Saru Saraswati
Assistant Professor
Biography
Dr. Saraswati is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences. As a physical geographer and wetland scientist, she specializes in the biogeochemistry and carbon dynamics of temperate and boreal peatlands.
Her research examines the effects of human activities — such as drainage, agriculture, road construction and peat extraction — on carbon cycling processes, including carbon dioxide and methane emissions, as well as overall wetland biogeochemistry. She investigates a range of wetland systems, including prairie region wetlands, boreal and temperate peatlands (such as bogs, fens and swamps), and mangroves.
Saraswati employs laboratory analyses, field studies and process-based modeling to better understand soil organic matter, the stability and degradability of organic carbon, and the broader environmental implications of changes in wetland ecosystems.
Her research examines the effects of human activities — such as drainage, agriculture, road construction and peat extraction — on carbon cycling processes, including carbon dioxide and methane emissions, as well as overall wetland biogeochemistry. She investigates a range of wetland systems, including prairie region wetlands, boreal and temperate peatlands (such as bogs, fens and swamps), and mangroves.
Saraswati employs laboratory analyses, field studies and process-based modeling to better understand soil organic matter, the stability and degradability of organic carbon, and the broader environmental implications of changes in wetland ecosystems.
Education
- M.S. in wetland science and conservation | Bangor University, United Kingdom | 2015
- Ph.D. in physical geography | Waterloo University, Canada | 2019
Academic and Professional Experience
Academic Responsibilities
- GEOG 132 – Physical Geography: Natural Landscapes
- GEOG 790 – Seminar in Physical Geography: Managed Wetlands
- GEOG 439/539 – Geomorphology
Committees and Professional Memberships
Leadership – Professional Organizations:
- Review Editor, Frontiers in Environmental Science (Biogeochemical Dynamics)
- Reviewer, AGU BioGeosciences Journal
- Reviewer, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) Journals (Forest, Applied Sciences, Agronomy)
- Review Panelist, National Science Foundation
- Adhoc Reviewer, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- External Reviewer, National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Professional Memberships:
- American Geophysical Union
- Canadian Geophysical Union
- Canadian Association of Geographers
- Society of Wetland Scientists
Research and Scholarly Work
Areas of Research
- Wetlands biogeochemistry and carbon stability
- Prairie pothole region wetlands carbon dynamics
- Soil organic carbon and bioenergetics
- Peatlands and prairie pothole region wetlands restoration
- Wetlands soil management
- Anthropogenic disturbances in wetlands
Awards and Honors
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research of Canada, Canada | 2023
- Leadership Incentive Award | University of Waterloo, Canada | 2023
- Research Expense Award | University of Waterloo, Canada | 2023
- Best Student Paper Award | Canadian Geophysical Union, Canada | 2019
- Environment Graduate Experience Award | University of Waterloo, Canada | 2017
- Graduate Scholarship | University of Waterloo, Canada | 2016
- International Doctoral Student Award | University of Waterloo, Canada | 2015-2019
- Research Grant Award for M.S. Thesis | Bangor University, United Kingdom | 2014
- Graduate International Scholarship | Bangor University, United Kingdom | 2013
Associated Areas
