Dr. Christine Sierra O'Connell

Christine Sierra O'Connell, Ph.D. (she/her/ella) is an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences in the Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University. O'Connell is an ecosystem ecologist and global change scientist whose research focuses on how climate change and global change disturbances are altering terrestrial biogeochemical processes and patterns, particularly in soils. Her current projects include work in tropical forests in Puerto Rico and Costa Rica and, now, work studying the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California.

O'Connell holds a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. in Earth Systems (Biology Concentration) from Stanford University. She completed postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining Chapman, O'Connell was an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Macalester College.