Quinton graduated from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs in July of 2022. He majored in environmental management and minored in geography, focusing on climate adaptation policies. In a growth chamber experiment at Indiana University’s Novick Lab, he monitored the short-term physiological impacts of drought on common Midwestern trees.
In his free time, he is an avid gardener, holding a permaculture design certificate from the Permaculture Institute of North America. His hands-on experience in growing a variety of fruits, herbs, and vegetables was what first ignited his interest in exploring how plants may be affected by a changing climate.
In the spring and summer of 2023, he was a researcher for the NASA DEVELOP Program. The NASA DEVELOP Program facilitates feasibility studies where teams of interns assist a partner organization to investigate environmental issues. In his first project, he collaborated with NOAA and the Alabama Office of the State Climatologist to analyze historical climate data. They developed a methodology to identify previously unreported flash droughts on croplands in the Southeastern US. In his second project, his team investigated whether fluctuations in soil moisture could be a reliable predictor of wildfires in Chile.
Quinton joined the NDMC as a graduate research assistant in 2024. He is pursuing a master’s degree in Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. His policy background and variety of drought research experiences make him well-rounded, and he hopes to one day advise decision-makers in drought-stressed regions of the world.