Nominees ATR Board 2024-2026

President

Dr. Ernst van der Maaten, TU Dresden, Germany

I am a dendroecologist from TU Dresden, Germany, with a special interest in global change ecology and adaptive forest management. Over the last eight years, I have served on the board of the Association, most recently as president. I have enjoyed my time in the board and feel that, together with a team of motivated board colleagues, we significantly advanced our Association. If re-elected, I aim to continue our joint efforts. In particular, I am dedicated to develop and support initiatives that contribute to strengthening the role of the Association as a discussion platform where young and experienced researchers can share their passion for tree-ring science!

Vice President

Dr. Elisabet Martínez-Sancho, University of Barcelona, Spain

I am a junior researcher leader at the University of Barcelona (Spain). In my research, I apply diverse dendrochronological techniques, spanning from intra-annual patterns of cell formation, wood anatomy, and stable isotopes to large-scale temporal and spatial analyses. As a candidate for vice president of the Association for Tree-Ring Research, I am committed to working together with the rest of the board members to advance our shared goals and bring the community forward. I embrace the richness of perspectives within our members and pledge to foster an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued.

Secretary

Dr. Kerstin Treydte, WSL, Switzerland

I am happy to stand for election as Secretary of the ATR board. As an ATR member since its foundation, Secretary and associated board member over the past years I enjoyed collaboration and exchange among the enthusiastic and active board team. As secretary I would continue to thoroughly taking care of the Association affairs, formal and informal documentation of Board activities, and communication with members and the public. Besides, together with a well-established team of ATR members I will continue organizing the European Dendroecological Fieldweek as an educational and exchange platform for early career researchers, and foster links between ATR and EGU.

Treasurer

Dr. Jelena Lange, Charles University, Czech Republic

I wish to stand for re-election as Treasurer of the ATR Board. Over the past two years, I have contributed to a very stable financial situation of the Association, for example by continuing work with our sponsors and ensuring that the budget is managed wisely. As a result, we have been able to increase the amount for certain grants and awards this year, which contributes greatly to the Association’s goals of promoting tree-ring research and making it accessible to a wider audience. My aim is to continue working in this direction to support the long-term stable development of the Association.

Associate Board Members

Dr. Alma Piermattei, University of Torino, Italy

My journey with the ATR began in 2013 as a PhD student attending the TRACE conference. Since then, the ATR has supported my scientific and networking development during TRACE conferences and workshops. By becoming a board member of the ATR, I am keen to engage myself in serving the community with a focus on young scientists. I will help them increase their awareness and opportunities in the numerous dendro- and wood anatomy Labs and scientific networks. I will bring my experience organizing conferences, workshops, and schools, like the yearly European Dendro Fieldweek, my extended network and my inclusive attitude.

Dr. Angela Luisa Prendin, University of Padua, Italy

I am a dendroecologist interested in the responses of woody plants to environmental and climatic variability and biotic disturbances from local to landscape scales. I am involved in the organisation of events such as the International Training School in Quantitative Wood Anatomy and the Q-NET network supported by the Association for Tree Ring Research (ATR).
I wish to stand for election as Associate Board Member. I joined the ATR in 2015 (and the board in 2022) and have enjoyed every single event I have attended since. I am highly motivated to continue contributing to the achievement of ATR’s goals by joining the efforts of international colleagues.

Dr. Valentina Vitali, WSL, Switzerland

Having been part of the dendro community for almost a decade as both a student and researcher, I have witnessed firsthand the invaluable impact of the ATR’s efforts, grants, and events. In recognition of the value that this community has provided me, I am excited to take the next step and join the ATR board as an Associate Board Member. By contributing my time and energy to support ongoing and new initiatives, I hope to give back to this vibrant community.

Junior Research Consultant

Dr. Alma Piermattei, University of Torino, Italy

Andrei Popa M.Sc., National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry ‘Marin Dracea’, Romania

My name is Andrei Popa, and I am an early career scientist focused on assessing Norway spruce condition in Eastern Europe. During my career, I have attended more than 25 conferences, summer schools, and training courses, both in-person and virtual. Based on this experience, I have seen the main challenges that young scientists face in our field. My enthusiasm as a researcher, coupled with my social skills, will help me to properly represent the new generation of dendrochronologists. Thus, I would like to submit my application for the position of junior researcher consultant to sustain the young scientists’ interests in the ATR.

Dr. Valentina Vitali, WSL, Switzerland

I’m a researcher passionate about dendroecology and I’ve been part of the tree-ring community since 2016. As a student, I have always found great motivation in this community thanks to the positive and engaging attitude of its members. Now, as a researcher, I am looking forward to bringing my enthusiasm to the ATR board and contributing to support our vibrant community. I would like to step in as a “Junior Researcher Consultant”, aiming to promote the ideas of students and young researchers, create networking opportunities, foster initiatives engaging all dendro scientists and promoting a dynamic exchange in the ATR community.