The Gund Institute for Environment today announced 28 new Gund fellows and affiliates, comprised of researchers and leaders from ̽̽ and beyond.
“I am so pleased to welcome these esteemed scholars and experts to our global research community,” says Gund Institute Director Taylor Ricketts. “They join our vibrant interdisciplinary network that is conducting research to inspire action on the world’s most critical environmental issues.”
With over 250 faculty, students and affiliates, the Gund Institute research network has tripled in size since its launch. Gund researchers represent all eight ̽̽ colleges and schools, 31 departments, and 50 external organizations in 11 countries, including Microsoft, World Wildlife Fund, Harvard University, and Ben & Jerry’s.
The new cohort includes ten ̽̽ faculty (8 fellows, 2 affiliates) and six Graduate Fellows from six ̽̽ colleges or schools and seven departments. The Institute also welcomes eight Global Affiliates, including four Macmillan Scholars in Residence visiting ̽̽, and the recent winner of the Eric Zencey Prize in Ecological Economics, Tim Jackson.
Also joining the Gund Institute is new Director of Operations and Programs Julianna White, who will develop strategy and funding programs, including Catalyst Awards and PhD and Postdoctoral Fellowships, and foster community belonging among Institute stakeholders.
Joining the Gund Advisory Board are Zoraya Hightower, a Burlington City Counselor and Managing Director of Nature for Justice, who brings significant experience in environmental justice issues, and Todd Barker, CEO of the Meridian Institute, a strategic advisor to projects in agriculture, food systems, water, climate, clean energy and big data, nationally and globally. Joining the Gund Steering Committee are Elizabeth Palchak, Director of ̽̽’s Office of Sustainability; Rory Waterman, ̽̽’s Dept. of Chemistry; and Ante Glavas, ̽̽’s Grossman School of Business.
All the new Gund community members—including new Fellowship recipients announced last month—will be honored at the annual Gund BBQ on September 12.
Faculty Fellows (8)
- Raju Badireddy, CEMS, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Patrick Callery, Grossman School of Business
- Kelsey Gleason, CNHS, Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Matt Kolan, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
- Deborah Neher, CALS, Plant and Soil Science
- Matthew Scarborough, CEMS, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Trisha Shrum, CALS, Community Development and Applied Economics
- Regina Toolin, CESS
̽̽ Affiliates (2)
- Harlan Morehouse, CAS, Geography and Geosciences
- Gregory Rowangould, CEMS, Transportation Research Center
Global Affiliates (8)
- Molly Anderson, Macmillan Scholar in Residence, Middlebury College
- Tim Jackson, 2022 Zencey Prize Winner, University of Surrey
- Alejandra Martínez, Macmillan Scholar in Residence, the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
- Róger Madrigal, Macmillan Scholar in Residence, Environment for Development
- Ben McCall, Macmillan Scholar, National Science Foundation
- Marc Simard, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
- Martin Volaric, San Francisco Estuary Institute
- Ellen Wohl, Macmillan Scholar in Residence, Colorado State University
Graduate Fellows (6)
- Toyib Aremu, CALS, Community Development and Applied Economics
- Justin Dempsey, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
- Kacey LaBonte, Food Systems
- Gannon Osborn, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
- Reed Scott, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
- Rachel Swanwick, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
New Advisory Board Members (2)
- Todd Barker, Meridian Institute
- Zoraya Hightower, Nature for Justice, Burlington City Councilor
New Steering Committee Members (3)
- Ante Glavas, Grossman School of Business
- Elizabeth Palchak, ̽̽ Office of Sustainability
- Rory Waterman, CAS, Dept. of Chemistry
New Gund Staff (1)
- Julianna White, Director of Operations and Programming
The Gund Institute has invested over $6M in ̽̽ research and student success in six years. Gund Catalyst Awards have issued over $1.3M in startup funds to 24 innovative projects and over 100 ̽̽ scholars, generating over $23M in external funds and inspiring real-world action. This month, The Gund Institute and the Office of Vice President for Research announced support for six innovative flood research projects in response to Vermont’s destructive summer floods.
More news
With today’s announcement, the Institute is also opening nominations for the next cohort of graduate and postdoctoral fellows.
The Gund Institute seeks proposals for the next round of Gund Catalyst Awards, interdisciplinary research grants valued from $10,000 to $200,000, by October 12, 2023. Applicants can request funding for a postdoctoral researcher. Gund Fellows can also request funding for visiting scholars and enrichment funds.
About the Gund Institute at ̽̽
The Gund Institute for Environment at ̽̽ is a research center dedicated to understanding and tackling the world’s most critical environmental challenges. Driven by the belief that research should inspire action, the Institute takes a cross-sector approach to solving environmental issues with stakeholders from government, business, and broader society. The Institute focuses on five interconnected research themes: climate solutions, sustainable agriculture, health and well-being, equity and justice, and resilient communities. With over 250 scholars in Vermont and across the world, the Institute brings together a network of internationally recognized researchers from diverse disciplines, including the natural and social sciences, business, health, technology, engineering, and the humanities.