Doctor of Philosophy Degrees

College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences

Dr. S. Bradley Moran, Dean

Josianne Haag **

Ph.D. Oceanography

B.S., University of British Columbia, 2020; M.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2022.

Thesis: Investigating Mariculture-Associated Ecosystem Services across the Northern Gulf of Alaska

The rapid expansion of mariculture in Alaska can drive physical and chemical alterations to the marine environment by the introduction of non-native species, which can create novel predatory pressures, and the increase of native species biomass, which can strengthen or weaken natural processes.

Major professor: Dr. Amanda Kelley

Genoa Sullaway **

Ph.D. Fisheries

B.S., California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, 2014; M.S., San Diego State University, 2017.

Thesis: Environmental Change in the Northeast Pacific: Climate Impacts on Phenology, Life History, and Population Dynamics in Marine and Aquatic Populations

Climate change is reshaping Northeast Pacific marine and freshwater ecosystems. This dissertation examines how environmental shifts affect Bering Sea zooplankton communities and Pacific salmon populations, including Yukon River chum and Bristol Bay sockeye. Findings highlight links between climate variables and zooplankton phenology, salmon survival and population resilience.

Major professor: Dr. Curry J. Cunningham

Sydney Ann Wilkinson **

Ph.D. Marine Biology

B.S. Toronto Metropolitan University, 2018; M.S. University of Toronto, 2019. 

Thesis: Organic Matter Sources and the Seasonal and Spatial Trophic Dynamics in Arctic Lagoon Food Webs

Shrinking sea ice, warming waters and increasing freshwater are altering Arctic coastal lagoons. This study applied biochemical tracers to characterize organic matter sources and understand the trophodynamics of benthic invertebrates and fishes in Beaufort Sea lagoons. The findings provide knowledge to forecast ecosystem responses to climate change and inform management of subsistence fisheries.

Major professor: Dr. Katrin Iken

Audrey Genevieve Rowe *

Ph.D. Paleoecology: Interdisciplinary Program

B.S., University of Chicago, 2016; M.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2018.

Thesis: Strontium Isotope Movement Modeling of Modern and Ancient Megafauna in Alaska

Strontium isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) were used to reconstruct the lifetime movements of a woolly mammoth from its tusk. The method was then adapted to caribou tooth enamel to compare modern and pre-modern herd space use in Interior Alaska. This work advances techniques for reconstructing past animal movements.

Major professor: Dr. Matthew Wooller

Isaac Steven Reister *

Ph.D. Oceanography

B.A., Whitman College, 2014.

Thesis: Perspectives on Northern Gulf of Alaska Freshwater Pathways, Wind, and Linkages to Phytoplankton Biomass

The northern Gulf of Alaska shelf receives freshwater and wind forcing that shape its productivity. This study mapped freshwater pathways, identified wind-driven instabilities and analyzed how stratification influences phytoplankton blooms. The results clarify how physical processes shape production on the shelf, improving our ability to anticipate ecosystem responses to climate change.

Major professor: Dr. Seth Danielson

Elizabeth Geraldine Hinkle **

Ph.D. Fisheries

B.A., Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2013; B.S., Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2013; M.S., Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 2018.

Thesis: Post-Fire Riverscapes: Exploring the Ecological and Behavioral Responses of Stream Communities to Wildfire in Boreal Streams

This dissertation investigates wildfire impacts on boreal streams in Interior Alaska. Combining field data, stable isotopes, trophic modeling and spatial analyses, the study found that wildfire alters aquatic productivity and food web complexity, with long-term effects on habitat structure, macroinvertebrate communities, fish biomass and movement patterns of Arctic grayling.

Major professor: Dr. Jeffrey Falke

Courtney Christopher Pegus

Ph.D. Fisheries

B.S., Morehouse College, 1999; M.S., Savannah State University, 2014.

