Peyton Thomas
- Assistant Professor
- ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Peyton Thomas will be joining INSTAAR and ENVS as an Assistant Professor in Spring 2026
Fish physiology • Aquatic ecology • Climate change impacts
Peyton Thomas is a fish physiologist focused on understanding the influences of environmental stressors on the physiology of fishes
She currently studies the growth potential of Arctic fishes across Interior Alaska and Canadian Yukon Territories through bioenergetics modeling using hindcast and forecast river conditions as part of the Arctic Rivers Project. This project is working to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into the research questions, model parameters, and model outputs to improve our understanding of how fish and communities may adapt to climate change.
As a professor, Thomas plans to pursue further collaborative projects that highlight the interconnectivity of aquatic ecology with geology, hydrology, and human dimensions. Her work will strive to reframe ecosystem conservation measures to align with the priorities and perspectives of local communities.
Peyton and her Postdoc advisor Cassandra Brooks did a short ice fishing trip in Alaska during a 2023 American Fisheries Society conference. Click to zoom.
