DRI scientist Kristin VanderMolen, Ph.D., has been recognized with the 2025 Rising Researcher Award by the NSHE Board of Regents. This award acknowledges her significant early-career achievements and potential for contributing to scientific knowledge in applied anthropology.
Dr. VanderMolen serves as an Assistant Research Professor in DRI’s Division of Atmospheric Sciences, focusing on climate impacts and adaptation. Her interdisciplinary research addresses societal challenges such as climate variability, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat affecting vulnerable communities.
Her work employs an innovative approach rooted in environmental anthropology to enhance community resilience and inform public policy. Among her projects are efforts to improve heat risk education, assess household strategies for managing wildfire smoke and extreme heat, and develop communication methods about wildfire smoke risks for rural Nevada communities.
“I am honored to receive this award,” VanderMolen stated. “I am also grateful for the recognition of research that is largely community and stakeholder-driven and that aims to address public needs.”
Dr. VanderMolen joined DRI in 2016 as a postdoctoral fellow before becoming an Assistant Research Professor in 2018. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental anthropology from the University of Georgia, Athens; an M.A. in Latin American studies from Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar in Quito, Ecuador; and a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in geography from Humboldt State University.
She has led various high-impact projects funded by agencies like NOAA and the EPA, focusing on issues such as wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and climate resilience among vulnerable populations. Her collaborative approach demonstrates leadership and dedication to advancing environmental science while mentoring early-career researchers.
“Dr. Kristin VanderMolen is a rising leader in environmental anthropology and atmospheric sciences, recognized for her innovative, interdisciplinary research and impactful scholarship,” said Amanda Keen-Zebert, Interim Director of Research Operations at DRI. “Her ability to bridge scientific inquiry with real-world application highlights her role as a thought leader in the environmental sciences and a highly deserving recipient of this award.”
About DRI: Founded in 1959 as Nevada’s non-profit research institute, DRI empowers experts to focus on meaningful science questions affecting communities locally and globally.