Our Team

Chaja is a graduate student with the EWB Lab and in the School of Environmental & Forest Sciences studying the impact of natural environments on mental health through a variety of approaches. Chaja is interested in olfactory and other pathways, and is currently helping to lead a study from the EWB Lab that is centered on investigating the impact of volatile organic compound exposures from forests on psychological well-being and physiology. Chaja received a B.S. in Environmental Science and Resource Management from the University of Washington. In her free time, Chaja enjoys birding, knitting, and hiking.

Olivia is a doctoral student with the EWB Lab and in the School of Environmental & Forest Sciences. Her research interests include: exploring the potential for nature exposure to improve quality of life for socially disadvantaged populations and those dealing with chronic health conditions; the nexus of climate change, access to natural/green spaces, and well-being; and the intersections between nature connectedness, ecological behavior, and well-being. Olivia received her B.A. from UC Berkeley and MPA from UW, and has worked in communications and energy/environmental consulting.

Margot is a first-year graduate student in the EWB Lab and in the School of Environmental & Forest Sciences. She plans to research the underlying mechanisms of how human health and well-being are improved through nature exposure. Specifically, she intends to focus on changes in stress reactivity, emotion regulation, and markers of physical health. Margot received her B.S. cum laude in Biopsychology from UC Santa Barbara in 2019. Since then she has been working as both a researcher in a functional brain imaging center as well as a nature connection mentor. In her free time she enjoys exploring the mountains - both on foot and with her paragliding wing.

Connor is a graduate student with the EWB Lab and in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences whose research interests revolve around the mechanisms by which the human microbiome mediates or moderates effects of natural environments on health and well-being. He values work that encourages people to engage with the ecosystems they are part of in ways that are meaningful to them and that promote conservation of and respect for our natural spaces. Connor received a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Michigan. He enjoys spending his time with his wife and two dogs, running trails around Seattle, and reading sci-fi.

Amishi joined the EWB Lab as a research assistant in 2022 and is interested in better understanding issues and potential solutions around resource use and policy, especially in relation to agriculture and water. She is a third-year undergraduate studying environmental science and data science. She likes running, knitting, or reading in her free time.

Paulo joined the EWB Lab as a research assistant in 2021 and is interested in the many ways our surrounding environments can shape emotions and experiences. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2022 with a BA in environmental studies and political science. In his free time, he likes to watch basketball, go for walks, and spend time with his cat. 

Zack joined the EWB Lab as a research assistant in 2022 and is interested in the human-nature relationship as it relates to emotional well-being. He recently received a B.S. in psychology from UW. He likes hiking, playing with his dog, and going to live music events.

Chloe joined the EWB Lab as a research assistant in 2021 and is interested in analyzing the relationship between humans and the environment to understand the dynamic between anthropogenic environmental impacts and environmental impacts on people. She is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Washington studying Environmental Science & Resource Management, with a minor in Spanish. In her free time, she loves to hike, take pictures of nature, and spend time with friends exploring Seattle (especially local farmer’s markets!).

Katie joined the EWB Lab as a research assistant in 2020 and is working on a project that is exploring how nature is related to an individual's emotion regulation processes and other aspects of affect. Katie received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Washington and plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. As a 2020-2021 Fulbright Research Scholar to New Zealand, she will be involved in a longitudinal study that is tracking developmental trajectories of a racially and socioeconomically diverse group of children and their families. In her future work, Katie's aim is to support individuals and families by examining factors that enhance or hinder family functioning and child development, with an emphasis on disadvantaged populations.

Alex joined the EWB Lab as a volunteer in 2019 and recently graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in Biology. She is interested in the potential that nature and health research has to provide health services and address health inequities through ecosystem services. In her free time she likes to explore the outdoors, read a good book, and spend time with family and friends.

Sara graduated in 2021 with her PhD from the EWB Lab at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. She investigates the relationships between different environments and mental health, with a specific interest in depression, anxiety, and stress-related outcomes. She uses a range of quantitative methods in her research including psychophysiology, self-report questionnaires, ecological momentary assessment, and biomarkers. Sara holds a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree from University of California San Diego. In her free time, Sara enjoys gardening (she can say this now that her planter has yielded fancy shishito peppers and pineapple strawberries), snowboarding, and teaching her toddler to make Alka Seltzer rockets.

JP graduated in 2021 with a Master's Degree from the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. He joined the EWB Lab while studying forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) and examining the nature-based health interventions offered at public gardens in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. He designed a nature-savoring activity based on studies of Shinrin Yoku, Self-guided Forest Bathing, for people to use anywhere near trees or where they feel surrounded by nature.

JP is currently the executive director of Kruckeberg Botanic Garden [kruckeberg.org]  (Shoreline, WA), a gathering place for people to learn, be inspired, and feel connected to the natural world. He enjoys collaborating with students on interesting projects, gardening with volunteers, fitness, and quality time with family.

Naomi graduated in 2020 with her Masters degree from the EWB Lab at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. She received a B.S. in Environmental Science from Pitzer College and worked in environmental consulting and conservation education in Hawaii before starting graduate school. Naomi’s Master’s thesis focuses on the role of chronic stress in the association of green space with mental health, as well as the biological and psychological mechanisms underlying forest-bathing practices and human health.

Rick graduated from the EWB Lab and University of Washington with a Master's Degree in 2019. As part of the EWB Lab, Rick's research looked at the accessibility of urban greenspace and its impact on health. Working closely with community members in both Seattle and Bellevue, WA, he investigated the barriers preventing residents from accessing park space and the health benefits that can arise from small-scale neighborhood enhancement projects. During his time at UW, Rick had the opportunity to share the results of his work with both city officials and relevant stakeholders to help guide more equitable policies moving forward.

Rick currently works at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington DC doing creative engagement. In his free time, he designs park-based adventures to connect families to their local natural spaces. He can be reached at rthomas1@uw.edu.