PhD Student
Pronouns: she/hers
Education
MS, Archeology, University of Utah
Bachelor of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington
Bio
Izzy Osmundsen examines how Australian paleofire ecology parallels that of North America, with the goal of encouraging solutions through Indigenous-led land management.
Izzy earned her Master of Science (2024) in Archaeology from the University of Utah and her Bachelor of Arts (2017) in Anthropology from Indiana University Bloomington. Her master’s work identified anthropogenic versus natural distributions of the Four Corners potato, Solanum jamesii. Most recently, she took a year to travel and work in New Zealand before beginning her PhD, experiencing how various "lifestyle block" farmers live sustainably.
Between her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she worked for various National Forests (Fremont-Winema National Forest, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, and Dixie National Forest) and the National Park Service (Capitol Reef National Park) as an archaeological technician and crew lead. These experiences of working alongside various disciplines encouraged her interest in how archaeology intersects with modern environmental issues and solutions.
Beyond the lab, you may find Izzy endorsing healthy skin care measures every time she forgets sunscreen while pursuing outdoor activities, or attempting ambitious creative projects.
Year Admitted
2026
Faculty Advisor
Brian Codding