About
Professor of Geography and Environmental Systems, UMBC (2008-present)Assistant Professor, Watershed Sciences, Utah State University (2005-2008)
Research Ecologist, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (2002-2005)
PhD Aquatic Ecology (2002), MS Terrestrial Ecology (1996) University of Michigan; BA English/Ecology (1992) Emory University
Research interests
Dr. Baker is a broadly trained hydro-ecologist interested in effects of biophysical variation and human activity on ecological processes and biological communities in both urban and rural ecosystems. He has expertise in stream ecology; ecological restoration; wetlands and woodlands; terrain analysis; watershed hydrology and water quality; GIS and remote sensing; and ecological statistics. Most local work is focused on urban forest patches with Baltimore Greenspace and the USDA Forest Service, mapping streams and wetlands with the Chesapeake Conservancy and Chesapeake Bay Program, studying urban flooding with the City of Baltimore, assessing drivers of degradation in streams with Maryland DNR, USEPA, and USGS, characterizing the effects of dam removal with NOAA and American Rivers, and studying the effects of ecosystem restoration. He occasionally provides expert testimony in federal, state circuit, and tax courts.Teaching interests
Physical GeographyHydrology
Geomorphology
Watersheds
Water Quality
Streams
Riparian Ecology
Landscape Ecology
Forests
GIS
Remote Sensing
Statistical Analysis
Machine Learning
Restoration
Education
- Ph D, Aquatic Ecology — University of Michigan (2002)
- MS, Terrestial Ecology — University of Michigan (1996)
- BA, English and Ecology — Emory University (1992)