Scott Zolkos Ph.D.

  • Research Scientist
Scott Zolkos

My research focuses on river chemistry to improve understanding of climate-sensitive ecosystems. River chemistry provides a snapshot of environmental conditions across watersheds—much like a blood sample informs about a patient’s health—and helps to understand how those conditions, in turn, influence coastal ocean ecosystems.

As a Research Scientist, I collaborate on Arctic watershed monitoring to study how climate-related disturbances like permafrost thaw, wildfire, and human activity affect carbon, nutrients, and mercury. I also work locally in the Buzzards Bay watershed on ecosystem health and stewardship.

My passion for environmental stewardship stems from a lifelong connection to the outdoors, which I share with my family. I earned my Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Alberta and led research as a National Science Foundation Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University and Woodwell Climate.

permafrost photo by Scott Zolkos

Projects

Mackenzie River near Tsiigehtchic. June 2003. Photo by Max Holmes.

Arctic Great Rivers Observatory

Since 2003, ArcticGRO has provided essential data about the biogeochemistry and discharge of the largest Arctic rivers.

Selected Publications

The land-ocean Arctic carbon cycle

Vonk, J.E., M. Fritz, N.J. Speetjens, … A. Suslova, S.E. Tank, J. Terhaar, & S. Zolkos (2025). Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.

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