HI THERE, I'M
Haley Plaas
Haley Plaas
PhD Candidate
Environmental Sciences & Engineering
UNC Chapel Hill
About
MY BACKGROUND + RESEARCH INTERESTS
Hello! I'm Haley. In Fall 2023, I will have completed my PhD in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from UNC-Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health. My dissertation, titled: "UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF HARMFUL CYANOBACTERIAL BLOOMS ON AIR QUALITY" characterized aerosol emissions from toxic cyanobacteria in freshwater systems. Advised by Dr. Hans Paerl, I spent my summers at UNC's Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City, NC. I led field campaigns in Lake Erie, OH, the Chowan River-Albemarle Sound, NC, and in the San Francisco-Bay Delta of central CA.
Career Goals + Outlook
Following my doctoral graduation in 2023, I will begin a post-doctoral research position with Dr. Douglas Hamilton at North Carolina State University in Earth system modeling.
My absolute favorite part of being a scientist is communicating science: collaborating with researchers across diverse fields, teaching in both informal and formal settings, and working with community (citizen) scientists to ensure my research is benefitting relevant communities in an equitable light.
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Following a post-doc, I intend to apply for faculty positions at research and teaching institutions across North America, where I hope to lead my own lab and teach courses to university students.
My guiding principle as a scientist and educator is that "smart people aren't afraid to ask stupid questions".
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Check out the rest of my site to learn more about me and my science!