Dr. Jesse Sayles

Dr. Jesse Sayles is a multidisciplinary scientist and practitioner with a rich background spanning academia, government, and nonprofit work. He first started collaborating with Zender Group as a postdoctoral research fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (US EPA ORD), in 2019 before joining Zender Group full time in 2024. He has previously held research positions at McGill University and the University of Victoria, and completed his PhD in human-environment geography at Arizona State University, an M.Sc. in Geography at Concordia University, and a B.Sc. in Environment at McGill University. He has done extensive work at the community and regional level working with multiple actors including U.S. Tribes and Canadian First Nations on topics such as estuary watershed restoration, coastal environmental stewardship, climate change adaptation planning, marine recreational fishing, and rural waste management. At Zender Group, Jesse primarily works with the marine debris program (which focuses on the nexus of community solid waste management and marine debris), the National Tribal Toxic Council (an EPA partnerships group), and helps develop special projects. Outside of work, you will often find Jesse biking, paddling, sailing, or training for his next half-marathon.