Executive Council
2022 - 2023
President
Scott Cocker
Hi, Scott here. I am a third year PhD student with Dr. Duane Froese studying the fossil record of arctic ground squirrels from Yukon using ancient DNA.
Vice President
Kira Holland
kmhollan@ualberta.ca
I am a third year PhD student working with Dr. Alison Criscitiello in the Canadian Ice Core Lab. My research uses the geochemistry of ice to reconstruct past climate and environmental conditions. I am currently working on the new Mount Logan ice core from southwestern Yukon, which will provide us with a better understanding of ocean-atmosphere variability of the North Pacific.
Secretary
Sepideh Kheirkhah
I am a second year PhD student working with Dr. Monireh Faramarzi in the Watershed Science and Modeling Laboratory (WSML). My research focus is on the water-food challenges in Canadian Prairies and under the impact of climate change.
Treasurer
Alejandro Alvarez
I am a first year PhD student with Dr. Duane Froese in the Permafrost Archives Science Laboratory (PACS Lab). My research is focused on ice-rich permafrost within the Mackenzie Delta region and its implications for future thaw.
Field Trip Coordinator
Baptiste Coutret
Hi, my name is Baptiste. I am a Ph.D. student interested in geobiological changes in paleoenvironmental geochemistry and fossil diversity between the late Neoproterozoic – early Cambrian periods.
Undergraduate Liaison
Shaun Woodstra
Hey, I’m Shaun, and I’m a MSc student researching Quaternary to Holocene volcanism and tephrochronology in Alaska, B.C., and the Yukon. Yes, we have active volcanoes in Canada!
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Coordinator
Avni Patel
Hi everyone, I’m Avni, a third-year PhD student studying amorphous carbonate mineral transformations in the Environmental Economic Geology Laboratory. This year, I have the pleasure of continuing my ATLAS role as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer. My primary goals for this year include: (1) facilitating collaboration with other departmental EDI groups across the faculty, (2) sourcing graduate student feedback on new EDI initiatives presented to the Faculty of Science EDI committee, and (3) ensuring the departmental outcomes from URGE 2021 are continued.
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
Michelle Landry
Hi, my name is Michelle. I’m in my first year of my MSc. studying under Dr. Duane Froese. My work focuses on the categorization of areas of permafrost affected by drilling waste contamination in the Northwest Territories.
Lecture Series Coordinator
Drew Brown
Hello, my name is Drew Brown. I am a MSc student with Dr. Murray Gingras. I am studying the role of burrowing organisms in influencing diagenesis. My work is based in the Abu Dhabi sabkha.
Lecture Series Coordinator
Tahya Weiss-Gibbons
Hi my name is Tahya Weiss-Gibbons, and I'm a PhD student with Dr. Paul Myers. I work on modelling the Arctic Ocean, specifically looking at the interactions between different components of the climate system.
Symposium Coordinator
Maria Arizaleta
Hi! My name is Maria Arizaleta and I am a 3rd year PhD student with Dr. Sasha Wilson. My research focuses on characterizing and assessing the potential of clay minerals found in lakes and mine tailings for CO2 sequestration.
Symposium Coordinator
Amber Yu
Hi, my name is Amber Yu and I am a 1st year MSc student studying nitrogen cycle with Dr. Long Li. My research focuses on using N isotopic compositions of altered basalts to reconstruct the N signature of ammonium in seawater from Archean to present.
Webmaster and Calendar Coordinator
Patrick O’Brien
I am in the second year of my PhD with Dr. Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa in the Centre for Earth Observation Sciences. My research looks at different methods to determine tropical dry forest biodiversity using orbital and suborbital remote sensing methods.
EAS Ambassador/Remote Sensing Representative
Johnathan Spence
Hi, my name is Jonathan, and I am in my first year of my MSc with Drs. Sasha Wilson and Benoit Rivard. My research is focussed on the development of carbon capture techniques, validation and policy.
Social Convener
Hannah Louis
Tansî, Hannah nitsihkâson! I’m a first year MSc student in physical oceanography with Dr. Paul Myers. My research is focused on the oceanographic observations and modelling of climate change in the James Bay/Hudson Bay region.
Social Convener/Atmosphere and Ocean Representative
Rowan Brown
I am a master’s student working on modelling the Labrador Sea under the supervision of Dr Paul Myers. Ironically, I recently moved here from Newfoundland and Labrador where I was working as an ocean engineer.
Human Geography Representative
Meagan Miller
Hi, I’m Meagan (she/her). I am a first-year Master’s student working with Dr. Damian Collins and Dr. Joshua Evans on community housing in Canada. My research will focus on accessibility for people with physical impairment/mobility limitations.
Glacier and Quaternary Geology Representative
Patrick White
My Name is Patrick White and I am a second year MSc student studying glacier biogeochemistry with Dr. Maya Bhatia. I am particularly interested in glaciers in the Canadian Arctic and how they may be stimulating regional marine ecosystems through nutrient enhancement.
Integrated Petroleum Geosciences Representative
Kalid Dawud
I'm a first year of MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geosciences, my interests are oil and gas industries.
Urban and Regional Planning Representative
Desiree Rose
Hi! My name is Desiree, and I am a second year Master’s of Urban Planning student. My research studies health-focussed climate adaptation and resilience.
Geography Representative
Arzu Acikelli
Hello, I am Arzu. Currently I am doing my PhD under the supervision of Murray Gingras and Kurt Konhauser. My research uses sedimentology, ichnology and geochemistry to interpret ancient depositional environments.