Congratulations to Tyler Williams on successfully defending his Master’s thesis!

On April 28, Tyler Williams successfully defended his M.S. thesis at Utah State University, entitled “Warming, flooding, and goose herbivory effects on two plant communities and greenhouse gas emissions: A mesocosm study in coastal western Alaska”. Tyler was advised by Dr. Karen H. Beard, with Dr. Andrew Kulmatiski and myself serving on his committee.

Tyler’s journey with Karen’s research group began in summer 2022, when he joined our first field campaign in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, as an undergraduate seeking hands-on research experience. What started as a summer opportunity became a longer-term involvement in Arctic ecology. After joining the Beard Lab as a Master’s student in 2023, Tyler returned to western Alaska for two additional field seasons.

Across three summers in the Delta, Tyler gained substantial field and research experience. He contributed to establishing and maintaining field experiments, collecting ecological data under demanding Arctic conditions, assisting newer field crew members, and participating in different stages of the research process, from data analysis to scientific writing.

For his thesis, Tyler investigated how warming, flooding, and goose herbivory influence plant communities and greenhouse gas emissions in Arctic coastal wetlands. Using a two-year field experiment, he showed that neighboring wetland communities can respond differently to environmental change, highlighting the importance of local landscape heterogeneity when predicting ecosystem responses to future climate change.

Tyler’s successful defense marks the culmination of several years of work, persistence, and dedication to ecological research. We are proud of his accomplishment and look forward to seeing where his next steps take him. Congratulations!

Posted: June 12, 2026

Following footsteps in the tundra: Celebrating Inga Svala Jónsdóttir in Iceland

On April 17–18, I had the privilege of traveling to Iceland to participate in a special event celebrating the appointment of Professor Emerita Inga Svala Jónsdóttir. The event brought together colleagues, collaborators, former students, and friends to recognize Inga Svala’s outstanding contributions to Arctic ecology, long-term ecological research, and the mentorship of multiple generations of scientists.

As part of the celebration, I was invited to give a talk titled Following footsteps in the tundra: Reflections on the (scientific) journey with Inga Svala Jónsdóttir. Rather than providing a traditional overview of her scientific achievements, the presentation reflected on the profound influence that Inga has had on my own development as a scientist. From first encountering her work as a Master’s student in Italy, to completing a PhD under her supervision in Svalbard, and continuing to collaborate with her throughout my career, the talk explored how mentorship extends beyond science through the transmission of curiosity, independence, critical thinking, and a passion for understanding the natural world.

The event also provided an opportunity to revisit many of the experiences and collaborations that shaped my scientific trajectory, including fieldwork in Svalbard, involvement in international research networks such as ITEX, and the long-term ecological studies that continue to inform our understanding of Arctic ecosystems. It was particularly meaningful to celebrate Inga’s career in Iceland, a place closely connected to both her scientific contributions and my own early experiences within the Arctic research community.

The celebration was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Icelandic Ecological Society, where I also had the opportunity to present recent work from my research in western Alaska. My conference presentation focused on how phenotypic plasticity and species turnover contribute to changes in the functional structure of coastal tundra plant communities exposed to experimental flooding and warming in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta. It was a fitting opportunity to discuss ongoing research inspired by many of the same questions that have guided Inga’s work throughout her career, while also reflecting on the lasting impact of her mentorship and scientific legacy.

Posted: June 12, 2026

Cristina Chirvasa publishes first first-author paper in Oecologia

We are very pleased to share that Cristina Chirvasa, a former undergraduate researcher at Utah State University whom I co-mentored with Prof. Dr. Karen H. Beard, has published her first scientific paper as first author in Oecologia. The article appears in the journal’s ‘Highlighted Student Research’ category, which showcases research led by student authors.

Cristina conducted this work as part of an NSF-funded project in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta examining rapid plant trait responses to major global change drivers. I mentored Cristina throughout the entire research process, from the establishment of the field experiment and data collection in Alaska to data analysis, manuscript preparation, and publication. Supporting students through the full trajectory of a scientific project, from fieldwork to peer-reviewed publication, is one of the most rewarding aspects of academic mentorship.

During her undergraduate training, Cristina was recognized as the top undergraduate student of the year (2023–2024) in the Quinney College of Natural Resources at Utah State University and received the Peak Summer Undergraduate Research Award. She was also selected to participate in the Scholars Transforming Through Research event (2024) organized by the Council of Undergraduate Research in Washington, DC. I accompanied Cristina to the event, where she presented her research and discussed the importance of ecological research and conservation with policymakers and members of Congress.

Cristina is currently working as a lab manager at Utah State University and is preparing the next steps toward a Ph.D. focused on socioecological restoration and functional ecology. I am extremely proud of Cristina’s accomplishments and look forward to seeing her continued growth as a scientist. Congratulations!

Posted: March 15, 2026