Thesis: Assessing Glacial Ice Habitats of Harbor Seals in Alaska: Technique Enhancement and Use in Science Education

Rapid warming transforms tidewater glacial habitats essential to ice-dependent harbor seals by accelerating habitat loss. The study quantified seal-associated ice features using aerial imagery, assessed drone-based accuracy for measuring dynamic glacial environments, and integrated culturally grounded remote sensing education to engage and inspire diverse students toward science and conservation careers.

Major professor: Dr. Shannon Atkinson

Austin James Flanigan

Ph.D. Fisheries

B.S., University of New England, 2019.

Thesis: Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the Northern Bering Sea: Movement Ecology, Spawning Dynamics, and Implications for Management Practice

This dissertation evaluates the spatial dynamics of Pacific halibut in the northern Bering Sea using satellite telemetry. Results indicate that halibut conduct extensive migratory movements, but also display fine-scale spatial behaviors indicative of subpopulation and contingent structure. These findings provide valuable information for management of Pacific halibut within the region.

Major professor: Dr. Andrew Seitz

Karen Louise Grosskreutz

Ph.D. Fisheries

B.A., Warren Wilson College, 1999; M.S., Technical University of Munich, 2019.

Thesis: Coastal Systems Change: Individual and Community Responses to Ecological and Governance Shifts in Alaska’s Salmon and Mariculture Fisheries

An exploration of how individuals and communities adapt to shifting ecosystems and management in Alaska salmon and mariculture fisheries used an analysis of interviews and public comments. Results suggested industry development and academic research could be improved through substantive sharing of authority and benefits with Native polities and rural municipalities.

Major professor: Dr. Courtney Carothers

Lorna Ione Wilson

Ph.D. Fisheries

B.A., St. Olaf College, 2005; M.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2009.

Thesis: Unraveling Growth, Maturation, and Measurement Uncertainty in Alaska’s Declining Chinook Salmon Populations

Female Chinook salmon freshwater and marine growth patterns varied across Alaska and over the life of the fish. Later-life growth patterns influenced population vulnerability to demographic declines. Warmer early-life conditions reduced final-year growth, while population productivity and female maturity age depended on growth–maturity tradeoffs and temperature.

Major professors: Dr. Megan McPhee and Dr. Milo Adkison

Emily Lauren Salinas Ortega *

Ph.D. Oceanography

B.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2019.

Thesis: Dissolved and Particulate Nutrient Dynamics in the Northern Gulf of Alaska: A Productive Subarctic Shelf Ecosystem

The Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA) is a culturally and economically valuable, productive ecosystem. Its productivity is tied to spatiotemporal variability in processes that deliver nutrients to the surface, where phytoplankton can assimilate them. This research obtained multiseasonal, high-resolution data and produced new insights into nutrient cycling within the NGA.

Major professor: Dr. Ana Aguilar-Islas

College of Indigenous Studies

Teisha Simmons, Interim Dean

Eldri Waid Westmoreland **

Ph.D. Indigenous Studies

B.S., University of Central Oklahoma, 2002; M.A., Western Governors University, 2018.

Thesis: Developing a Lingít Cultural Learning Theory

Comparative analysis of Indigenous oral histories developed a Lingít cultural learning theory through intergenerational transfer of knowledge and revealed four foundational themes: processes, patterns, principles and purposes of learning. This research further identified the cyclical methods of Lingít education through relationships, reciprocity and respect: observation, participation, independence and teaching.

Major professor: Dr. Sean Asikluk Topkok

Christine Diindiisi McCleave **

Ph.D. Indigenous Studies

B.S., University of Northwestern, 2009; M.A., Augsburg University, 2016.

Thesis: More Than Peyote: Trauma, Healing, and the Politics of Indigenous Cultural Survival in the Age of Psychedelic Colonialism

This study analyzes peyote religion, historical trauma and the growing psychedelic movement using an Indigenous framework. Findings show that contemporary psychedelic practices perpetuate colonial dynamics, while healing is rooted in land, kinship and Indigenous sovereignty rather than psychedelic substances.

