The Interfaces of Global Change Welcomes Its Newest PhD Fellows!
February 6, 2026
The Interfaces of Global Change IGEP is excited to introduce sixteen new Ph.D. Fellows starting this spring 2026. This diverse cohort represents eight departments across four colleges at Virginia Tech, reflecting the interdisciplinary spirit of the Global Change Center. Join us in extending a warm welcome to the newest cohort of Fellows!
Suleiman Abdulsalam
Planning, Governance & Globalization
Working with Dr. Dara Wald
Research Interests:
Environmental policymaking, science-policy process, renewable energy
Bhuparaj Bhattarai
Biological Sciences
Working with Dr. Erin Hotchkiss
Research Interests:
Biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology, dissolved oxygen in streams
Skarleth Chinchilla
Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Working with Dr. Willandia Chavez
Research Interests:
Balancing human activities, wildlife management and conservation
Nathan Duerr
Plant & Environmental Sciences
Working with Dr. Leighton Reid
Research Interests:
Tropical restoration ecology
Justus Hargett
Biological Systems Engineering
Working with Dr. Jonathan Czuba
Research Interests:
Aquatic ecology, land management
Beatrice Kyeremateng
Civil & Engironmental Engineering
Working with Dr. Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz
Research Interests:
Atmospheric chemistry, air quality, wet and dry deposition timescale
Karine Lopes
Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Working with Dr. Willandia Chaves
Research Interests:
Songbirds, conservation, social drivers
Matthew Mair
Applied & Agricultural Economics
Working with Dr. Klaus Moeltner
Research Interests:
Natural resource economics, climate change adaptation, renewable energy
Rowan Maisonneuve
Translational Biology, Medicine & Health
Working with Dr. Steve Poelzing
Research Interests:
Basic science, public health, epidemiology
Juan-Carlos Mungaray
Biological Sciences
Working with Dr. Lisa Belden
Research Interests:
Disease dynamics, host-parasite interactions, infectious wildlife diseases
Kalani Perera
Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation
Working with Dr. Stella Schons
Research Interests:
Forest economics and policy, natural resource economics, climate change mitigation
Sophia Smith
Biological Sciences
Working with Dr. Kendra Sewall
Research Interests:
Behavioral ecology, neuroendocrinology, urbanization
Kesevan Veloo
Planning, Governance & Globalization
Working with Dr. Dara Wald
Research Interests:
Trust and uncertainty in science–policy communication for food
Sophia Vrh
Plant Pathology, Physiology & Weed Science
Working with Dr. Jacob Barney & Dr. Leighton Reid
Research Interests:
Community and landscape ecology, conservation biology
Courtney Werner
Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Working with Dr. William Hopkins
Research Interests:
Ecosystem stewardship, wildlife conservation, environmental change
Olivia Yancey
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Working with Dr. Amy Pruden
Research Interests: Microbiology, public health, environmental health
