AAAS Fellows in front of the U.S. Capitol building

NSF AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows

Biography

Photo of AAAS Fellow

 

Dr. Jennifer Riehl
AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow
Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
Directorate for Engineering
Class of 20232024


Dr. Jennifer Riehl is a scientist with expertise in forest tree population genetics and natural resource management and conservation policy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Texas Lutheran University and a master’s degree in molecular biology at The State University of New York, Albany. After spending a couple of years working in a forensic testing laboratory, she transitioned into a graduate program more focused on environmental sciences at Michigan Technological University. There she earned a master’s degree in environmental policy and a PhD in forest molecular genetics and biotechnology. Most recently she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Riehl’s professional experience is intentionally multi-faceted and collaborative, spanning ecological genetics/genomics to natural resource management. She has participated in cross-disciplinary research projects aiming to identify genes/genomics regions underlying adaptive forest tree traits, uncover drivers of private forest owners' land management choices, and explore the incorporation of controversial scientific topics, such as hybridization and species concepts, into the ESA implementation process. She is passionate about analyzing problems and ideas at a holistic level, always aiming to put her biological and social science knowledge to work to help address pressing environmental issues.