Caleb Edwards
PhD Student, Biological Sciences
Waterloo, ON | caybaycaleb@gmail.com
Education
PhD, Biological Sciences2026–Present
University of Waterloo, Ontario, CA
- Research Interests: Plant Ecophysiology, Climate Change, Evolution, Instrumentation
- Research Advisors: Dr. Julie Messier, Dr. Audrey Maheu
BSc, Biology; BSc, Environmental Science2022–2026
Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA
- B.S. Thesis: Stable or Slipping? A Landslide Risk Assessment of Shickshinny Mountain, PA
- Research Advisor: Dr. Bobak Karimi
Relevant Research & Work Experience
Laboratory Tech Assistant2022-2026
Biology and Earth Systems Science Department, Wilkes Uni.
- Responsibilities: Laboratory equipment maintenance, manage chemical inventory, contribute in science-focused community outreach initiatives
- Advisor: Julie McMonagle
Student Researcher2025-2026
Instrument Development and Invasive Grass Study - Wilkes Uni.
- Built and tested a system to passively measure water loss in plants.
- Led an experiment investigating shade tolerance in an invasive C4 grass species against native C3 species.
- Advisor: Dr. Ned Fetcher
Research Assistant2024-2025
Arctic Tundra Plant Phenology - Wilkes Uni.
- Collected phenology and photosynthesis data for an NSF funded project on local adaptation of arctic sedge Eriophorum vaginatum
- Advisor: Dr. Ned Fetcher
Awards
- Dean's List Wilkes Uni.2023-2026
- George H. Fenner Student Research Scholarship Wilkes Uni.2024, 2025
- Chi Alpha Sigma Athletics Honor Society Wilkes Uni.2025
- Academic Honor Roll Landmark Conference2023-2025
- Resident's Award for Educational Achievement Wilkes Uni.2022
Publications
Journal Articles
Water Use Efficiency and Biomass Allocation Underlie the Success of Microstegium vimineum in the Shade Relative to Native C3 Grasses
Edwards, C., Fetcher, N.
(In Prep)
Eccentricity-Based Dendrochronology Provides Evidence of Spatial-Temporal Reactivation of Landslides at Shickshinny Mountain, Luzerne County PA.
Edwards, C., Papke, S., Helstowski, A., Karimi, B.
(In Prep)
Ecotypes Matter: Changes in Daylength and Site of Origin Underlie the Onset of Leaf Senescence along a Latitudinal Gradient in Eriophorum vaginatum, a Foundation Species of the Alaskan Arctic Tundra
Vaz, M. C., Mahler, W., Larson, B., Pallares-Solan Po, L. A. Jolley, D. D., Edwards, C., Del Cid Ramirez, B., Orquiz, H., Tang, J., Moody, M., Shaver, G. & Fetcher, N.
Arctic Science (In review)
Presentations
Talks
Reading Between the Rings: A Dendrochronological Approach to Reconstructing Landslide Activity
Pennsylvania GIS Conference, 2026
Predict the Slip!: Slope Safety Analysis Using Factor of Safety
Pennsylvania GIS Conference, 2025
Eriophorum vaginatum Minimum Conductance Across Varying Ecotypes
Toolik Field Station, AK, 2024
Posters
Stable or Slipping? Landslide Risk Assessment of Shickshinny Mountain
Edwards, C., Papke, S., Helstowski, A., Karimi, B.
Pennsylvania GIS Conference, 2026
Safe in the City: Do Deer-Free Woodlots Benefit Native Plants?
DeCresenza, C., O’Boyle, J., Edwards, C., Fetcher, N., Stratford, J.
Ecological Society of America, Mid Atlantic Chapter, 2026
Nature vs Nurture in the Alaskan Arctic: Are Photosynthetic Traits Genetically or Environmentally Determined in Tussock Sedges?
Edwards, C., Larson, B., Carita Vaz, M., Fetcher, N.
Ecological Society of America, Annual Meeting, 2025
Teaching
Teaching Assistant: Biodiversity, Biomes & Evolution2026
Outreach and Engagement
Leadership
Wilkes Ecology Club Executive Board2023-2026
Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society Vice President2023, 2024
Volunteering
PA GIS Conference2024-2026
STEM Discovery Day2023-2026
Earth & Environmental Science Day2023-2026
We're Empowered by Science (WEBS)2023, 2025
Luzerne County Envirothon2025
RiverFest Event Education2023
Mentorship
Harsiman Kaur2026-Present
Undergraduate, UWaterloo
- Project: Quantified onset of leaf senescence in Medicago lupulina to access drought-induced differences in leaf longevity