hayleykwas
hayley.kwasniewski@colorado.edu | LinkedIn: HayleyKwas | GitHub: hayleykwas
Investigating how anthropogenic activities affect the Antarctic, a region of significant global climate regulation, biodiversity, and resource extraction.
I am a PhD student in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of Colorado-Boulder. After researching biochemical and cellular development of cancer, I began following an interest in the environmental fields. Before returning to academia, I worked at the interface of grassroots movements, climate resilience, and policy. From this experience, I gained a deep appreciation for nonhuman species and what they could tell us about ecosystem health, human impacts, and climate change. During my M.S. in environmental science and policy at Johns Hopkins University, I studied the relationships between environmental injustice and pollinator populations. My unique set of experiences now provides me with the foundation necessary to answer questions about the Southern Ocean. I am excited to apply my chemistry, conservation, and policy knowledge to Antarctic toothfish research. I am particularly interested in learning about physical oceanography and ecology of the Southern Ocean from this the keystone species.
More About Me
For more detailed information, feel free to contact me via email.
Education
2028 Ph.D., Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Boulder
2024 Certificate, Data Analysis with R, Duke University
2023 M.S., Environmental Policy and Science, Johns Hopkins University
2019 B.A., Biochemistry, Minors: Gender Studies, Geological Sciences, Indiana University
Experience
Scientific Research
2023-2028 University of Colorado. Boulder, CO. Research Assistant on National Science Foundation CAREER Grant Project: Using otolith chemistry to reveal the life history of Antarctic toothfish in the Ross Sea, Antarctica: Testing fisheries and climate change impacts on a top fish predator.
2024 Universidad de Chile Austral. Puerto Montt, Chile. Visiting Scholar.
2021-2023 Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, MD. Graduate Research Assistant.
2020 Lew Farms. Mancos, CO. Sustainable Garlic Farming in Southwest CO: understanding drought and resource scarcity. Research Technician.
2015-2017 Indiana University Department of Biochemistry. Bloomington, IN. Undergraduate Research Assistant.
Affiliations
2023- Graduate Research Assistant, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, CU Boulder
Community-based Environmental Outreach and Policymaking
2021-2023 The Park People. Denver, CO. Development Manager.
2020-2021 Mancos Conservation District. Crew Mancos, CO. Development and Outreach Associate.
2019-2020 Mancos Conservation District. Mancos, CO. AmeriCorps VISTA.
2018 Global Water Brigades. Managua, Nicaragua. Crew Leader.
2017 Positive Link. Bloomington, IN. Public Health Policy Intern.
2015 GlobalMindED. Denver, CO. Environmental Research Intern.
Service and Leadership
Professional service within the University of Colorado, Boulder
2023-present Graduate Student Representative, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Committee, Environmental Studies Department.
2024-present Convenor, First Gen to College Affinity Group, Environmental Studies Department.
2023 Research Assistant Volunteer, STEAM Family Fest, Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research.
2023 Graduate Student Panelist, Investigating Careers in the Environment, Environmental Studies Department.
Professional service outside of the University of Colorado
2023-present Program Committee Chair, Johns Hopkins University Sustainability Leadership Alumni Association Retreat. Estes Park, CO.
2024-2025 Event Supervisor, Science Olympiad, Fort Collins, CO.
2022-2023 Program Committee Member, Johns Hopkins University Sustainability Leadership Alumni Association Retreat. Fredrick, MD.
2021-2022 Co-President, Young Professionals Inclusive Leadership Council, GlobalMindED, Denver, CO.