Dr. Kolden
Crystal Kolden grew up in western Washington climbing trees and loving the outdoors. After getting a fairly useless bachelor's degree in history, she ended up on a Forest Service firefighting crew in California and decided that her calling was figuring out how to burn stuff legally. Over the years she has worked in most of the western US, including Alaska and Hawaii, and now gets to burn stuff AND look at satellite images of burnt stuff. When not playing with fire, she enjoys the country life with her husband and twin boys on their rural farmstead.
Current PyroLab Members
Nicole Lambrou, Ph.D., Research Scientist at Sierra Nevada Research Institute
Nicole received her doctorate in Urban Planning from UCLA in August 2022 and is the founder of Tinkercraft, an urban design and climate research studio focused on designing equity and justice-based solutions. She is the research lead and Project Manager for FireTools, a collaborative project between UC Merced, Berkeley, and UCLA (funded by UCOP MRPI and HUD) to improve our understanding of wildfire resilience by planning and developing support resources for the marginalized communities most vulnerable to wildfire.
Joshua Olsen, Ph.D., Postdoc at Sierra Nevada Research Institute
Josh received his doctorate in Economics from Washington State University in November 2024, focusing on homeonwer perceptions of wildfire risk and housing prices. He is conducting research on post-wildfire rebuilding and recovery.
Steven Vasquez
Steven is a doctoral student in the Environmental Systems graduate group starting in Fall 2025. He is a 2025 graduate of California State University - Stanislaus. He works with NASA AMES and uses remote sensing to study wildfires.
Nicole received her doctorate in Urban Planning from UCLA in August 2022 and is the founder of Tinkercraft, an urban design and climate research studio focused on designing equity and justice-based solutions. She is the research lead and Project Manager for FireTools, a collaborative project between UC Merced, Berkeley, and UCLA (funded by UCOP MRPI and HUD) to improve our understanding of wildfire resilience by planning and developing support resources for the marginalized communities most vulnerable to wildfire.
Joshua Olsen, Ph.D., Postdoc at Sierra Nevada Research Institute
Josh received his doctorate in Economics from Washington State University in November 2024, focusing on homeonwer perceptions of wildfire risk and housing prices. He is conducting research on post-wildfire rebuilding and recovery.
Steven Vasquez
Steven is a doctoral student in the Environmental Systems graduate group starting in Fall 2025. He is a 2025 graduate of California State University - Stanislaus. He works with NASA AMES and uses remote sensing to study wildfires.
Alumni
University of California, Merced
Mykael Pineda (MS Environmental Sciences, 2024): NV5 Geospatial, Portland, OR
Varya Fedorova (MS Environmental Sciences, 2024): Wildland firefighter, National Park Service
Tara Harmon (MS Environmental Sciences, 2024):
Nicole Lambrou (post-doc 2022-2023): Research Scientist, Sierra Nevada Research Institute, UC Merced
University of Idaho
Robert Hougham (postdoc, 2011-2013): Extension Professor, Univ. of Wisconsin
Forrest Bowlick (MS Geography, 2012): Associate Department Head, UMass Department of Geography
Vincent Jansen (MS & PhD Environmental Science, 2014 & 2018): Spatial Analyst, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Katie Morrison (MS Geography, 2014): Chief of Staff, Oregon legislature.
Patrick Olsen (MS Geography, 2014): Instructor of Geography at UI
Ty Bleeker (MS Geography, 2015): Wilderness adventurer
T. Ryan McCarley (MS Geography, 2016): Senior Manager, American Forests
John Kannady (MS Geography, 2016): GIS specialist, New South Associates, Atlanta, GA
Devin Yeatman (MS Natural Resources, 2017): State Fire Manager, The Nature Conservancy South Carolina
Aaron Sparks (PhD Natural Resources, 2017): Research Assistant Professor, University of Idaho
Carrie Minerich (MS Natural Resources, 2018):
Arjan Meddens (post-doc 2014-2016): Assistant Professor, Washington State University
Joshua Picotte (PhD Natural Resources, 2023): Research Scientist, USGS EROS
Mykael Pineda (MS Environmental Sciences, 2024): NV5 Geospatial, Portland, OR
Varya Fedorova (MS Environmental Sciences, 2024): Wildland firefighter, National Park Service
Tara Harmon (MS Environmental Sciences, 2024):
Nicole Lambrou (post-doc 2022-2023): Research Scientist, Sierra Nevada Research Institute, UC Merced
University of Idaho
Robert Hougham (postdoc, 2011-2013): Extension Professor, Univ. of Wisconsin
Forrest Bowlick (MS Geography, 2012): Associate Department Head, UMass Department of Geography
Vincent Jansen (MS & PhD Environmental Science, 2014 & 2018): Spatial Analyst, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Katie Morrison (MS Geography, 2014): Chief of Staff, Oregon legislature.
Patrick Olsen (MS Geography, 2014): Instructor of Geography at UI
Ty Bleeker (MS Geography, 2015): Wilderness adventurer
T. Ryan McCarley (MS Geography, 2016): Senior Manager, American Forests
John Kannady (MS Geography, 2016): GIS specialist, New South Associates, Atlanta, GA
Devin Yeatman (MS Natural Resources, 2017): State Fire Manager, The Nature Conservancy South Carolina
Aaron Sparks (PhD Natural Resources, 2017): Research Assistant Professor, University of Idaho
Carrie Minerich (MS Natural Resources, 2018):
Arjan Meddens (post-doc 2014-2016): Assistant Professor, Washington State University
Joshua Picotte (PhD Natural Resources, 2023): Research Scientist, USGS EROS