Emerson Conrad-Rooney, a Ph.D. candidate of the Templer Lab and a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow, received the Ecological Society of America (ESA) 2024 Graduate Student Policy Award.
“The caliber of this year’s awardees, as has been true for awardees in our program since its inception, reflects a promising future for ecological research and policy advocacy. These exceptional students exemplify the Society’s commitment to nurturing innovative minds dedicated to addressing our most pressing scientific and environmental challenges”, said ESA President Shahid Naeem.
Conrad-Rooney’s dissertation research focuses on how climate change—both warmer summers and less snowpack in winter—impacts the ability of Northeastern forests to be carbon sinks. They are also a trainee in the Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health Program which is an NSF Research Traineeship program that trains students in science policy, science communication, urban ecology and public health. Through this program, they conducted an internship with the U.S. Global Change Research Program in 2022–2023, during which they analyzed nature-related content in the Fifth National Climate Assessment. Their long-term goal is to become a professor of forest ecology and bring experience in both ecology and science policy to their teaching and research.
Read more here.
Congratulations to Emerson Conrad-Rooney!