Alex Padilla

Alexandra Padilla (she/her/ella) is a Research Associate and Program Manager for FieldSafe at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Alexandra spent her childhood and adolescent years in Maryland and moved to Puerto Rico, respectively. She earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering with a minor in applied mathematics at the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez. During this period, she became interested in applying her skills in environmental-related sciences and went on to complete a Ph.D. in ocean engineering at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where she focused on understanding the physical properties of gas bubbles in the ocean to improve gas flux estimates in the ocean. During her time as a graduate student, she was involved in several DEI-related efforts and projects at UNH, such as co-leading the development of a campus and broader NH resource map for underrepresented minorities at UNH. During her postdoc at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), she was awarded the URGE (Unlearning Racism in the Geosciences) Postdoctoral Extension. During her postdoctoral extension, she spent her time working with the URGE team and with WHOI’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer to implement DEI efforts within the community. Alex is passionate about facilitating researchers, especially early career and underrepresented minorities, with resources and tools to succeed in their science and continue to build a welcoming and belonging community within the geosciences.