Alison O’Dowd is the Co-Director of the Humboldt River Institute and a Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Management. Dr. O’Dowd’s research interests are in aquatic ecology and restoration ecology of freshwater systems. Her research explores how biological stream communities (primarily benthic macroinvertebrates) respond to disturbance within a watershed. Dr. O’Dowd is also interested in the ecology of step-pool streams and wetland ecosystems.