Sierra Castañeda

Sierra Castañeda (she/her) is a PhD candidate and member of the Jackson Lab in the Earth Systems Science department in the Doerr School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on sustainable agriculture and food systems. She investigates ways to quantify and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from food production to consumption. She deploys field trials to study the impact of sustainable management practices on the carbon and nitrogen dynamics in agricultural systems. Her work aims to deepen farmer relationships by studying perceptions of current agricultural policies on sustainable management practices. During her Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering at Princeton University, Sierra worked with the Research Institute for a Sustainable Environment in Cairo, Egypt, where she engaged various stakeholders to study the efficacy and implementation barriers of sustainable agricultural water management practices across Egyptian farming communities. This work inspired her research today, and she is motivated to work with community partners to effectively communicate her science to farmers and policymakers alike. Ultimately, Sierra is passionate about bringing people closer to the food they consume, and growing food in a way that nourishes people, soil, and the planet. Outside of research, Sierra loves running, yoga, cooking for friends, and spending time outside.