Congratulations to Eric Romero, a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, on being awarded a Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) graduate fellowship.
FINESST supports graduate student research projects that contribute to NASA’s science, technology, and exploration goals. Recipients of the fellowship are provided up to $50,000 per year for three years, and each project is done with guidance and supervision from a faculty mentor.
Romero will work alongside Iryna Dronova, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management and College of Environmental Design, to study the potential of and inform wetland restoration, conservation, and management. Specifically, his project, “Wetland resilience: remote sensing strategies for nature-based carbon-subsidence solutions in the San Francisco Estuary,” seeks to understand how different wetland characteristics affect their ability to capture carbon (through photosynthesis) and deliver other critical ecosystem services.
The project will use a combination of satellite data and field measurements to track carbon exchange between the land and atmosphere, assess plant canopy density, monitor surface temperatures, and observe the water available in wetland ecosystems. By identifying what drives these benefits, his work can assist in planning restoration and management strategies that maximize wetland functions.
Learn more about NASA Future Investigators on the NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) page.