What is Ecoinformatics?

We view ecoinformatics as integrating cutting-edge informatics tools (data analytics, computing, statistical analysis, and modeling) with knowledge, theory, and data from ecology, climate science, and other environmental science disciplines to address pressing environmental issues. 


The Ecological and Environmental Informatics (“Ecoinformatics”) research group at NAU employs cutting-edge computational, analytical, and modeling (“informatics”) tools to conduct research in major terrestrial biomes from the tropics to the tundra to deserts. Our ecological expertise spans physiological ecology, ecosystem ecology, forest ecology, biosphere-atmosphere interactions, disease ecology, remote sensing, and more. We augment this expertise by collaborating with other world-class research centers across NAU and other institutions.

We would love for you to join us! Learn more about our research labsfaculty and research staff, new team-science based PhD program (funded by the National Science Foundation), other graduate research and funding opportunities, and our undergraduate program.


On This Page

T3 Statement on Racism and Inequality News Living in Flagstaff


T3 Statement on Racism and Inequality

The T3 Program Advisory Committee (PAC)  recognizes that there are structural inequalities that permeate our society, and the sciences are not immune to racism. As a program supported by the National Science Foundation’s National Research Traineeship (NRT) program, the T3 program is committed to broadening participation in the sciences and to being part of the solution to these systemic problems. T3 Program Affiliates are committed to engaging in training and awareness activities that address issues of racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sciences, and the T3 PAC is discussing concrete actions we can take as a group. We will provide updates about our plans as they take shape.

News

Student News

Blase LaSala surveys a cave in the Grand Canyon’s deep karst aquifer system. Photo Credit: Garrison Loope (GRCA)

SICCS News

Congratulations to Drs Yiqi Luo (left), Scott Goetz (middle), and Kevin Gurney (right), who were named as 3 of Reuters’ Top 1000 Climate Scientists

electronics in a red box
SICCS professor wins NAU 2022 award for Most Significant Innovation in Technology Transfer or Commercialization

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Gurney, who won NAU’s 2022 award for Most Significant Innovation in Technology Transfer of Commercialization

Research News

Broadening Our Impact

 

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Living in Flagstaff

With more than 250 days of sunshine per year, Flagstaff provides a beautiful setting for living and learning. Outdoor opportunities in Flagstaff are unrivaled and include local hiking, running, and biking options, our very own ski resort, and easy access to the world-renowned Grand Canyon National Park and other national parks and monuments around the 4-Corners region. Flagstaff, located at an elevation of 7000 ft, is situated on the edge of the Colorado Plateau. The proximity to lower elevation deserts ensures year-round access to hiking, camping, and world-class rock climbing.

In addition to outdoor activities, there is a vibrant science and arts community in Flagstaff. Annually, the Flagstaff Festival of Science provides free science-related activities for all ages. Lowell Observatory is open to the public with programs for all ages. Arts events include summer festivals, free activities year-round in Heritage Square, art galleries, First Friday Art Walk, the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, aerial artists, and much, much more.

Northern Arizona University is an accredited postsecondary minority-serving institution as well as a Hispanic-serving institution and is committed to building a diverse community of scholars and improving opportunities for historically underrepresented students and faculty.

You can learn more about Flagstaff here.

 

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What We Do

Our faculty and affiliates engage in a broad range of collaborative research projects with our academic, government, and industry partners. While most of our projects expand beyond traditional disciplinary divides, projects in this area are closely related to ecology, remote sensing, and environmental modeling.

Our Research Groups

Who We Are

Our ecoinformatics group at NAU includes 17 faculty, representing a broad range of expertise from plant and ecosystem ecology to remote sensing to statistics to ecohydrology to disease ecology, among others. The faculty is paralleled by our diverse group of postdoctoral researchers, research support staff, and graduate students.

Faculty Postdoctoral Researchers Research Staff Graduate Students Recent Graduates & Affiliates


Faculty


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Postdoctoral Researchers


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Research Support Staff


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PhD Students


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Recent Graduates

  • Rohan Boone (2022) MSc in Informatics
  • Andrew Abraham (2021) PhD in Informatics
  • Adam Belmonte (2021) Phd in Informatics
  • Laura Puckett (2021) MSc in Informatics
  • Nancy Peterson (2020) MSc in Informatics
  • Jessica Guo (2019) PhD in Biological Sciences

Recent Affiliates

  • Adrianna Forst, former Ecoinformatics postdoc (GEODE [Goetz] Lab), currently at NCAR Boulder
  • Tim Rademacher, former Ecoinformatics postdoc (Terrestrial Ecosystems & Global Change [Richardson Lab])
  • Richard Massey, former Ecoinformatics postdoc (GEODE [Goetz] Lab), currently at BAE systems in Ogden, Utah
  • Bijan Seyednasarollah, former Ecoinformatics postdoc (Terrestrial Ecosystems & Global Change [Richardson Lab]), currently a senior data scientist in the private sector
  • Larissa Yocom, former Ecoinformatics postdoc (Ecological Synthesis Lab), currently at Utah State University
  • Yao Liu , former Ecoinformatics postdoc (Ecological Synthesis Lab), currently at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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