People
TERC represent hundreds of faculty, researchers, staff, and students who are distributed throughout the campus and region. Through the UC Davis Office of Research, we collaborate to develop and communicate a greater understanding of the natural and human environment.
Interim Director
Dr. Alexander Forrest (Associate Professor, UCDavis) will be acting as the TERC Interim Director as the Director search gets underway in early 2024. Based in Civil & Environmental Engineering at UC Davis, Dr. Forrest works in Environmental Fluid Mechanics where he is interested in how flows interact with their natural and built environments. He has been involved with research at TERC since 2008 when he initially came here as a postdoctoral fellow working on understanding the spread of invasive species in the lake and has now focused on the application of autonomous robotics to the broader field of limnology.
Director Emeritus
Dr. Geoffrey Schladow, professor of civil and environmental engineering, was appointed founding director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center in August, 2004. As director of the largest limnological facility west of the Great Lakes, Dr. Schladow is uniquely qualified in serving as the focal point for UC Davis’ research, teaching, and outreach agenda at Lake Tahoe. Dr. Schladow, who holds a doctoral degree in civil engineering, is an expert in the areas of environmental fluid mechanics, water quality modeling, and the dynamics of inland waters. He is developing computer models to link stream flow, meteorological and remote-sensing information that provide Tahoe decision-makers new management tools. Originally from Australia, Dr. Schladow has been on the faculty of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis since 1993.
Core Staff
Our dedicated staff works together to accomplish the goals of the center. Approximately seventeen core staff fulfill the administrative, research and communication needs of the center and provide services and assistance to TERC programs and projects, UC Davis initiatives, and visiting faculty and researchers.
Volunteer Docents
The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center has initiated this Docent Program in order to connect the talents of community volunteers with the curiosity and interests of visitors, residents, and students. Docents utilize TERC's two educational centers (Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village and the Eriksson Education Center and Demonstration Garden in Tahoe City) to help visitors have an enjoyable and educational experience through which they will learn about Lake Tahoe and environmental problems affecting it and solutions through stewardship.
AmeriCorps Members
The TERC Education Team includes three AmeriCorps members as Education Program Assistants. AmeriCorps member positions begin October through the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Program. Visit the program website to submit an application as described. Please check out the different SNAP host sites across the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Informational posters and flyers are available here! SNAP FAQ.
Graduate Students
TERC attracts the best and brightest students. Graduate student research focuses on solutions to sustain the health of Lake Tahoe and other lakes worldwide. Invest in tomorrow's leaders by supporting the Charles Goldman Endowed Fund.
Interns & Summer Internships (on-going)
Summer internships are available for college students to work in the laboratory, in the field and in the science education centers at Lake Tahoe. Interested applicants should submit an application package including a cover letter specifying the area(s) of interest, dates and hours of availability, resume, unofficial college transcripts, and three reference contacts to Alison Toy, internship coordinator at antoy@ucdavis.edu by March 31. Internship applicants are welcome to turn in a complete application package at any time.
Job Opportunities
TERC Personnel Hourly Rates (per hour):
Base Recharge Rate:
Field Staff $61.00
Education Staff $68.50
Laboratory Staff $60.00
External Recharge Rate with NUD
Field Staff $81.50
Education Staff $91.50
Laboratory Staff $80.00