Dr. Cheyenne Lei is a Research Fellow within the Institute for Global Change Biology in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in Geography at Michigan State University. Dr. Lei is interested in coupled human-environment change, atmospheric physics, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and landscape ecology. Dr. Lei’s research explores the major factors which influence surface reflectivity, in order to elucidate the mechanisms driving climate warming processes between coupled human-environment exchanges in unique ecosystems and landscapes. Lei’s work has not only been highlighted by the Department of Energy in 2021 for the broader scientific community and government policy, but also has been used as a major educational stepping stone in classroom projects for high school and outreach programs. Her efforts span a wide range of applications, from purely ecological research, such as greenhouse gas exchange in natural ecosystems, to industrial applications, such as landscape conversion for food versus fuel needs, irrigation optimization, as well as agricultural carbon sequestration. In her free time, she is an avid motorcyclist. As a certified United States Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor, Lei often teaches and demonstrates the basics of motorcycle safety and riding to beginner and advanced riders.