CV

Profile

Polar and geospatial researcher working across glaciology, remote sensing, and GIS. Builds reproducible workflows in Google Earth Engine, Python, and QGIS that turn satellite imagery into defensible evidence about ice, meltwater, and glacier change. Field experience in Antarctica and coastal systems, together with a background in environmental policy research, keeps the technical work grounded in applied questions.

Education

• M.Sc., Polar Landscapes and Quaternary Climate, Stockholm University, Sweden, 2026 (expected)
  • Coursework: Glaciology, Paleoglaciology, Permafrost, Quaternary Sedimentology, and Polar and Alpine Landscapes Response to Climate Change
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, GIS, Pennsylvania State University, 2024
  • Coursework: Advanced Python for GIS, Environmental Applications of GIS, and Database Management; Esri ArcGIS specialization
• B.A. & Sc., Global Change Ecology and Integrated Resource Management, Quest University, Canada, 2021
  • Quest University Antarctic Field Expedition member; recognized on President’s List for academic performance and community contribution
  • Teaching Assistant to Dr. Heidi Weiskel; gave lectures and seminars on managed retreat and coastal species migration

Research experience

• 2026: M.Sc. Thesis — Slush and Supraglacial Lakes on Petermann and C.H. Ostenfeld Glaciers
  • Stockholm University
  • Mapped twelve years of slush and supraglacial lakes using multi-band supervised classification and k-means clustering of Landsat-8/9 imagery, with additional use of Sentinel-1 SAR, Sentinel-2, ICESat-2 altimetry, and ArcticDEM
  • Estimated lake volume and its control on subglacial discharge at Petermann Glacier using optical bathymetry
  • Quantified change with autocorrelation-corrected trend statistics and related melt variability to firn state and ERA5 climate forcing
  • Built reproducible workflows in Python, JavaScript, Google Earth Engine, and QGIS; supervised by Dr. Nina Kirchner and Dr. Abhay Prakash
• 2018 - 2020: Coastal Climate Adaptation Research Assistant
  • UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries; ELAW
  • Researched sea-level-rise adaptation policies across 130 coastal countries under Dr. Rashid Sumaila and Dr. Heidi Weiskel
  • Designed the research protocol and independently collected and organized comparative policy data across all 130 countries
• 2019: Marine Field Technician Intern
  • UC Davis Graduate Group, Bodega Marine Labs, CA
  • Ran biodiversity surveys and temperature-response experiments for graduate research on marine invertebrates

Skills

• Remote sensing
  • Optical & SAR imagery (Sentinel-1/-2, Landsat-8/9), ICESat-2 altimetry, ArcticDEM, NDWI classification, k-means clustering, Google Earth Engine, QGIS, Esri ArcGIS
• Programming & statistics
  • Python, JavaScript, R, Git, autocorrelation-corrected trend statistics, reproducible geospatial workflows
• Domain methods
  • Glaciology, polar landscapes, paleoglaciology, permafrost, coastal adaptation, spatial ecology
• Professional
  • Scientific writing, presentation, independent project design, stakeholder-facing research

Publications

Twelve Years of Slush and Supraglacial Lakes on Petermann and C.H. Ostenfeld Glaciers from Supervised Classification

Urso, L. (2026). "Twelve Years of Slush and Supraglacial Lakes on Petermann and C.H. Ostenfeld Glaciers from Supervised Classification." M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University.

Manuscripts in preparation

• Urso, L., Prakash, A., & Kirchner, N. Twelve years of slush and supraglacial lakes on Petermann and C.H. Ostenfeld glaciers from supervised classification.
• Urso, L., Prakash, A., & Kirchner, N. First spatial control on subglacial discharge estimates from supraglacial lake volumes on Petermann Glacier from Landsat-8, -9.
• Urso, L., Prakash, A., & Kirchner, N. Evidence for multiannual holdover effects from firn state following high-melt years on Petermann and C.H. Ostenfeld glaciers.

Talks

Teaching

Teaching Assistant, Managed Retreat and Coastal Species Migration

Service and leadership

• Student Government Chair, Quest University Students’ Association, Squamish, BC (Apr 2019 - Jun 2020)
  • Chaired a 12-minister student council and grant board, running meetings and overseeing administration and student-life spending

Additional experience

• Ceramic Artist, Wild Clay Ceramics Studio; Squamish, BC and Missoula, MT (Jun 2020 - Jun 2024)
• Sailboat Crew and Guide, Independent contractor, Sailing Excursions, Newport, RI (May 2016 - Sep 2019)