Major professors: Dr. Panigkaq Agatha John-Shields and Dr. Michael Koskey

College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Ellen D. S. Lopez, Dean

Nicholas Joseph Parlato **

Ph.D. Government and Environmental Geography: Interdisciplinary Program

B.A., Oberlin College, 2012; M.A., University of Northern British Columbia, 2019.

Thesis: Landfast Legalities and Institutional Erosion: Assembling Alaska Coastal Governance at the Melting Edge of the Anthropocene

How can anthropocentrism be displaced from environmental governance approaches? This dissertation thinks with, through and for Earthly multitudes in a time of extensive categorical and systemic breakdown. Centering the Alaska Coastal Management Program, it examines how relationality, Indigenous lifeways, infrastructure and animal agency produce the terms and arenas of governance.

Major professor: Dr. Amy Lauren Lovecraft

Kirsten Hagen *

Ph.D. Clinical-Community Psychology

B.A., Widener University, 2013; M.A., Rosemont College, 2015.

Thesis: An Exploration of Factors that Influence a Clinical Supervisor’s Decision to Address the Personal Development and Dispositions of Supervisees

This grounded theory study explores factors influencing clinical supervisors’ decisions to address supervisees’ personal development. Eleven themes emerged, including supervision is not therapy, conflict avoidance, and rapport. Findings suggest that improving formal supervision training in doctoral programs can help address personal factors more effectively, enhancing both supervisor and supervisee development.

Major professors: Dr. Valerie Gifford and Dr. Inna Rivkin

Carol Diane Simpson-Warner

Ph.D. Linguistics, Cross-Cultural Studies, and Publication: Interdisciplinary Program

B.A., University of Guam, 1980; M.Ed., University of Guam, 1995; M.F.A., Queens University of Charlotte, 2010.

Thesis: Writers’ Stories of Process and Product: Cross-Language Considerations in the Editing of the Predominantly English Language Work of Translingual Writers in Guam

Due to colonization in Micronesia, much regional Indigenous writing is predominantly in English. In this study, three Indigenous writers share perspectives on the editing of their work. Through their stories, the space in which their text is edited emerges as a place for collaborative navigation of language and culture.

Major professors: Dr. Sarah Stanley and Dr. Sharleen Santos-Bamba

Valerie Olson **

Ph.D. Organizational Psychology and Communication: Interdisciplinary Program

B.A., Centenary College, 2003; M.Div., Emory University, 2008.

Thesis: Individual and Organizational Factors Influencing Postsecondary Faculty Openness Toward Organizational Change: A Mixed Methods Analysis

Examining predictors of openness toward organizational change (OTOC), the quantitative survey found that organizational citizenship behavior toward the organization uniquely predicts OTOC among University of Alaska faculty. Qualitative analysis revealed faculty OTOC was conditional, highlighting the relevance of psychological contracts and transformational leadership within shared-governance structures.

Major professors: Dr. Amy May and Dr. Amber Worthington

College of Natural Science and Mathematics

Dr. Karsten Hueffer, Dean

Hannah Mevenkamp **

Ph.D. Biological Sciences

B.S., Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 2020.

Thesis: Multiple Sources of Uncertainty in High-Latitude Terrestrial Ecosystem Modeling

Model uncertainties in terrestrial biosphere modeling of high latitudes arise from several sources and different steps of the modeling process. This study applied a holistic approach, evaluating initial conditions-, parameter- and structural-based uncertainty to ensure a realistic assessment of all possible outcomes, as well as the best chances of model improvement.

Major professor: Dr. Eugenie Euskirchen

Aakash Gupta **

Ph.D. Geophysics

B.E., Jadavpur University, 2014; M.Tech., Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2016.

Thesis: Navigating Seismic Anisotropy, with Applications to Alaska

Seismic anisotropy characterizes how elastic waves travel through solid materials with different speeds, depending on the direction of the waves and the direction of particle motion of the waves. This dissertation provides steps taken towards addressing the larger goal of quantifying anisotropy in the Earth from crystal to whole-Earth scales.

