Our Research Staff keep our labs and programs running and ensure the quality of research results. Many also train students in the lab and field as well as engage in public outreach and tours. They represent a source of knowledge, talent, and experience that's critical to INSTAAR’s mission. Current staff with questions or concerns should contact Sylvia Englund Michel (Staff Representative). Prospective staff should check the Jobs page and consider contacting individual INSTAAR Faculty.
Brent Bednarek
- Laboratory Manager
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Environmental Analytical Chemistry
Henry Brandes
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Long-term Climate Monitoring; Snow & Mountain Hydrology; Data Acquisition; Field Instrumentation and Sampling methods
Nicole Brooks
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Micropaleontology, Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, Foraminifera, Marine sediment cores, Paleoceanography, Paleoclimateology
Patrick Cappa
- Professional Research Assistant, Professional Scientist, Wet Lab Manager, Lab Chemist
- Professional Research Assistant
- Professional Scientist
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Wet lab chemistry, isotope chemistry, maintenance and production of primary and secondary hOX radiocarbon standards and various other radiocarbon standards, lab glassblower, lab archivist.
Justin Reid Clark
- Professional Scientist
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Stable isotope mass spectrometry.
Stephanie Dykema
- Lead Limnology Technician
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Understanding interactions among terrestrial and freshwater systems particularly in the context of climate change; Biogeochemical drivers of aquatic community structure; Lakes as sentinels of change; Shifting phenology; Plant restoration techniques; Native seed harvesting
Sarah Elmendorf
- Information Manager
- Research Associate
Departments/Academic Programs
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Plant ecology, climate change, tundra
Leanne Lestak
- GIS / Remote Sensing Specialist
- Senior Professional Research Assistant
Specialty
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing as applied to western water, snow hydrology, coastal change, and the creation and distribution of high resolution scientific data.
Kelly Loria
- Limnologist
- Professional Research Assistant
Departments/Academic Programs
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Aquatic ecology; alpine limnology (and ecology); zooplankton and phytoplankton analysis; and invasive species.
Sylvia Englund Michel
- Assistant Laboratory Manager
- Senior Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Technical expert in stable isotope mass spectrometry, including dual inlet and continuous flow techniques. Proficient with IDL coding language for data processing and management.
Steve Morgan
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Lab engineer for design, fabrication, and maintenance of laboratory equipment; lab electronics technician; extraction and purification of CO2 and methane from whole air samples for high-precision 14C measurement.
Valerie Morris
- Laboratory Technician
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Isotopic analysis of ice cores, greenhouse gases, and many other matrices; looking at biogeochemistry, carbon cycling and climate change.
Jennifer Morse
- Climate Technician
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Eric Parrish
- Scientific Illustrator, Data Manager
- Professional Research Assistant
Specialty
Graphics, GIS-based products, information and image management, scientific illustration, and support.
Laura Rea
- Professional Research Assistant
Wendy Roth
- Laboratory Manager, Arctic Workshop Coordinator
- Laboratory Coordinator II
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Kevin Rozmiarek
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Instrumentation expert in stable isotope mass spectrometry.
Matt Schiff
- Field and Lab Manager, Critical Zone Collaborative Network
- Professional Research Assistant
Maria Stoica
- Research Associate
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
building geoscience ontologies, scientific programming
Kathy Welch
- Project Manager (MCM-LTER)
- Senior Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, geochemistry, analytical chemistry
Chad Wolak
- Laboratory Manager
- Professional Research Assistant
Research Programs, Labs, and Groups
Specialty
Quantification of 14C and fossil fuel CO2 in the modern atmosphere. Use of radiocarbon as a geochemical tracer in the environment.