Lab Members
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Andrew Reinmann, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator- Assistant Professor, Environmental Sciences Initiative
- Assistant Professor of Geography, Hunter College
Phone: 212.413.3152
Guinevere
Hi, I’m Guinevere. Before landing a spot in the Reinmann Lab, I spent the first 8 months of my life in the woods of Mississippi. I love the outdoors and am interested in finding and chasing a myriad of insects, rolling on worms, and splashing in water. My skillsets include digging (to collect soil samples, of course), following scents, jumping in circles, and running at lightning speed. When not in the field, I can be found sleeping in a variety of ridiculously cute positions, trying to make friends with every human and dog I can find, looking for cuddles, or trying to play with upwards of six toys at a time.
Technician/Lab Manager
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Clare Kohler
- Research Technician, Environmental Sciences Initiative
Phone: 212.413.3153
Postdoctoral Researchers
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Hanna Makowski, Ph.D.
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Reinmann Lab, Environmental Sciences Initiative
Graduate Students
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Evonne Aguirre
- Doctoral Student, Reinmann Lab, Environmental Sciences Initiative
Evonne is interested in using plant ecophysiology to learn how the environment interacts with plant form and function to answer questions about the impacts that changing climates have on our forests. Currently, she is researching the interactive effects of climate stressors on the physiology of forest edge trees through an experiment in Harvard Forest in Massachusetts. In 2022, she graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Washington, where she developed her interests in plant ecology and physiology through studying fossil leaves to learn about plant community changes in response to CO2 during the Miocene. When she’s not in the lab or the field, she’s reading sci-fi and still trying to bring the outdoors in by collecting houseplants.
Twitter: @Evonne_Aguirre
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Justin Bowers
- Doctoral Student, Reinmann Lab, Environmental Sciences Initiative
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John Paul Hellenbrand
- Doctoral Student, Reinmann Lab, Environmental Sciences Initiative
John Paul is interested in how anthropogenic drivers of forest change alter forest regeneration and carbon sequestration. He became interested in forestry from his background in forest-pest management and insect ecology. In 2019, he graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Sustainability Science while working at the New York State Hemlock Initiative combating the spread of the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid. In 2022, John Paul graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Master of Science in Integrative Biology where he studied the evolution and function of ant exoskeleton microsculpture. View his latest CV.
Twitter: @jphellenbrand
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Kelsey Parker
- Doctoral Student, Reinmann Lab, Environmental Sciences Initiative
Kelsey is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Earth and Environmental Sciences program at the CUNY Graduate Center. She graduated from Pace University in 2017 with a B.S. in Environmental Science. While at Pace, her research focused on the impacts of historic PCB contamination on microbial communities in the Hudson River. After graduation, she was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to study the effects of lead contamination in Kabwe, Zambia and explored the potential for bioremediation in conjunction with the University of Zambia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Her current research combines her interest in urban forestry, invasive species impacts, and biogeochemistry to study the effects of invasive Amynthas earthworms on biogeochemical cycles in New York City parks. When she’s not doing research she’s spending time with her dog or gardening with her partner.
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Lacy Shelby
Email: lshelby@gradcenter.cuny.edu
Lacy is a PhD. Student in the Reinmann and Groffman Labs studying Earth and Environmental Science with an emphasis on both coastal and terrestrial resiliency. Lacy’s research focus is on the design of cities in modeled climate futures and the ecological performance within those urban landscape systems. She is engaged in the study of operationalizing large scale climate infrastructure solutions within existing and speculative policy frameworks. To aid in her research, she utilizes generative artificial intelligence to experiment and synthesize optimal ecological and performance-based urban landscapes.
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Corina Vernon
- Doctoral Student, Reinmann Lab, Environmental Sciences Initiative
Corina is a first year Ph.D. student interested in plant metabolic responses to abiotic stress across the urban to rural gradient and how this can be used to predict how forests will respond to climate change stresses. She graduated from Smith College in 2020 with a B.A. in Biochemistry, and then spent 2 years as a lab tech at Yale University working on the CRISPR Citrus Project to genetically modify Valencia orange trees for disease resistance.
