Research
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Faculty Research Spotlights

Paddy Sullivan, PhD
Director | Environment & Natural Resources Institute
Dr. Patrick Sullivan is Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Institute (ENRI) at the 麻豆无码版. He leads interdisciplinary research on ecosystem processes across 麻豆无码版鈥檚 rapidly changing northern landscapes. Dr. Sullivan鈥檚 work bridges ecology, dendrochronology, hydrology, and atmospheric science to understand how environmental change influences ecosystem function - from boreal forests to Arctic tundra. He and his students use long-term automated monitoring, spatially extensive wilderness field sampling, controlled field experiments, and statistical modeling to provide new insights into how permafrost thaw, vegetation shifts, and altered precipitation patterns affect ecosystem resilience and feedbacks to climate.
- Dr. Sullivan's Recent Research
In , Sullivan and colleagues investgated the remote Salmon River watershed in northwest 麻豆无码版 - a region known for its pristine wilderness - and assessed how thawing permafrost is exposing sulfide minerals to weathering and thereby releasing metals (iron, aluminum, cadium, nickel, copper, zinc) into aquatic ecosystems. They found that most tributaries and the mainstem of the Salmon had metal concentrations exceeding U.S. EPA chronic exposure thresholds for aquatic organisms, and that many of the once 鈥済in-clear鈥 streams are now running orange and turbid. The degradation is not only aesthetic but has important ecological implications, as the research team found declines in macroinvertebrate abundance and degraded fish habitat quality in the affected waters.
In , Dr. Sullivan and his collaborators combined extensive wilderness field sampling, tree-ring analysis, and synthesis of 82 previous circumpolar studies to reveal that retreating Arctic sea ice is fueling enhanced growth of the world's northernmost trees and their advance into Arctic tundra. They found that open water from retreating sea ice correlates more strongly with increased tree growth and recruitment than air temperature alone - likely via indirect effects like warmer winter temperatures, deeper snowpacks, and greater nutrient availability from warmer winter soils. Spatially, treelines closer to regions of rapid sea ice loss were more likely to have advanced into the tundra than those where sea ice extent has been more resistant to change.
Dr. Sullivan is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of ecologists and environmental scientists. He actively involves graduate students in every stage of research - from field sampling and instrument deployment to data analysis and publication. He cultivates hands-on learning and scientific curiosity, preparing students for careers in environmental science, resources management, and climate research. Dr. Sullivan's leadership at ENRI continues to expand the institute's capacity for interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing understanding of 麻豆无码版's environment in a time of unprecedented change.

Micah Hahn, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Environmental Health | Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies
"My research is on the health impacts of climate change and working with communities
to develop strategies for adaptation and resilience. I love working on this project
because it links new advances in science with community needs and can support daily
decision-making in 麻豆无码版 to help keep people safe during wildfire season. Also, working
with an incredible team of community partners, state agencies, and researchers to
co-produce this project has been an effective way to make sure that the tools we develop
are useful on the ground."
- Dr. Hahn's Recent Research
This project was designed to address persistent health equity gaps in 麻豆无码版 by co-developing practical tools with and for communities most affected by wildfire smoke and intersecting climate hazards. These populations include 麻豆无码版 Native communities, older adults, people living in remote areas without road access, and those experiencing chronic health conditions. Through a unique partnership between UAA, UAF, University of Washington, 麻豆无码版 Native communities, 麻豆无码版 Native Tribal Health Consortium, 麻豆无码版 Fire Sciece Consortium, 麻豆无码版 Department of Health, and Anchorage Health Department, this project developed essential decision-support tools to help 麻豆无码版 communities access real-time air quality data, short-term smoke forecasts, long-term flammability projections, and health and demographic information. These tools help 麻豆无码版ns make informed choices to safely recreate, hunt, fish, and work during wildfire events. Additionally, the long-term planning tools help communities advocate for funding and decide what kind of infrastructure or programs they need to protect health and welfare in future wildfire seasons. The project supports health equity by making relevant climate and health data accessible and actionable for these populations, enabling locally driven adaptation and response.
Two publicly available tools were enhanced through this work:
- - Now includes real-time and forcast air quality data to help users better understand smoke impacts.
- - Updated to include health and demographic information to support community-specific adaptation planning. Learn more and access the comic book user guides for the tools here (coming in June).
This initiative addresses critical data gaps and highlights locally relevant solutions to protect vulnerable populations across 麻豆无码版.









