STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS:

After earning her undergraduate degree from CNU, Stephanie Breeden joined the Master’s program. She is currently studying the effect of elevated carbon dioxide on soil methane concentrations and the response of soil substrates for methane production in a wetland plant species.

Travis Comer researches methane production/ oxidation and carbon dioxide production characteristics of peatland soil profiles in northern Alberta, Canada. He also researches the impacts of environmental variables (i.e. temperature) on these processes.

Michael Harrison, a CNU graduate student and field manager, studies greenhouse emissions from melting permafrost in northern Alberta, Canada. He has contracted GIS work for the US Army as an ORISE fellowship recipient. Currently, he is working as a Mosquito Inspector for the City of Portsmouth, utilizing GIS skills by mapping mosquito breeding habitats and tracking spray trucks that use on-board GPS tracking.

Rachel Schroeder is studying the effect of altered photosynthetic rates on methane emission from an emergent wetland plant species. After completing her Master’s at CNU, she plans to obtain a Ph D. in Environmental Science and eventually teach at the University level.

Whitney Carroll, Jeremiah Freeman, and Marie Triplett are undergraduate students who assist Dr. Whiting with research in melted permafrost zones within northern Alberta, Canada.

Jeremiah studies the methane concentrations of porewaters.

Whitney explores remote sensing indices and the relationship to carbon dioxide and methane exchange.

Marie describes the response of soil respiration to temperature for this region.