Michelle Talal

Michelle Talal is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Nicholas Institute of Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University, and is co-advised at the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont. Michelle is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist with a focus on urban ecology and sustainable management. She uses mixed methods to investigate biodiversity patterns, nature accessibility, and ecosystem services. In her current project, she is researching how various management activities influence biodiversity and carbon outcomes across the United States. 

Prior to joining the Nicholas Institute, Michelle was a Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholar at Tel Aviv University and worked as an environmental consultant and educator in the Pacific Northwest. Michelle received her BA in biology from Occidental College, MEM with a concentration in ecosystem science and conservation from Duke University, and PhD in environmental sciences from Oregon State University.