Major professor: Dr. Carl Tape

Olha Sus *

Ph.D. Mathematics

B.S., Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, 2016; M.S., Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, 2018; M.S., Tufts University, 2023.

Thesis: Optimal Control and Inverse Problems for Partial Differential Equations and Variational Inequalities

The research presented in this dissertation addressed optimal control problems for nonlinear evolutionary variational inequalities involving Volterra-type operators and investigated the inverse dynamic problem for the Dirac system on finite metric graphs. Both areas have significant applications in contact and quantum mechanics, bridging optimization and physical modeling.

Major professor: Dr. Sergei Avdonin

Julian Dann **

Ph.D. Geophysics

B.A. Wesleyan University 2017; M.S. University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2023.

Thesis: Advancing Monitoring of Aufeis: Science, Satellites, and Society in a Changing Arctic

The Arctic is warming, accelerating permafrost thaw and reshaping ecosystems and society. This dissertation advances Arctic science through improved aufeis detection, regional trend analysis and reflections on community engagement. Results show seasonal declines in aufeis persistence and highlight key strategies for fostering collaboration between large-scale research programs and Arctic communities.

Major professors: Dr. Simon Zwieback and Dr. Bob Bolton

Valerie Kelly Wasser **

Ph.D. Geoscience

B.S., University of Hawaii, 2017; M.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2019.

Thesis: Characterizing Magmatic Processes at Pavlof and Augustine Volcanoes, Alaska, Through Changes in Volatile, Melt, and Phenocryst Geochemistry

This study investigated magmatic processes by examining mineral compositional changes across dissolution surfaces in crystal clots at Augustine Volcano and changes in geochemistry between recent eruptions, as well as volatile concentration changes in melt inclusions during magmatic ascent at Pavlof Volcano.

Major professor: Dr. Taryn Lopez

Victor Devaux-Chupin **

Ph.D. Geophysics

B.S., Grenoble Alps University, 2018;  M.S., Grenoble Alps University, 2019.

Thesis: Ice Surface Change and Flow Dynamics Analysis of Sít’ Tlein (Malaspina Glacier) Through Remote Sensing

This thesis investigates the dynamics of Sít’ Tlein, the world’s largest piedmont glacier, vulnerable to rapid retreat. It focuses on large, multidataset analysis to identify surge cycles, ice flow variability, and thinning processes. Results highlight complex ice dynamics impacting the glacier’s extent and surface variations through time.

Major professor: Dr. Martin Truffer

Darren Tan *

Ph.D. Geophysics

B.S., Nanyang Technological University, 2020.

Thesis: Toward Multidisciplinary Volcanic Eruption Models and Forecasts in Alaska: Contributions from Automated Seismic and Acoustic Signal Detection

Explosive volcanic eruptions pose increasing risks to a globally connected population. Advanced detection, characterization and relocation techniques are applied to decades of seismic and infrasound data from Alaska volcanoes to build enhanced event catalogs. Integrated with multidisciplinary insights, these catalogs reveal unique unrest patterns, supporting volcano monitoring and eruption forecasts.

Major professor: Dr. David Fee

James Raemond Campbell *

Ph.D. Environmental Chemistry

B.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2020.

Thesis: Understanding Secondary Atmospheric Chemistry in Extremely Cold and Dark Environments Through Hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) Measurements in Wintertime Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska, regularly exceeds PM2.5 air quality standards in winter. Secondary PM2.5 formation remains poorly understood in this urban environment. This research investigates hydroxymethanesulfonate, an aqueous-phase product in aerosols, to better understand secondary pollution processes and inform future mitigation strategies in cold and dark urban environments.

Major professor: Dr. Jingqiu Mao

Austin Robert Smith

Ph.D. Physics

B.S., Point Loma Nazarene University, 2020.

