Sarah Collins, an associate professor in the University of Wyoming Department of Zoology and Physiology, has been appointed as the new Research Institute director of the UW Research Center at the AMK Ranch in Grand Teton National Park.
Collins specializes in freshwater ecosystem ecology. Her research addresses elemental cycling, food web dynamics, and water quality, with a focus on the impacts of human activities on aquatic environments.
“Since joining UW, Dr. Collins has conducted research at the AMK Ranch, a joint field research effort between the university and the National Park Service,” says Parag Chitnis, UW’s vice president for research and economic development, who heads the Research and Economic Development Division (REDD). “Her extensive experience with field stations in advancing environmental science will enable UW to fully leverage the AMK Ranch as a unique and highly productive research asset for the state of Wyoming.”
The facility, which is located on the AMK Ranch historic district on a peninsula extending into Jackson Lake near Leeks Marina, was established in 1953 and supports a wide range of ecological and environmental research. It also provides essential resources and fosters collaborations that advance scientific understanding and public outreach within the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. The center is administered by UW’s REDD in cooperation with the National Park Service.
“The AMK Ranch is home to many cutting-edge UW research projects and has a great team of staff and scholars on station each summer,” Collins says. “I am excited to join this team to continue to build its programs, including research, education, outreach, and our partnership with the Grand Teton National Park. This station is a huge asset for UW researchers to perform work amid such iconic landscapes of Wyoming, and I look forward to engaging members of our community in these efforts.”
For more information about the UW Research Institute at the AMK Ranch and its ongoing projects, visit the Research Institute webpage.
About the University of Wyoming Research and Economic Development Division
REDD is a service organization to the faculty, staff and students of UW. Its goal is to provide swift, accurate and expert service to enhance the research missions of individuals and various units within the university. REDD empowers researchers, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs with stewardship of expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration and transformational impact and prosperity for Wyoming and the world. To learn more, visit www.uwyo.edu/research.
This story was originally published on UW News.
