Emily Sanders

About Emily Sanders

I am currently a senior at the University of Washington pursuing a B.S. in Environmental…

Experience

1. Postfire Researcher and Field Technician

   Usda Forest Service

   Jun 2025 — Present

   Undergraduate researcher in Dr. Ernesto Alvarado\'s Pacific Wildland Fire Science Laboratory at the University of Washington. Collecting field data on national forestland that has experienced severe wildfire within the last five years to compare the effects of salvage logging, no logging, and various intensities of forest treatment (slash removal, planting) on forest regeneration and nutrient cycling capabilities. Using Brown\'s Fuel Load (FL) Method of inventorying downed woody debris, I have learned to lay planar transects on a random azimuth, survey 1, 10, 100, and hour fuels, and identify seedling regeneration. Additionally, I have installed pre-logged units. This work involves creating a grid of center points (using lasers) around which Brown\'s transects are laid, measuring fuel loading, and taking both small and large tree measurements, including DBH, CBH, and tree height, the latter two of which are done with a hypsometer. This position involves hiking, navigating, and working on rough, uneven, steeply sloping, and sometimes unpredictable terrain with heavy field equipment.

Education

• Urbana High School

  High School Diploma

• University of Washington

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Bachelor of Arts - BA, Environmental Science, Economics