Thesis: The Role of Ionospheric Conductance for Magnetospheric Energy Dissipation and Transport at Earth and Jupiter

Magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, controlled by conductance, governs planetary space environments. Modeling of Earth and Jupiter enables the comparison of different drivers of energy transport and dissipation. Solar insolation shapes Earth’s ionospheric electron content and magnetospheric energy dissipation, while Jupiter’s rapid rotation and internal plasma source regulates magnetospheric dynamics and temperature distribution.

Major professors: Dr. Peter Delamere and Dr. Doga Ozturk

Nealey E. Sims **

Ph.D. Geophysics

B.S., University of North Alabama, 2016.

Thesis: Earthquake Relocation, Fault Complexity, and Nucleation Patterns in Interior Alaska

Interior Alaska’s diffuse but active intraplate seismicity obscures fault structures. Using matched filtering, cross-correlation and relocation, this work refines fault geometry, revealing segmented strike-slip systems and varied nucleation behaviors. The results clarify deformation processes and improve seismic-hazard understanding for Fairbanks and nearby infrastructure.

Major professor: Dr. Carl Tape

Garrett Anthony Savory **

Ph.D. Biological Sciences

A.A.S., Hocking College, 2002; B.S., Utah State University, 2005; M.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2013.

Thesis: Evaluating Dietary Protein Sources and Protein Balance in Herbivorous Mammals Using Stable Isotope Analysis of Amino Acids

This study evaluated the importance of dietary and gut microbial protein sources in herbivores with different digestive physiologies, and in moose during different seasons, using amino acid carbon isotopes. Additionally, the study evaluated amino acid nitrogen isotopes to predict underweight status in muskoxen that underwent severe loss of body mass.

Major professor: Dr. Diane O'Brien

Tianlang Zhao **

Ph.D. Environmental Chemistry

B.S., Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, 2018.

Thesis: Understanding the Sources and Variability of Air Pollution in Northern High Latitudes: Using Formaldehyde (HCHO) as a Tracer

Formaldehyde (HCHO) variability across the Arctic was quantified using satellites and models. Wildfires emerged as the predominant driver of pan-Arctic interannual HCHO variation, and a new algorithm was developed to estimate associated surface particulate pollution. Across North America, HCHO diurnal cycles were characterized to reveal regional photochemical processes.

Major professor: Dr. Jingqiu Mao

Kristin Kraus

Ph.D. Biological Sciences

B.A., Metropolitan State University of Denver, 2016; B.A., University of Colorado Denver, 2020; B.S., University of Colorado Denver, 2020.

Thesis: Inorganic Carbon Transport and Fate in Boreal Forest Headwater Streams

This study investigated the influence of discontinuous permafrost on the terrestrial transport and in-stream fate of inorganic carbon in a boreal headwater catchment based on long-term measurements and modeling. Results indicate that discharge and permafrost presence are important modulators of stream solute concentrations and lateral and vertical dissolved inorganic carbon fluxes.

Major professor: Dr. Jay Jones

Amanda Michelle McPherson

Ph.D. Geophysics

B.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2016; M.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2018.

Thesis: Novel Applications of Seismic Source Estimation

Seismic source estimation is a fundamental tool of seismology and succinctly answers the question: why is the ground shaking? It is routinely applied to give information about the mechanism and size of an earthquake. This work applied the technique toward investigating airborne force sources, very-low-frequency earthquakes and seismic velocity models.

Major professor: Dr. Carl Tape

Michael Jason Ahrns

Ph.D. Space Physics

B.S., Arkansas Tech University, 2010.

Thesis: A Statistical Examination of Giant Auroral Undulations

This study examined conditions in which giant auroral undulations (GAUs) form, and what that implies about the physical mechanism causing them. Solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions, geomagnetic conditions, and satellite and radar data point toward GAUs being formed under conditions of enhanced duskside convection through the auroral zone.

