Student Spotlight with Asha Paudel

Asha Paudel, a Spring 2022 graduate of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science’s Geosciences Ph.D. program, recently started the next leg of her research journey. She just began her new position as a postdoctoral research fellow at Colorado State University. While at FAU, Paudel studied current management issues related to vegetation dynamics under the rising threat of extreme wildfires induced by climate change. She joined FAU in 2017.

Paudel is one of eight students to graduate from FAU’s Department of Geosciences Ph.D. program in 2022. This past academic year also marks the largest number of Ph.D. candidates to graduate from the geosciences program since the degree was launched in 2009.

The Department of Geosciences at Florida Atlantic University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in various subfields of the geosciences. The three main areas of focus in the department are earth systems science, human-environmental systems and geo-information science. The department places a strong emphasis on fieldwork, GIS, remote sensing and other analytical techniques in geospatial modeling, and encourages interdisciplinary research.

What attracted you to geoscience?

The opportunity to learn about GIS and remote sensing attracted me to geoscience.

Could you describe your research to us?

My Ph.D. dissertation addressed current management issues related to vegetation dynamics under the rising threat of extreme wildfires induced by climate change. At a plot level analysis, my research concluded that management activities should be focused in high-severity burned areas to restore dominance of mixed conifer forests and regain historical species composition. At a landscape level analysis, it showed that vegetation heterogeneity is dependent on fire severity and scales. It shows how results based on limited scales can alter management priorities and effect restoration goals. Additionally, future predictions of vegetation dynamics under various wildfire probabilities showed that natural wildfires may restore landscape heterogeneity to conditions equivalent to the pre-Columbian era, but effects under the projected climate change scenario for the 21st century remain uncertain. Overall, this study is beneficial in terms of recommending fuel and vegetation management and to create a resilient conifer forest to high severity wildfires and climate change.

What is novel about your research?

My research adds new knowledge to understanding how vegetation changes after multiple fires in short period of time. Conclusions of this research, based on the analysis of field and satellite data, provide valuable information to forest managers and, it is helpful to prioritize management activities.

How did FAU help you on your academic/research journey?

FAU opened up a world of opportunities for academic and extracurricular activities. The University provided me with a graduate research assistantship and funding to conduct fieldwork in California, which helped my research in wildfire ecology and complete my dissertation. I presented at 15 conferences during my Ph.D. program, and I also received a couple of awards. Attending these conferences improved my public speaking, networking and collaborating skills and allowed me to build a strong career path in research.

What kinds of experiences or leadership opportunities did you find at FAU?

As a woman from a patriarchal society where male family members make major decisions and women are generally excluded, at FAU I was given the opportunity to recognize and develop my leadership skills. I took part in many leadership activities such as workshops and conferences, volunteered as a Science Olympiad supervisor every year, worked as a secretary in the International Friends Program (IFP), and was the President of the Nepalese Student Association (NSA-FAU). I am a proud Owl and a Certified Student Leader (CSL) now.

As a Ph.D. candidate, did you receive any awards?

I received three! My first was the International Student of the Year, 2019; the second was for Best Oral Presentation Award at the Florida Society of Geographers, 2022; and the third was the Student Publication Award in 2021 and 2022.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I went to work as a postdoctoral research fellow at Colorado State University. In the future, I plan to be in academia and mentor students and conduct research in the field of wildfire and geosciences.