Meet the Team

  • David Kanter is an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at New York University and the Chair of the International Nitrogen Initiative. His research examines new policy options for addressing nutrient pollution and how to manage the transition to a global agri-food system consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Prior to his current position, David was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Earth Institute at Columbia University. He received his BSc in Chemistry and Law from the University of Bristol in the UK and his MA and PhD in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy from Princeton University.

  • Peter M. Groffman (he/him/his) is a Professor at the City University of New York Advanced Science Research Center and the Earth and Environmental Sciences Program at the Graduate Center, and Brooklyn College Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.  He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. His research focuses on climate effects on ecosystem biogeochemical processes related to carbon and nitrogen cycles. Groffman was a Convening Lead Author for the 2013 U.S. National Climate Assessment Chapter on Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, a lead author for the Second (Wetlands) and Third (North America) Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Program on Climate Change (IPCC):

    Publications | Citations 63,324 | H-index 131

  • Xin Zhang is a Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), the Director of the Global Nitrogen Innovation Center for Clean Energy and the Environment (NICCEE), and an Editor at Earth’s Future. Xin’s research aims to unravel the complex dynamics between human and natural systems, guiding policies and actions toward sustainability using data-driven and transdisciplinary approaches. Xin has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers, and has received several awards, including the prestigious CAREER Award (NSF, 2021), the President’s Award for Excellence in Application of Science (UMCES, 2022), and the Global Environmental Change Early Career Award (AGU, 2022).

    Xin received a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.S. in Computer Science from Ocean University of China (OUC), an M.A. in Environmental Science from Peking University (2007), and a Ph.D. from Yale University (2013). She has also completed internships and projects at national and international organizations, including the United Nations.

  • William San Martín is an Assistant Professor of Global Environmental Science, Technology, and Governance in the Department of Integrative & Global Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is also an Affiliated Scholar with Brown University’s Climate Social Science Network and a Research Fellow at the Earth System Governance Project at Utrecht University.

    An interdisciplinary scholar trained in environmental history and science and technology studies (STS), San Martín examines the intersections of nitrogen’s biochemistry, knowledge systems, and policy. Through historical and participatory methodologies, his research addresses environmental inequalities, with a focus on sustainable development in the Global South.

    San Martín is a contributing author in the forthcoming International Nitrogen Assessment and Co-PI on the NSF-funded project, “Co-Producing Knowledge, Biotechnologies, and Practices to Enhance Biological Nitrogen Fixation for Sustainable Agriculture.”

  • Carson Ross (she/her) is a program manager for environment and social impact projects through her consultancy Green Hand Projects. She has managed international research projects in the US, EU, and Africa.

    Carson specializes in food security, community development, and regenerative agriculture, with expertise in policy compliance, program management, and graphic design.

    Carson holds a BA in International Development and International Agriculture from McGill University (2013) and an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University (2021). She is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Senegal from 2013 to 2016.

  • Margaux Alfare is a researcher in the Environmental Studies Department at New York University, specializing in climate and land-use data analysis. She uses high-level programming languages and software (i.e. Matlab, Python) to analyze multi-dimensional geospatial datasets, perform statistical analyses, and create visuals for scientific publications. 

    Margaux also serves as the Data Manager for the In-Net project, where she is developing a publicly accessible data platform to deliver national nitrogen profiles. This platform aims to support policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders in designing and evaluating effective national action plans.

    Prior to joining NYU, she received her MA in Climate and Society from Columbia University’s Climate School in 2023.

  • Edin Thornton is an operations and policy specialist with expertise in environmental sustainability, strategic alignment, and stakeholder collaboration.

    With a background in environmental studies and political organizing, she focuses on building partnerships, fostering youth empowerment, and advancing impactful solutions at the intersection of science and policy.

    Edin also leads Thornton Peak, a firm dedicated to innovative approaches to sustainability and social change.