Employee Spotlight: Alexander Danielsen

Meet ORAU employee Alexander Danielsen! Alexander is an ORAU contractor working under the National Student Services Contract (NSSC) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As an Unnamed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Aerial Researcher at the Research Triangle Park, NC facility, Alexander supports EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM). CEMM recently initiated the use of UAS drones to support its mission for environmental measurements and Alexander serves on the UAS Aerial Sampling team. Alexander’s collaboration includes supporting many areas: instrumentation development and testing, sampling study design, field measurements, post-processing data analysis of emissions, meteorological and camera data, and quality control of measurements.

Recently, in April 2024, Alexander attended a field campaign to support the EPA’s Aerial Sampling team at the Konza Biological Station in Manhattan, KS. Alexander’s goal was to provide data for the completion of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program project. The project aims to link emissions production and dispersion in the near-plume environment to heterogeneity in fuels, fire dynamics, and convective structures. For 10 days he used numerous instruments, including UAS and UGV, to collect emission and weather data during varying prescribed burn practices on the Konza prairie. During the field research, he applied his knowledge to assist in an applicable and tangible research endeavor. Alexander stated, “It was a wonderful and impactful trip that pushed me to not only apply what I know but also think critically as an individual and as part of a team. I also saw many bison.”

In addition to highlighting the field campaign and joining the EPA’s Aerial Sampling team, we asked Alexander about joining the EPA CEMM team and his work. When asked what his favorite part of working at EPA has been so far, Alexander said, “My favorite part of joining the EPA team has been the connections I have been able to make, which has led to expanding my knowledge on numerous subjects and deepening how I think about various scientific concepts and research.”

Background

Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in Neurology and Exercise Science from the University of West Florida. In addition, Alexander obtained his master’s degree in Natural Resources with a focus in Forests and Climate Change from Oregon State University. Alexander earned his graduate degree by examining the relationship between fire ecology and Oregon White Oak habitat in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Alexander says, “Moreover, the importance of these ecosystems for endemic species like the Slender-billed Nuthatch and how we can use Geospatial systems to create effective habitat models.”