Major professor: Dr. Don Hampton

Emily Peterson

Ph.D. Environmental Chemistry

B.S., University of Washington, 2021.

Thesis: Landscape Drivers of Dissolved Organic Matter Cycling Across Interior Alaska

Warming Arctic and sub-Arctic landscapes are undergoing changes that impact aquatic biogeochemical cycling in inland surface waters. This study evaluates landscape drivers of dissolved organic matter composition across spatial and temporal scales to assess the response of inland waters to ongoing climate disturbance.

Major professor: Dr. Sarah Ellen Johnston

Emily Jo Graves **

Ph.D. Geophysics

B.S., Lake Superior State University, 2016; M.S., University of Texas at El Paso, 2018.

Thesis: Multi-Scale InSAR Investigations of Anthropogenic and Natural Processes in the American Southwest

Surface deformation can be driven by variations in subsurface fluid pressure and other natural and anthropogenic processes. This dissertation produces and utilizes InSAR-derived average velocity fields and displacement time series to reveal and understand these multiscale processes, their interactions and impacts for a portion of the American Southwest.

Major professor: Dr. Ronni Grapenthin

Mario Fernando Angarita Vargas *

Ph.D. Geophysics

B.S., Universidad de los Andes, 2013; M.S., Universidad de los Andes, 2017; M.S., Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 2017.

Thesis: Reanalysis and (Near) Real-Time Inversion of Deformation Observations at Alaskan Volcanoes

This study develops a technique to quantify elevation changes using radar satellite imagery and an inversion framework to identify deformation sources. The results quantify morphological changes and constrain magma sources at Alaska volcanoes. For Shishaldin Volcano, these results are integrated with interdisciplinary data to constrain its plumbing system.

Major professor: Dr. Ronni Grapenthin

Cecilia Borries-Strigle *

Ph.D. Atmospheric Sciences

B.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2010; M.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014.

Thesis: Seasonal Predictability of Sea Ice and Boreal Fire in Alaska

This dissertation evaluates the seasonal predictability of wildfire activity and September sea ice concentrations in Alaska. The research was conducted in collaboration with community partners to address critical challenges they face and to ensure that the resulting tools and insights are directly relevant to operational decision-making.

Major professor: Dr. Uma Bhatt

Satyaki Das **

Ph.D. Atmospheric Sciences

B.E., NMAM Institute of Technology, 2016; M.S., Virginia Tech, 2019.

Thesis: Lidar and Radar Investigations of Gravity Wave Activity in the Middle Atmosphere at PFRR, Chatanika, Alaska

The middle atmosphere, spanning the stratosphere and mesosphere, plays a critical role in Arctic circulation, especially during sudden stratospheric warmings. This dissertation uses lidar and radar observations (2018–2022) to investigate temperature and wave dynamics, developing improved signal techniques and showing reduced gravity wave activity and vertical coupling that influence high-latitude circulation.

Major professor: Dr. Richard Collins

Mitali Chandnani

Ph.D. Geology

M.Tech., Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, 2013.

Thesis: Effects of Target Properties on the Formation of Lunar Impact Craters in the Simple-To-Complex Transition

This study analyzed 224 lunar craters (15-20 km diameter) during the simple-to-complex morphology transition. Panchromatic, elevation, NIR, thermal infrared and SAR data revealed target properties dominate variations: Mare basalts promote complex craters via layering-induced collapse, while porous highlands yield atypically deep simple craters due to compaction. Pre-impact topography also influences slumping.

Major professor: Dr. Robert Herrick

Lahra Weber

Ph.D. Biochemistry and Neuroscience

B.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2021.

Thesis: Harnessing Pathogen Neurotropism for Targeted Nervous System Delivery

This dissertation investigates pathogen-derived chimeric peptides and proteins as potential drug delivery platforms selective for the nervous system. This is achieved by creating chimeric constructs that leverage the inherent selectivity of neurotropic viruses and neurotoxins.

Major professor: Dr. Maegan Weltzin