Dr. Cayelan Carey

FACULTY AFFILIATE   |   Global Change Center

Biological Sciences

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(540) 231-8938  •  cayelan@vt.edu

Dr. Cayelan Carey is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech. The Carey Lab works at the intersection of freshwater ecosystem science and data science to examine how human activities are altering water quality in freshwater ecosystems and solve water challenges. Carey is particularly interested in nutrient and carbon cycling in freshwater ecosystems and the feedbacks that occur between aquatic biogeochemical cycles and plankton food webs. Her research explores how local communities value and manage their water resources, which has implications for water quality.

The Carey Lab works primarily in lakes and reservoirs because they are critically important for drinking water, fisheries, industry, and recreation, yet are considered among the most threatened ecosystems in the world due to unsustainable use, pollution, invasive species, and altered climate.

Carey is also a Project Co-lead on the Ecological Forecasting Project at Virginia Tech. The team develops tools that forecast everyday services provided by ecosystems, like water quality, forest production, and more. They develop and deploy environmental sensors, build robust ecological models, and work closely with forecast users to co-create tools that can guide decision-making on human health and well-being. Their goal is to develop reliable forecasts and intuitive visualizations that both protect communities and advance understanding of ecosystems.