Heidi Hirsh

heidi hirsh

Heidi Hirsh

Systems Engineer
Heidi Hirsh is a systems engineer for the Aircraft Center for Earth Studies (ACES) at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami. Before joining ACES, Dr. Hirsh was a postdoctoral associate at the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), working jointly for NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and the University of Miami. During her postdoc, Dr. Hirsh developed statistical models to describe and predict carbonate chemistry variability on coral reefs in Guam and the Florida Keys. This work used estimated nearshore residence time and records of in situ carbonate chemistry and benthic composition to better describe the environmental and ecological drivers of reef-scale processes modifying local biogeochemistry.

Dr. Hirsh received her Ph.D. in Earth System Science from Stanford University. Her doctoral research focused on the impacts of seagrass and kelp forest community metabolism on the seawater carbonate system, particularly the potential for these habitats to ameliorate ocean acidification stress. Dr. Hirsh is a licensed commercial drone pilot with six years of experience mapping coastal habitats.