Undergraduate Researchers
Alejandro Asencio
Hello, I’m Alejandro Asencio a current junior at Hunter College and a research fellow at the Reinmann Lab. I am majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Geology and have an interest in forest ecology as well as environmental stewardship. I love spending time outdoors in nature, reading science fiction books, and playing with my dog, Jordy.
Brian Boston (he/him)
Undergraduate Research Assistant – CUNY Baccalaureate Program
Brian Boston is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies through CUNY’s cross-campus baccalaureate program. Having previously worked with the Natural Areas Conservancy and NYC Parks Department on projects throughout New York City to assess and quantify the health of natural areas, Brian is furthering his work with forest dynamics at the Reinmann lab. Currently, Brian is seeking funding for a project that creates a field-tested remote sensing tool to track the decline of eastern hemlock trees across the Eastern United States as a result of invasive insects. After graduation, Brian plans to continue ecological research as the climate continues to change.
Christian Liriano (he/him)
Undergraduate student in Biology – College of Staten Island
Email: Cliriano1018@gmail.com
His research interests are, the habitat ecology/taxonomy of understudied organisms from northeastern North America (e.g., spiders, bryophytes), comparative community and ecosystem ecology of rural/urban systems and general research on the community/ecosystem ecology of aquatic/terrestrial ecosystems.
Twitter: @Cliriano18
Felicity Liu (she/her)
Research Assistant – Hunter College
Peter Manos
I’m a senior at Hunter College majoring in environmental studies and minoring in computer science. In the lab, I’ve been studying the phenology of radial tree growth across a climate gradient at Hubbard Brook and Black Rock Forest. At Hunter, I help run the Greenbelt Society, a club dedicated to environmental education and stewardship. I’m interested in forest ecology, urban ecology, and GIS. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, baking, reading, and going on a nice hike.
Sumayya Mokit
Sumayya Mokit is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Biology and Education at Barnard College. In the Reinmann lab, Sumayya studies nonstructural carbohydrate composition in red oak and red maple trees in response to climate stress at Black Rock Forest in New York. Her research interests include plant ecology, forest dynamics, and the interactions between plants and birds.
Kyla Savino
Kyla Savino is currently pursuing her B.A. in Environmental Studies: Earth System Science at Hunter College. Concurrently, she is a part of a cohort researching tree growth phenology in Northeastern U.S. hardwood forests across a climate gradient. Her research interests are forest ecology in the Northeast United States and in tropical rainforests in Brazil. She has experience across multiple environmental agencies such as National Park’s Service, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Americorps, and more. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. and continue research in ecology. When she isn’t involved in the lab she is cooking, watching a movie, painting, or hanging with her cat Mr.Paws.
Monique Young
Hello, I’m Monique Young, an enthusiastic undergraduate student at Hunter College, pursuing a degree in environmental studies. My academic journey is fueled by an interest in urban sustainability, a dedication to effective science communication, and a commitment to environmental justice. Currently, I am actively involved in research that delves into the dynamics of forest changes, specifically focusing on their impact on forest regeneration and the crucial process of carbon sequestration. I’m excited to contribute to our understanding of these vital environmental issues and promote a sustainable future.
Rohan Watt (she/her)
Research Assistant – Hunter College
Email: Rohan.watt64@myhunter.cuny.edu
Rohan is a recent undergraduate from CUNY Hunter college where she studied Physical Geography and Geology and discovered her interest in forest ecology. While searching for a topic to study for her capstone project she was introduced to Andy and the ASRC team and was able to find a topic that both interested and excited her and allowed her to conduct research where she could collect her own data and be out in the field. Currently Rohan is continuing the project, researching the impact of topography on temperate forest response to climate change up at Black Rock Forest and working with a group of high school students studying Beech Leaf Disease. When she isn’t working in the lab you will almost always be able to find Rohan knitting, reading, or hanging out with her cat!