David Richter (CEEES) is leading Navy-funded research to improve hurricane forecasting and protect communities. Richter and collaborators are using advanced drones to collect data at the ocean’s surface—where storms draw their energy—that has never been possible before. His research is featured in the university’s What Would You Fight For? series. Read more

A study published in Communications Earth & Environment by Richard Marcantonio (Keough) challenges the understanding of the relationship between conflict and the environment, highlighting inequalities that disproportionately harm countries in the Global South. Read more

Elizabeth Archie’s (BIOS) research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that the strength of early-life father-daughter relationships can predict meaningful differences in the survival of female baboons. This study may hold important insights into the evolutionary roots of human parental care. Read more

Ming Hu (ARCH) and collaborators have partnered with the City of South Bend to deploy sensors and collect data using garbage trucks to help identify urban heat islands. Findings will be presented to the city and shared with the city’s residents to ultimately mitigate heat island impacts. Read more

As a part of the ND-GAIN’s Global Urban Climate Assessment pilot, Moh Aboelnour (ECI), Alan Hamlet (CEEES), Danielle Wood (ECI), and collaborators developed and refined assessment for vulnerability and resilience to water-related climate trends. The findings were published in Earth Systems and Environment. Read more

In a study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters by Graham Peaslee (PHYS), concentrations of PFAS in reusable feminine hygiene products signaled “intentional fluorination." His research hopes to help regulators and manufacturers identify where PFAS are being used and to find better alternatives. Read more

The Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative awarded research funding to three cross-disciplinary faculty teams. David Medvigy (BIOS) and partners will lead a project examining conservation efforts in the Amazon. Jennifer Tank (BIOS) and Alexander Dowling (CBE) will lead a collaboration to create solutions for managing water more sustainably in the Midwest. Ming Hu (ARCH) and co-PIs will work on a community-guided initiative to create more energy-efficient homes in South Bend. Read more

Ryan Sensenig (BIOS) studies how fire and grazing can shape grassland ecosystems and help store carbon in the soil. His work combines prescribed burns, soil ecology, and collaboration with students. By linking research in Indiana and Kenya, Sensenig explores how human stewardship can restore grasslands and strengthen their role in combating climate change. Read more

Daniel Miller (Keough) co-authored a paper in Conservation Biology outlining five principles to foster more effective and inclusive dialogue about conservation. The paper also introduces a framework to structure conservation conversations applicable to all stakeholders. Read more

Daniele Miranda (BIOS) worked with ND faculty and SENAI CIMATEC University Center to develop and implement a program for PFAS analysis and awareness in Brazil. An intensive hands-on four-week program was organized for students from both institutions to allow them to not only study the data, but also see how PFAS levels impact local communities. Read more

Ming Hu (ARCH) is working to reduce carbon emissions through advanced simulations and a novel artificial intelligence-driven tool, EcoSphere. Published in Urban Sustainability, the model and tool generated over 350,000 scenarios and revealed strategies focused on renovation and extending building life to reduce embodied carbon emissions. Read more

Rohr was recently named one of eight 2025 Fellows of the Ecological Society of America for his outstanding contributions to ecological science, particularly at the intersection of ecology and public health. Read more

Westerink has been selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute to jointly receive the 2025 International Coastal Engineering Award. This award represents the highest recognition in the specialty of coastal engineering worldwide. Read more

Winters has been named the executive director of AIM for Scale (Agriculture Innovation Mechanism for Scale), a global initiative that helps farmers from low- and middle-income countries through scaling promising agricultural innovations. This initiative is a collaboration between Notre Dame and New York University-Abu Dhabi. Read more

Follow ND-ECI on LinkedIn to stay updated on research highlights, upcoming events and opportunities, and the impactful work of our community! Please invite your colleagues to connect with ND-ECI too. 

Meet the Postdoctoral Fellows who recently joined ND-ECI:

Advisor: Melissa Berke (CEEES)

Focus: Antarctic atmosphere-ocean-ice interactions during past warm climates. 

Advisor: Robert Nerenberg (CEEES)

Focus: Integration of process engineering and environmental biotechnology to develop wastewater treatment technology

Advisor: Kyle Bibby (CEEES)

Focus: Detection of biological pollution  in wastewater and environmental water sources, drinking water in African slums

Advisor: Alex Perkins (BIOS)

Focus: Computational tools to simulate disease transmission by combining mathematical models with data-driven parameter inference

Advisor: Melissa Berke (CEEES)

Focus: Proxy–model integration to uncover mechanisms that influence African rainfall across timescales

Advisor: Daniele Miranda (BIOS)

Focus: Contaminant ecology in freshwater ecosystems, particularly with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

ND-ECI invites applications for its Partial Postdoctoral Fellowship program, designed to foster interdisciplinary environmental research and strengthen the postdoctoral community at Notre Dame. 

The fellowship offers one year funding of $30,000 and up to $1,000 for conference travel. A second year of partial funding is available based on progress and engagement. Fellows benefit from shared workspace in McCourtney East, peer mentorship, and participation in ND-ECI research seminars and events. 

Deadline Extended: Proposals are now due Monday November 17, 2025

This year's research season is coming to an end at the Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF). We had another productive summer utilizing the LEEF-LETS system to explore the effect of water temperature on ecosystem processes in streams. This fall, students from Ryan Sensenig’s Restoration Ecology class are developing plans to manage the upland ecosystems at ND-LEEF.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at ND-LEEF’s Science Sunday! We had a fantastic turnout as visitors of all ages explored ND-LEEF and learned about Notre Dame’s environmental research through hands-on activities and demonstrations. A huge thank-you to our presenters and community partners for sharing their knowledge and passion with the community!

It was a pleasure to have Julian Torres-Dowdall (BIOS) join us for Science at Sunset at ND-LEEF! His talk, "Through the Eyes of a Fish: How Nature and Nurture Shape Life in Changing Waters," gave a fascinating look at how freshwater fish adapt to changing environments. It was a wonderful evening of science and conversation at ND-LEEF.

Congratulations to ND-ECI affiliated faculty, who received new research awards since the beginning of the year totaling ~$2.1M. Below are some highlights: 

The ND-ECI Community has been very productive with >160 publications since our last newsletter. Below are some highlights, please click here to view the full list. 

At the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative, over 60 faculty across several disciplines are pursuing research solutions for key environmental challenges of our time.

ND-ECI focuses on multidisciplinary research that can translate into solutions to help make the world a better place for humans and the environment upon which people depend.

We call it “Science Serving Society.”

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