Lara M. Kueppers, Ph.D.

Lara Kueppers is an Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley and a Faculty Scientist in the Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division at Berkeley Lab. She is PI of the Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics Lab at UC Berkeley, co-PI of the Next Generation Ecosystem Experiments (NGEE) Tropics, and previously led the Alpine Treeline Warming Experiment, which was based in Colorado. She uses coupled climate-land surface models at regional scales to study climate-ecosystem interactions and cutting-edge vegetation models to predict the structure and composition of terrestrial ecosystems. Her interdisciplinary research interests include the impacts of climate change on plant populations, communities and ecosystems; climate-ecosystem feedbacks; plant and microbial species effects on ecosystem processes; agriculture-climate interactions; and economic and policy responses to climate change. Her PhD is from UC Berkeley, and undergraduate and masters degrees are from Stanford University.

1. What inspires you to work in STEM?

My work is motivated on the one hand, by a deep desire to limit the harm modern society does to our planet, and on the other hand, by a fascination with how the natural world works. By working on climate change and ecosystem dynamics I am able to feed both my curiosity about the world and, hopefully, to influence the choices we make as a society.

2. What excites you about your work at the Energy Department/Berkeley Lab?

The people are phenomenal - from the students and postdocs through to senior scientists. It's very motivating to have colleagues who are doing cutting edge work and who want to collaborate and combine expertise in new ways. The staff are also amazing.

3. How can our country engage more women, girls, and other underrepresented groups in STEM?

Science is a terrific vehicle for engaging kids. Kids don't worry about making a mess, they want to understand their world, and are sponges for information. Increasing hands-on experience with science in elementary school would be one great step toward engaging all children in the excitement of scientific discovery. I credit a semester-long, hands-on unit on limnology (study of lakes) in eighth grade with kindling my interest in environmental science.

4. Do you have tips you would recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?

Spend a summer (or several!) at a field research station, by applying to a formal research program or by contacting scientists who work there and who might be hiring help. The experiences and network you establish will help you build your career in ways that are hard to foresee.

5. When you have free time, what are your hobbies?

I love to cook - and get to do this nearly every day! I also enjoy hiking, skiing, camping and other outdoor activities with my family.