Her research lab integrates multiple methods from the natural and social sciences to study the reciprocal relationships between humans and ecosystems. Previously, she held posts as an environmental engineer with the World Bank, an ecological economist with Blue Ventures Conservation, an affiliated scholar with Stanford’s Center on Ethics in Society, a post-doctoral teaching fellow at Stanford’s Public Policy Program, and a National Science Foundation International Research Fellow in Madagascar. Kirsten earned her Ph.D. from Stanford’s Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (2007), a Master’s in Applied Environmental Economics (Imperial College, University of London 2005), and degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering (M.Sc. Technical University of Delft 1998; B.Sc. University of Virginia 1996).