About Caitlin
I am a graduate research assistant studying the effects of global change on alpine lake ecosystems under Dr. Jill Baron. My masters research is focused on analyzing sediment cores in the Sierra Nevada, CA, to look at change in algal abundance over time and how shifts in abundances correlate to global change drivers such as warming temperatures and increased nutrient deposition. I also work in the Loch Vale Watershed long-term ecological research and monitoring program in Rocky Mountain National Park where I am currently working on mapping benthic algal blooms in alpine and subalpine lakes and helping develop remote sensing tools to monitor mountain lake productivity. I obtained an Honors B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Ecology from Baylor University in 2018 with minors in photojournalism and creative writing, and also played Division I softball. Outside of my graduate research you can find me backpacking, hiking, climbing, road biking and snowboarding my way across Colorado! (she/her/hers)
Interests
- limnology, paleolimnology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, science communication, sustainability, global change, landscape ecology, GIS, remote sensing, freshwater ecology, photography, international climate negotiations, water law, environmental policy, journalism
Education
M.Sc., Graduate Degree Program in Ecology - Colorado State University
Fort Collins/CO, 2021
B.S., Biology-Ecology - Baylor University
Waco/TX, 2018
Graduate & Advisor Program
Jill Baron
M.Sc. Program; Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
Certifications
- AIARE I by Colorado Mountain School, 2020
- PADI Open Water SCUBA by Colorado SCUBA Diving Academy, 2019
Memberships
- ASLO
- AGU