ARCS Foundation – Phoenix Chapter

Audrey received two BS degrees, one in Environmental Studies-Policy and the other in Biology, from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Her MS Degree is from Montana State University in Land Resources and Environmental Science. She is currently researching plant community ecology, invasion biology, conservation biology, integrated weed management, improving revegetation practices, native plants development, and restoration ecology in arid landscapes. Her current focus is improving native seed quality and quantity of five wildflower plants by utilizing the concept of maternal effects in a seed production system for large-scale restoration efforts.

Elizabeth attended the University of Buffalo, receiving her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science before coming to Northern Arizona University, where she obtained her MS in Biological Sciences in the spring of 2020. During her master’s degree, Elizabeth focused on sex differences in various aspects of respiratory mechanics as well as her thesis on de-acclimatization from moderate altitude. She is currently continuing her work in integrative human physiology to understand how manipulating the respiratory system can positively impact brain blood flow redistribution in simulated microgravity.

Alejandro received a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona and an MS in Biology from Middle Tennessee State University. Alejandro is focused on understanding how various farming practices (conventional vs. organic) affect fungal communities, how arthropod communities differ between each farming practice, and how amphibian and reptile community patterns differ. His goal is to identify farming strategies that conserve wildlife inhabiting rice field ecosystems while improving natural ecosystem services to enhance farming sustainability.

Connor received a BA in Journalism with a Minor in Business and an MS in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Forestry from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His work involves applying forest ecology and management to study the sustainability of aspen in Arizona. His research is focused on identifying which factors are limiting aspen regeneration and recruitment in Arizona, with a particular focus on quantifying the extent and impacts of oystershell scale, an invasive insect that poses a serious threat to conservation of aspen in the Southwest.

Allison graduated summa cum laude from Framingham State University with a BS in Environmental Science and Policy with minors in both Biology and English. After graduation she worked as a technical writer in a laboratory using radiocarbon as a chemical tracer to understand the persistence and environmental impacts of chemicals on the natural environment. Her Ph.D. research focuses on utilizing radiocarbon as a tool to carbon date the soil particles transported in Arctic groundwater, rivers, permafrost thaw, ground ice melt, and increased precipitation to better understand carbon cycling in the Arctic as it relates to climate change.