Rachel Carlson

Rachel Carlson is a PhD Candidate in the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program for Environment and Resources. She researches the spatial ecology of coral reefs and variables impacting coral response to anthropogenic stress. Rachel’s work aims to identify local policy options for protecting and restoring resilient coral reefs under climate change. She applies high-resolution remote sensing, field-based methods like underwater surveys, and qualitative methods (surveys and interviews) to understand geospatial patterns of reef resilience and implications for ocean governance. Prior to joining Stanford, Rachel worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and numerous conservation initiatives in Senegal, Ireland, and the Northern Mariana Islands. She holds a Master's in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rice University, MS in International Politics from Trinity College, Dublin, and BA in English from Rice University.