Dr. Elise Laugier

Biography

Dr. Elise Laugier is an assistant professor of Geospatial Science examining long-term human-environment dynamics in dryland agricultural systems. She draws on approaches from archaeology, (paleo)ecology, and geospatial science, especially satellite/UAV remote sensing and microbotanical (phytolith) analysis. Her research reconstructs land use histories, connects past and present political ecologies, and provides long-term context for today’s socio-environmental challenges. Her current research focuses on (1) land use practices and their long-term legacies on local ecosystems in Western Asia and the western U.S., (2) developing integrative approaches to quantify current and past land use, and (3) advancing the use of phytoliths in archaeological, environmental, and paleoecological research. She holds a Ph.D. from Dartmouth College in Ecology, Evolution, Environment, and Society (EEES). Dr. Laugier is currently offering opportunities for USU undergraduate students interested in gaining research experience in geospatial science or plant ecology, and for prospective master's students interested in modern or archaeological human-environment interaction research.