Melissa von Mayrhauser–I am a freshwater ecology PhD student researching the intersection of river restoration, climate resiliency, and community well-being. I previously served as the Watershed Programs Manager at the NGO Los Angeles Waterkeeper, working on scientific fieldwork, policy change, and community outreach to improve the health of the LA River and surrounding communities. This experience inspired me to explore the extent to which traditional ideas of “restoration” can or should be applied to urban waterways. During my Master’s at the University of Oxford, I researched the effects of sea level rise on a lentic ecosystem and village in India. As part of the Ruhi and Grantham Labs, I am excited to research approaches to urban river restoration that integrate watershed-level flow regimes, ecosystem services, and social factors.