Ariana Sutton-Grier is an ecosystem ecologist and the Program Coordinator for the Climate Research & Development Program in the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area.
I am an ecosystem ecologist broadly interested in how human-caused environmental change is affecting ecosystem function and the ability of ecosystems to provide the ecosystem services on which we depend. I am also interested in ecosystem service measurement and valuation, and how ecosystem services can be included in environmental markets and other policy opportunities. I am a "social science- and engineering-friendly" ecologist who loves to collaborate, working with multidisciplinary teams to find societally-relevant solutions to the world's pressing problems including climate change.
Professional Experience
2022-present: Program Coordinator, USGS Climate Research and Development Program
2017-present: Visiting Associate Research Professor, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC), University of Maryland
2020-2022: Policy Analyst, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget
2017-2019: Director of Science, MD/DC Chapter of the Nature Conservancy
2014-2017: Assistant Research Scientist, ESSIC, and Ecosystem Science Adviser, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
2012-2014: Environmental Scientist, NOAA National Ocean Service
2010-2012: AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation
2008-2010: Smithsonian Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Ecology, Duke University, 2008
Honors B.S. in Environmental Science, Oregon State University, 2000
Honors B.S. in International Studies, Oregon State University, 2000
Affiliations and Memberships*
Member of: Society of Wetland Scientists, Ecological Society of America, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
Honors and Awards
OMB “Professional Cross-Cutting Team Award” for Work on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gas Estimates (2022)
OMB Annual Leave Award for my work in OIRA reviewing regulations and working on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases revisions (2021)
Invited Speaker for the Old Dominion University “Paul W. Kirk Jr. Memorial Lecture for Wetlands Ecology”, September 24, 2019.
2019 “Young Investigator” award from the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honors Society (2019)
Ecological Society of America Innovations in Sustainability Science Award for the paper, “Future of Our Coasts…” (2016)
Ecological Society of America Early Career Fellow (2015-2019)
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Assistant Administrator Special Recognition Group Award (2014)
Ecological Society of America (ESA) Early Career Scientist Award (2012)
ESA Academic Excellence Award for Young Women in Ecology, Honorable Mention (2010)
American Association of University Women American Fellowship (2007-2008)
10th International Symposium on Wetland Biogeochemistry “Best Student Presentation” (2007)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2003-2006)
Oregon State University Waldo Cummings Outstanding Senior Award (2000)
OSU College of Science Outstanding Woman in Science Scholarship (1999)
Oregon State University Oregon Laurels Scholar (1996-2000)
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government