Joe is a spatial ecologist who harnesses satellite imagery and deep learning to map and understand a changing earth.  An interdisciplinary scientist throughout his career, Joe has a PhD in mathematical ecology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and previous training in botany, computer science, geography, and sociology.

Over the last decade or so, he has primarily worked on projects funded through NASA’s terrestrial ecology initiatives to delineate and constrain uncertainties in carbon balances arising from land cover and land use change at high spatial resolutions and continental scales. As part of this work, he has developed novel methods to detect subtle forest disturbances, identify clouds and other obstructions in Landsat imagery, and fuse diverse information and their associated uncertainties into multi-level models. At Earthshot, Joe brings his expertise in remote sensing and machine learning to support our modeling efforts toward carbon sequestration and ecological conservation.  

Originally from West Virginia, Joe’s work is rooted in the history and spirit of the Appalachian Mountains and driven by environmental justice for the communities impacted by extractive industries. When not playing with maps and computers, Joe likes to get outside to explore new places, learn new hobbies, and hike beautiful trails leading to waterfalls.