resilience in the Caribbean, she brings this experience into the classroom and is committed to empowering students with a greater understanding of earth’s processes. Through both active learning and field-based activities, she strives to help her students understand the dynamic planet and the role these processes play in our lives. Outside the classroom she shares her passion for the environment with the wider college community, serving as advisor to the student Sustainability Club and as a member of the college’s Sustainability Committee.

Mia in front of mountains

Mia Tuccillo | Researcher Fellow
Northwestern University | Evanston, Illinois

Mia’s research focuses on how climate and landscape changes impact ecosystems in Arctic lakes. Her project extracts chemical compounds from lake sediment archives in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) to measure shifts in freshwater primary producers over the last 10,000 years. Mia’s work illuminates how climate change drives shifts in lake cyanobacteria that could pose threats to drinking water in the Arctic. She most enjoys how her research has opened doors for community conversations, research partnerships, and new friendships in Greenlandic communities.

Patricia in front of a blue background

Patt Dennis | Educator Fellow
Forest Street Community School | Orange, New Jersey

Patricia “Patt” Dennis has been an advocate for education since 2018. She started as an extracurricular instructor at the MLC STEM Center, teaching STEAM programs and chess to K-8 students. Patt has also worked as a reading coach and in various technology roles in East Orange, NJ. Now, she is a School Library Media Specialist and is pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership, focusing on game-based learning and esports integration.

Bill in front of a body of water

Bill Becker | Educator Fellow
Ronan School District #30 (Ronan Middle School) | Ronan, MT

Bill is a middle school math educator who creates an atmosphere where students learn through doing. He believes that it is not enough for students to learn the “how to”s of any particular subject, but rather more important that they learn the why’s and develop a comfort with solving whatever problems may arise. He strives to connect content and pedagogy to real world application to truly tap into the greatest learning potential of our youth.

Precious in front of an off-white background

Precious Symonette | Educator Fellow
Miami Norland Senior High School | Miami Gardens, Florida

Precious Symonette is an educator, researcher, writer, public speaker, and international facilitator. She teaches Creative Writing at Miami Norland Senior High School and is an Adjunct Professor with Miami Dade College. She is the founder and CEO of the Florida Freedom Writers Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping teens to promote free expression both in written and verbal form. She is passionate about teaching Creative Writing and helping her students to learn about themselves, to share their stories, and to develop into global citizens. Precious enjoys traveling the world, learning about different cultures, hiking, participating in service-learning projects, and spending time with her family.

Tom in front of a blue sky

Tom Glass | Researcher Fellow
University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks, AK

Tom is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Alaska Fairbanks studying ecosystem change in the Arctic. He is particularly interested in interactions between animals and the cryosphere – how changing permafrost and snow affect wildlife, and how animals in turn alter permafrost and snow conditions. His current research focuses on beaver engineering in northwestern Alaska.

David poses with a duck

Dave Koons | Researcher Fellow
Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO

Dave is a professor of population ecology that studies the demography, population dynamics, trophic dynamics, and life history evolution of vertebrates in changing environments. Recent interests include studies of the trade-offs and fitness consequences of differential migration strategies in Arctic geese amidst climate change. On a daily basis he enjoys mentoring graduate students and teaching quantitative ecology to young learners.

Tiffini in front of a window with trees in the background

Tiffini Eugene | Educator Fellow
Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA

Tiffini is an Environmental Science professor at Kennesaw State University. As a lifelong learner, her journey has evolved from chemistry to sustainability education. As a STEM advocate with efforts to broaden participation, increase retention, and reduce barriers to contribution in the sciences, Tiffini is committed to STEM education with a focus on sustainability to empower students, particularly from historically underrepresented groups, to address issues related to climate change and remain engaged in the field.

Bethany in front of a white background

Bethany Wilson | Educator Fellow
Detroit Zoological Society | Royal Oak, MI

Bethany Wilson is a Senior Education Specialist at the Detroit Zoo. She also serves as a governing council member and educator with the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation. Bethany is committed to helping young people develop leadership and environmental advocacy skills. Under her guidance she has implemented the Teen Conservation Summit allowing teens from across Michigan to share their passion for environmental issues and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.

