Alma Hernández earned her bachelor's degree in Microbiology at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2021. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Ecosystem Science at UNH. Alma’s research interests focus on investigating the impact of Arctic tundra wildfires on soil nutrient availability and microbial community composition as wildfires become increasingly frequent and severe in this vulnerable ecosystem due to escalating global temperatures and biogeochemical changes linked to climate change. Her initial research work will be held in conjunction with Woodwell Climate Research Center’s Polaris Project and follow-up at UNH on her graduate work funded by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.