Ruth Varner received a Bachelor's degree in Geology from Hartwick College in 1991, a Master's Degree in Hydrology in 1993 (UNH) and a Ph.D. in Geochemical Systems in 2000 (UNH). Her research experience at UNH began with developing a gas chromatography/cryo-focusing technique to quantify methyl bromide in ambient air samples. This work led to the discovery of soil as a significant biological sink of atmospheric methyl bromide. This research also led to the discovery of freshwater wetlands as a source of methyl bromide and methyl chloride to the atmosphere. Her work at UNH also includes carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide exchange in terrestrial ecosystems: boreal (BOREAS, NASA), temperate and tropical forests (LBA, NASA).

Currently, Ruth is working on a project funded by the National Science Foundation to collect, culture and assay saprophytic and ectomycorrhizal fungi from local field sites to determine their ability to produce methyl bromide and methyl chloride. Ruth continues her work with the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) funded by NASA.

Other research interests include halocarbon and hydrocarbon emissions from plants in a changing CO2 environment, the exchange of halocarbons from the coastal ocean and autochamber technology in the measurement of carbon exchange in wetland and forest ecosystems.