Guisella Gacitúa

Researcher - applied geophysics for glaciological studies

Region of Southern Denmark, Denmark

About

I am a researcher with background in electronic engineering and a PhD in geosciences. Most of my experience has been around cryosciences research, with strong emphasis in geophysical data and methodologies. My participation in climate related international and multidisciplinary projects have shaped my versatile and collaborative mindset. Furthermore, I have strong experience in research operations in harsh polar conditions.

Experience

  • Ocean and Sea Ice Scientist at Danish Meteorological Institute
    Sep 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 11 mos

  • Part-time Researcher at Universidad Austral de Chile
    Jan 2018 - Sep 2022 · 4 yrs 9 mos

    Co-researcher of the "Glacier Climate Interactions in Southern South America" project (PI: Dr. Marius Schaefer). We aim a detailed quantification of snow accumulation and the energy fluxes between glaciers and the atmosphere, which determine the melt at the surface of the glaciers. This is the first systematic measurement program of the accumulation of snow on the largest temperate ice body in the Southern Hemisphere the Southern Patagonia Icefield.

  • Website Manager at Danish Society for Women in Science (DANWISE)
    Jan 2019 - Dec 2021 · 3 yrs

  • Universidad de Magallanes (Punta Arenas, Chile)
    • Part time researcher
      Sep 2016 - Mar 2017 · 7 mos

      I have participated in several glaciological projects. I was co-director of a project funded by the Chilean National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research. The project focused on the development of a semi-automated monitoring system of particulate matter to assess the impact of human and industrial activity on glacier albedo. I was also part of the ACE (Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition) project. An international and multidisciplinary collaboration project that aimed a better understanding of the role of the Antarctic region in the current climatic scenarios. We performed ice core extraction and terrestrial ground-penetrating radar (title: Reading Antarctic's Past in Ice Cores) of the main project.

    • Postdoctoral Researcher
      Jan 2015 - Sep 2016 · 1 yr 9 mos

      I was part of the GAIA-Antarctic program which focuses on Antarctic education. I had participation in several multidisciplinary projects regarding glaciological research. I focused on geophysical methodology to acquire in-situ data for analyses and quantification of glacier dynamics processes and their climatic interaction. While in this position I have been collecting/processing data from several glaciers in the Antarctic and subantarctic regions. Other activities included lectures and talks at all levels of education, applications for funding and scientific outreach.

  • Postdoctoral Researcher at Centro de Estudios Cientificos, CECs
    Aug 2012 - Oct 2014 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    I joined the Glaciology group at the Institute, particularly the radar team. We participated in multidisciplinary projects for glaciological monitoring and research. We had a strong focus on data analyses to understand processes in the current climate perspective. The main activities were data collection and processing. We developed data processing tools and methodologies. Interpretation and results are published in reports and scientific publications.