Education
2018
Ph.D. Natural Resources and Ecohydrology. University of Arizona, USA. (Dissertation defended 2017; degree conferred 2018.)
2011
MS. Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology. Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany.
2007
Forest engineering. Universidad Austral de Chile, Chile.
Appointments
2023 – present
Research Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
2020 – 2023
Research associate, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
2018 – 2020
Postdoctoral research associate. University of Arizona, USA.
Awards
2022
Sistema Nacional de Investigadores de México, SNI Nivel 1
2022
Fellow of the International Mobility Research Fellowship Program for Latin American and Caribbean early-career scientists on past global changes.
2019
Invited trainee, Expert Witness Training Academy for climate scientists, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, MN.
2017
Outstanding Research Award (Graduate Studies), College of Science, University of Arizona.
2017
College of Science Galileo Circle Scholar, University of Arizona.
2016
Andrew Ellicott Douglass Memorial Scholarship — outstanding academic achievement and high expectations of future contributions to dendrochronology.
2016
Invited DAAD Lecture, European Conference of Tropical Ecology and the International DAAD Alumni Seminar, Germany.
2016
Ameridendro Travel Grant, 3rd American Dendrochronology Conference, Argentina.
2014
Research-in-Residence Award, Inter-University Training for Continental-Scale Ecology (ITCE), Salt Lake City, UT.
2009
DAAD Scholarship (2 years), Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany.
2008
Best Student Award (2007 Forestry Cohort), Universidad Austral de Chile.
Publications
See the full, up-to-date list on the Publications page (39 entries, 2008–2026). Google Scholar: profile →
Pilot Studies & Methodological Development
2025 – present
Isotope-enabled monitoring of stem CO₂ efflux in managed boreal forests.
Designed and implemented a field pilot integrating stem CO₂-efflux rates and δ13C with sap flow, dendrometer-derived growth, soil respiration and environmental measurements. The study compares control and continuous-cover forestry stands, and examines vertical, diel and seasonal variation in stem efflux, including its relationship with tree water transport, growth, and potential transport of soil- or root-derived CO₂.
Developed and adapted the LI-7825 measurement workflow — chamber measurements, internal gas benchmarks, field metadata, quality control, structured data storage and R-based processing. The pilot tests whether temporal variation in stem-efflux δ13C provides information about changes in respiratory substrate use and carbon-use strategies under contrasting management and water conditions; these relationships are under investigation and not yet established.
Role: conceptual lead; experimental design; isotope measurement protocol; integration of stem efflux, sap flow, growth and soil respiration data. Project details →
Research Grants
- 2026–2029 — Szejner, P. (Coordinator, Luke). “Adapting drained forests to future climates: Ensuring sustainable forest production, water quality and biodiversity.” NordForsk-funded Nordic–Baltic consortium, led by Maarja Vaikre (University of Tartu). Luke received €500,000 as a consortium partner. Project details →
- 2022 — Szejner, P. (Responsable). “Strengthening collaboration networks and enhancing scientific capabilities in Latin America through innovative research between tree-ring research groups from Mexico and Chile.” International Mobility Research Fellowship Program for Latin American and Caribbean early-career scientists.
- 2021–2022 — Szejner, P. (PI). “Ecophysiological variations along the tree growing season recorded in the dendrochronological archive.” Program for Research and Technological Innovation Projects (PAPIIT), UNAM. US $20,000 (mass spectrometer facilities for dendrochronological research).
- 2021–2023 — Szejner, P. (Co-PI). “Temporal variations of the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO₂ as indicators of emission sources in Mexico City.” UNAM Internal Support Program for Research and Technological Innovation Projects (PAPIIT). US $30,000 (atmospheric CO₂ dynamics near Mexico City).
- 2012–2013 — Szejner, P. (PI). “Reconstruction of the Precipitation and streamflow of the Choapa basin, using Kagenekia Angustifolia.” Private-sector consultancy/research funding. US $80,000.
Teaching Experience
- Lecturer, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) — Biogeoquímica de isótopos estables (Graduate level).
- Lecturer, UNAM — Introducción a la Dendrocronología (Graduate level).
- 2012 — Lecturer, Workshop on Applied Dendrochronology in Tropical Species, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. “Steps and tools to develop tree-ring chronologies in the Tropics.”
- 2011 — Lecturer, Workshop on Applied Dendrochronology in Tropical species, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. “Methodological considerations in the analysis of forest dynamics and disturbances.”
Selected Presentations
- Szejner, P. (2020). “Some perspectives from the forests during the transitions to the Anthropocene.” Instituto de Geología, UNAM (Invited).
- Bailey, K., Szejner, P., Strange, B., Monson, R.K., Hu, J. (2020). “Differential use of North American monsoon precipitation by Pinus ponderosa in the American southwest.” Ecological Society of America (ESA).
- Hu, J., Szejner, P., Clute, T., Anderson, E., Evans, M. (2020). “Reduction in lumen area increases the amount of δ18O exchange with source water during cellulose synthesis.” EGU, GU2020-11215.
- Belmecheri, S., Szejner, P., Frank, D., Voelker, S., Lavergne, A. (2020). “Global trends of tree-ring carbon isotope discrimination and changing climate.” EGU, GU2020-12240.
- Szejner, P., Belmecheri, S., Ehleringer, J.R., Monson, R.K. (2019). “Recent increases in drought frequency cause observed multi-year drought legacies.” AGU, B31I-2503.
- Belmecheri, S., Szejner, P., Frank, D. (2019). “Global trends of forests’ water use efficiency responses to rising CO₂.” AGU Fall Meeting, B24D-06.
- Szejner, P., Belmecheri, S., Ehleringer, J.R., Monson, R.K. (2018). “Increased drought frequency over the past two decades.” MntClim2018, Gunnison, CO.
- Full presentation list (23 talks, 2007–2020) available on request.
Academic Service
- Reviewer of Scientific Journals: Global Change Biology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, and others.
- Reviewer of Research Proposals: The National Science Foundation (NSF, USA).
- Guest Editor: Frontiers in Forest and Global Change; JoVE.
- Co-organizer / Convener: Chair & convener, “New Avenues of Multiproxy Dendroecology” session; Co-Chair & convener, “High Resolution Dendrochronology: Extracting the Mechanism Behind Plant–Atmosphere Interactions” (EGU/AGU sessions).
Skills & Languages
- Coding in R: Quantitative data analysis, spatial and temporal analysis.
- Languages: Spanish (native), English (fluent).