Tracy wearing goggles in front of trees covered in snow

Tracy Wirak-Cassidy | Educator Fellow
Takshanuk Watershed Council | Haines, Alaska

Tracy is an adventurous educator working as the Education Coordinator for Takshanuk Watershed Council serving Haines, Skagway, and Klukwan, Alaska. Her passion for getting students out of the classroom and into the field to learn about their local watersheds is what drives her instruction. With 5 years of classroom experience and over 10 years of working as an environmental educator, Tracy understands the importance of inquiry-based, student-centered projects. She actively engages students in her remote corner of the world in this form of hands-on-learning.

Elsa in front of an off-white background

Elsa Herraez Hernandez | Educator Fellow
Berkshire Hills Regional School District | Great Barrington, MA

Elsa is a high school Life Science teacher dedicated to sparking curiosity and empowering students to see themselves as capable scientists and innovators. Through her role as an instructional lead and her collaborations with the Department of Education, Elsa advocates for transforming education by promoting meaningful learning experiences that prioritize exploration, critical thinking, and real-world connections. Her classroom emphasizes hands-on exploration, inquiry, and problem-solving, equipping students to think deeply and engage meaningfully with their learning. The outdoors serves as a constant source of inspiration for Elsa, who marvels at the delicate balance of natural systems and brings that sense of wonder into her teaching.

Britney holding a piece of bone

Brittney Stoneburg | Educator Fellow
Western Science Center | Hemet, CA

Brittney is the Collections & Communications Manager at WSC and a vertebrate paleontologist studying the paleoecology and taxonomy of terrestrial mammals from the Miocene and Pleistocene epochs. She is also passionate about science communication and outreach, and cofounded the educational initiative Cosplay for Science. When not doing or talking about science she enjoys film photography, writing, and other artistic pursuits.

Zachary in front of a brick building

Zachary Kovach | Educator Fellow
Estrella Mountain Community College | Avondale, AZ

Zachary Kovach is a Professor of Geology and Sustainability at Estrella Mountain Community College, specializing in student-centered and inquiry-based active learning teaching practices for both STEM and Non-STEM majors courses. He is active in a number of teacher associations and organizations, and enjoys collaborating and sharing best practices with fellow educators to help grow science education globally. He lives with his wife and daughter in Avondale, AZ, where he enjoys family adventuring, martial arts, hot sauce, growing beards, and general silly dad shenanigans.

Amy in a classroom

Amy Lacks | Educator Fellow
De La Salle North Catholic High School | Portland, OR

Amy teaches Biology and Anatomy & Physiology to high school juniors and seniors. She incorporates as much hands-on learning and data analysis as she can into her teaching. She loves curriculum design, and her favorite topics to teach are Evolution and Ecology. Before becoming a high school teacher, Amy conducted her masters research on coral reproduction at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She also worked for several years as a research diver and an environmental educator. When not teaching, Amy loves to spend time with her family, hike, dance, swim and visit museums.

Eric outdoors wearing a backpack

Eric Klein | Researcher Fellow
University of Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage, AK

Eric is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geological Science at the University of Alaska Anchorage. His hydroclimate research explores how water moves through the Earth and leaves different signals (some physical, others biological or chemical) that allow us to understand its distribution and impacts across multiple time periods, landscapes, and phase changes. He uses field instrumentation and stable water isotope ratios to understand the movement and relationship between modern hydroclimate variables, such as precipitation, glacier melt, and stream discharge. Much of Eric’s current research is in high northern latitude and Arctic environments.

Ignatius with goggles on his head

Ignatius Rigor | Researcher Fellow
University of Washington | Seattle, WA

Ignatius is a climatologist at the Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, and an affiliate associate professor in the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Rigor studies sea ice, and how it interacts with the atmosphere and ocean. His primary tools for research are observations from drifting buoys and satellites.