New Associate Director Joins CIFAR

The Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research (CIFAR) welcomes Dr. Susan Sugai as its new Associate Director. Susan is a chemical oceanographer with the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and has served as associate and interim director of the Alaska Sea Grant College Program at UAF. While with the Sea Grant Program, she oversaw Sea Grant-funded research and education projects and participated in the program's strategic planning. She is continuing to coordinate the research project associated with the annual Ocean Sciences Bowl competition, in which high school students throughout Alaska engage in ocean-related quiz competitions and research presentations.

Susan also currently serves on the U.S. Arctic Research Commission as an academic appointee. Susan received her doctorate degree from the University of Alaska in 1985. During her career she has studied biogeochemistry of marine and lake sediments and taiga forest soils. as well as the degradation of oil following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Susan replaces Patricia Anderson, who served as CIFAR's Associate Director for 10 years. Patricia is taking a well-earned retirement in Idaho, although she has taken with her some final tasks of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment.