Meet the Team
Jen Delamere
Director of GINA
Associate Research Professor
(Snow, Ice, and Permafrost Group at the Geophysical Institute)
- 907-474-7140
- jsdelamere@alaska.edu
Christi Buffington
Science Education Director and Program Manager
- 907-474-2794
- cbuffington@alaska.edu
Christina Buffington is the Science Education Director and Program Manager at GINA. She is the deputy director for Training, Education, and Public Engagement at the GLOBE Implementation Office. With 25+ years of experience as an environmental scientist at an environmental engineering firm where she used GIS, teacher of undergraduate, high school, and middle school students, and a GLOBE training point of contact in Alaska, Christi facilitates applied environmental learning and research experiences with students and adults while honoring and centering Indigenous knowledge. In 2024, Christi received an Outstanding Teaching Award from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She holds a M.S. in Environmental Science from Washington State University-Pullman, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and B.S. in Soils and Environmental Science from Montana State University-Bozeman, and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Health from University of Montana. Christi enjoys playing in liquid or frozen water: packrafting, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, and designing gravity-feed irrigation from rainwater catchments.
Jay Cable
Senior Systems Engineer
- jay@alaska.edu
Jay Cable is a Research and Web Programmer for GINA. He helps operate GINA’s satellite ground stations and performs programming on special projects. He has worked with a wide array of programming languages including Java, C, Ruby, JavaScript, and Perl. Jay has a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and someday hopes to complete his M.S.
Carl Dierking
Satellite Liaison
- cfdierking@alaska.edu
Carl is a meteorologist working for GINA as a satellite liaison, developer, and trainer. He previously worked for the National Weather Service for nearly 40 years as a forecaster and Science Operations Officer. This experience provides insight into the satellite needs of operational weather forecasters in Alaska, with a focus on the development of tools and training that assists in the transition from research to operations.
Edward graham
Student Geospatial Data Analyst
- eagraham3@alaska.edu
Edward is an undergraduate student at Kennesaw State University, majoring in Geospatial Sciences with a concentration in Information Systems. At GINA, he uses ArcGIS Pro, automated scripting workflows, and web-based solutions to further research into fuel treatment and wildfire mitigation strategies. During his free time, he enjoys backpacking, sailing, and scuba diving.
Abigail Haas
Student Geospatial Data Analyst
- ajhaas@alaska.edu
Abigail is an undergraduate student at UAF majoring in Geospatial Sciences, with a concentration in GIS and a minor in math. As a student at GINA, she contributes to a variety of projects including GINA’s website and social media, while developing her professional skill set. Abigail is a Fairbanks local who likes to spend her free time backcountry skiing and making art.
Owen larson
Geospatial Systems Developer & Analyst
- ojlarson@alaska.edu
Owen is a Geospatial Systems Developer and Analyst who previously worked seasonally on a variety of field research and monitoring projects before pursuing a Masters in Geography and a Graduate GISci Certificate from Miami University. Originally from Minnesota, he has lived throughout Alaska and the lower 48 while leading canoe expeditions, trail work crews, and working as a biological science technician. Owen’s lifelong interest in the natural sciences led him to study GIS as a tool to visualize and present data, while his lifelong interest in the outdoors led him to repeatedly return to Alaska, where he works with GINA hosting data and imagery used by the Alaska Fire Service and other government agencies.
Hannah mair
Geospatial Data Analyst
- hmair@alaska.edu
Quinn mchenry
Student Scientific Programmer
- qdmchenry@alaska.edu
Quinn is a grad student at UAF pursuing a Masters in Computer Science. He graduated from Chaminade University of Honolulu with a Bachelors of Science in CS, and a minor in Data Science and a math focus. At GINA, he works on application and web development on a variety of wildfire and air quality projects. During his free time, Quinn enjoys fishing, camping, and playing golf.
Kazimir Nyzio
Satellite Weather Data Analyst & Trainer
- kdnyzio@alaska.edu
Kaz is a meteorologist working for GINA to assist in weather-related applications of satellite data and to build training materials on Alaskan climate and satellite utilization. He is from upstate New York, received his BS in Atmospheric Sciences from Stony Brook University with a minor in music, and recently finished his MS in Applied Atmospheric Sciences with a data science and emergency management focus from the University of Albany. In his spare time, Kaz enjoys outdoor recreation, playing piano and guitar, and learning about cinema and art history. He is excited to immerse himself in the Alaskan environment and to learn more about the satellite and GIS work of GINA.
Jen Schmidt
Associate Research Professor
- jischmidt@alaska.edu
Dr. Schmidt is a research associate professor of remote sensing at the Geophysical Institute and a member of the GINA team. Her research interests are broad, but she typically uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to address issues important to society and the natural world. She holds a PhD in Wildlife Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, with a focus on interdisciplinary work. Outside of work, she enjoys biking, triathlons, and scuba diving.
For more information on Dr. Schmidt’s projects see her website or her CV.
Briana Shaffer
Student Geospatial Data Analyst
- bmshaffer@alaska.edu
Briana is an undergraduate student at UAF majoring in Geoscience with a concentration in Geospatial Sciences. She spent most of her life in California’s Central Valley before military service brought her to Alaska. During her time in the military, she used cartographic tools to refine datasets and help others understand operational environments. Her studies at UAF have allowed her to switch to learning about natural processes and geological hazards. She is interested in Arctic amplification and its impacts to people, infrastructure and the environment. As an intern at GINA, she will be supporting the NASA Terrestrial Hydrology Program’s SnowEx 2023 project while learning more about scientific modeling and collection strategies. In her off time, she can be found with her nose in a book, tending to her collection of tropical houseplants, or on trails with her son and four dogs.
Grace Veenstra
Communications Consultant
- geveenstra@alaska.edu
Grace worked at GINA while an undergraduate student at University of Alaska Fairbanks, managing the website and social media accounts, and writing articles about GINA’s role in Alaska. Now graduated with her Bachelors of Science, Grace remains on staff as a consultant to answer any questions or help with small tasks. Grace was born and raised in Alaska, and recently moved to Anchorage.
Milton Wiltse
Affiliate Professor
Milt is an Affiliate Research Professor with the University of Alaska Geographic Information Network (GINA) group within the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. His research interests are focused on using GIS and machine learning to extract new information from Alaska’s legacy geologic data pertinent to identify prospective mineralized tracts. He has a B.A. Degree in geology from the University of Pennsylvania, a Ph.D. in geology from Indiana University and 52 years minerals related geologic experience. Prior to his current work at Gina he was a geologist, geochemist, State Geologist and Director of the Alaska Division of Geologic & Geophysical Surveys. Before his time at DGGS, he was a faculty member of the Colorado School of Mines – Geology Department where he taught courses in ore microscopy, petrology, geologic mapping, and theoretical geochemistry of ore deposits. During an extended leave from DGGS in the 1970s Milt worked as a consultant geologist conducting mineral exploration in Alaska and the Southwestern United States.
University of Alaska Collaborators & Affiliates
David Clemens-Sewall
Research Scientist
David Clemens-Sewall is a Research Scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU). He has studied snow and ice in the polar regions since 2013 using both field observations and models. He holds a Bachelor’s in Earth Sciences and Chemistry and a Ph.D. In Engineering Sciences, both from Dartmouth College. His work focuses on improving models for Numerical Weather Prediction and Earth System Modeling through a combination of novel observations and model developments. David currently works with UAF to mentor instruments for the Department of Energy ARM User Facility.
JEREMIAH DABNEY
Systems Administrator
Liam Forbes is the manager of the Research Computing Systems group at the Geophysical Institute. He supervises a team of systems analysts, network engineers, computer technicians, and web developers to provide research cyberinfrastructure and information technology support for the UAF Geophysical Institute and other UA research communities, including GINA.
Marc Oggier
Postdoctoral Researcher
- moggier@alaska.edu
Marc Oggier is a postdoctoral researcher at the International Arctic Research Center (IARC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He holds a Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, and a Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which focuses on sea ice microstructure and small-scale transport processes. While his interests remain centered on biogeochemistry within the vertical extent of the sea ice cover, his attention has drifted into the snow world on both sea ice and tundra. When not enjoying long, extensive field campaigns in cold environments, Marc is likely to be found in his kitchen baking some bread or in his workshop tinkering on the next cabin improvement while he awaits his next adventure.
Marc works with the GINA team mentoring precipitation instruments for the Department of Energy ARM User Facility on the North Slope of Alaska.