Eli Melaas, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Earth and Environment
Boston University
CV
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Professional ​
info​​
I am a physical geographer and environmental scientist broadly interested in the response of forests to climate change. My research is focused on coupling field measurements, remote sensing and modeling studies of phenology - the study of the seasonally ocurring biological events. Specifically, I am interested in improving understanding of how climate drivers control the timing of spring leaf out and autumn coloring and how future changes in growing season length will affect net carbon exchange.
Work​
experience​
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University
2014 - present
Using medium spatial resolution (30 m) satellite remote sensing to quantify how the timing of spring onset and autumn coloring of North American boreal and temperate deciduous forests has changed over the last three decades due to climate change.
Observer, Blue Hill Observatory
2007 - present
Collected daily measurements of temperature, wind, precipitation, sunshine, pressure and other meteorological variables and entered data into spreadsheets. Maintained instruments and provided expert knowledge during guided tours.
NSF GK-12 Fellow, Baker School, Brookline, MA
​2013-2014
Taught four sections of sixth grade science with Mrs. Yasameen Sharif, planned several lessons linking personal research and topics covered in semester-long units on brains and oceans. For more information see my page at the project website.
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University
​2009 - 2013
Dissertation: Using Eddy Covriance, Remote Sensing and In Situ Observations to Improve Models of Springtime Phenology in Temperate Deciduous Forests
Skills
Mathematical modeling (Euler, Monte Carlo, simulated annealing)
Eddy covariance data analysis
Installation and maintenance of micrometeorological instrumentation and data loggers
Languages
English
Spanish (intermediate)
MATLAB
R
ENVI
ArcGIS
Education
Ph.D., Boston University
​2008 - 2014
Advisor: Dr. Mark Friedl; GPA: 3.88
Dissertation: Using Eddy Covriance, Remote Sensing and In Situ Observations to Improve Models of Springtime Phenology in Temperate Deciduous Forests
B.A., Cum Laude, Kalamazoo College
​2004 - 2008
Advisor: Dr. John Fink; GPA: 3.5
Major: Mathematics; Minor: Physics