Laura Gough is an associate professor of biology at the University of Texas at Arlington. Her research focuses on the forces that structure plant communities, how species diversity affects ecosystems, and the effects particular traits may have on species responses to disturbances. Dr. Gough has been studying arctic tundra in northern Alaska since 1996. In addition to arctic tundra, she has been active in research on several different ecosystem types, including salt marshes, coastal marshes, prairie, and savannah.