Meet the Team
Dr. Carter S. Smith
Principal Investigator
I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at UW where I run the Coastal Ecology & Restoration Lab.
I am an interdisciplinary coastal ecologist, and my interests lie at the intersection of multiple disciplines including community ecology, conservation and restoration science, and coupled human natural systems research. While not system specific, the lab’s research has previously focused on salt marshes, oyster reefs, seagrass beds, and urban shorelines using a combination of field experiments, observational studies, social science methodologies, and synthesis techniques.
Current Lab Members
Dr. Stephanie Valdez
Postdoc
I am an ecologist working at the interface of community, ecosystem, conservation, and restoration ecology. My work aims to untangle and predict the impacts of global change factors, such as nutrient enrichment, invasive species, and food web alteration, on biodiversity, ecosystem function, and resilience in coastal communities. Specifically, I am interested in the ecological underpinnings and species interactions that maintain and confer resilience in coastal foundation species such as seagrasses, salt marshes, and oyster reefs and how this understanding can aid restoration practice.
Morgan Arrington
PhD Student
I am interested in understanding the capacity for restoration to enhance social and ecological resilience in coastal ecosystems. My work emphasizes collaborative and community-based approaches to co-create understanding and inform action. My current research seeks to understand social-ecological outcomes of marine shoreline restoration, with a focus on designing effective monitoring approaches.
Catherine Brenner
Masters Student