Education
2015-2020: Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology and Hydrodynamics), University of Washington (UW), Seattle, WA
Dissertation: Satellite remote sensing and computational modeling of sediment dynamics at relevant scales to watershed management
2008-2012: B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Berkeley (UCB), Berkeley, CA
Capstone design project: Ship channel bypass, a spatial solution for flood risk reduction in Sacramento
Professional Licensing
2015-present: Registered Professional Civil Engineer, CA
Research & Professional Experience
Apr 2024- Present: Academic Coordinator II, Small Farms Water Conservation, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), Fresno, California
Coordinate outreach, education, technical assistance, and research activities to support on-farm water conservation for small-scale, minority, and refugee farmers in Fresno, Madera, and Tulare Counties
Serve as a content expert to assist small-scale farmers with water and energy efficiency, irrigation scheduling, irrigation system design and evaluation, use of soil moisture sensors, compliance with groundwater regulations, and on-farm groundwater recharge
Work with UC advisors and specialists, collaborators, and nonprofit and agency partners to facilitate technical assistance for state incentives for water and energy efficiency, improve access to drought and flood relief programs, and inform state water policy with regard to the unique needs of small-scale farms in California’s San Joaquin Valley
Nov 2021 - Present: Associate Editor, Community Science, American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Part of the inaugural board of editors for Community Science, a new peer-reviewed journal forcused on place-based participatory science, as well as the Community Science Knowledge Exchange Platform, an online space for academics and community leaders and members to communicate share resources
Mar 2023-Dec 2023: Fellow, International Agriculture Education Fellowship Program (IAEFP), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Arua, Uganda
Part of inaugural fellowship cohort focused on strengthening secondary school-based agriculture education, youth extension, technology integration, and community engagement in Uganda
Instructed irrigation course at National Teachers College
Assisted Caritas Hoima extension staff in designing and facilitating 8 trainings for small-scale farmer groups and cooperatives on sustainable agriculture practices, enterprise management, and leadership
Supported Caritas Arua in proposal development for a regional food security program as well as a financial plan for a community aquaculture school
Facilitated a pilot program between host school and government agriculture research center which focused on practical learning field trips for students
Designed and co-facilitated 3 workshops (5 days total) for regional agriculture educators focused on student-centered and project-based learning (146 participants total)
Sept 2020-Feb 2023: Postdoctoral Associate, Tropical Rivers Lab, Dept. of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Co-lead an interdisciplinary assessment on the global importance and conservation priorities of the Amazon River Basin freshwater ecosystems
Coordinated virtual and in-person meetings as well as collaborative writing for 21 interdisciplinary scientists from multiple international institutions, resulting in eight reports and scientific journal articles
Assessed Amazon River Basin hydrology, geomorphology, and biogeochemistry data in support of freshwater conservation target development with a multifaceted scientific team
As part of the Citizen Science Network for the Amazon, collaborated with international academic researchers as well as conservation NGO staff on community engagement projects
2015-2020: Graduate Student Researcher, SASWE Research Group, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hydrology and Hydrodynamics, UW, Seattle, WA
Conducted capacity building with the Bangladesh Water Development Board in co-developing a web-based satellite monitoring tool for assessing river sediment conditions throughout Bangladesh
Evaluated the short- and long-term impacts of dams and landscape changes on river sediment concentrations in the Mekong River Basin using satellite remote sensing
Developed a computational model of watershed sediment dynamics for predicting reservoir sedimentation in the Elwha River Basin of Washington State
Collaborated with Nooksack Indian Tribe on field work and publication of air temperature analysis
2012-2015: Environmental engineering consultant, CH2M (now Jacobs), Oakland, CA
2011: Environmental engineering summer intern, CH2M (now Jacobs), Oakland, CA
Conducted environmental site investigation, remediation, and compliance consulting services to address soil, groundwater, and air pollutant conditions
Held a breadth of roles and responsibilities in project management, engineering design, data quality assurance/quality control, and fieldwork
Served various clients in the public and private sector, and worked on multiple large, high-profile projects
2010: Civil engineering summer intern, California Department of Transportation, Stockton, CA and Fresno, CA
Assisted with field work, engineering design, and reporting tasks for construction, hydraulics, and environmental divisions
Teaching & Mentoring Experience
Mar 2023-Dec 2023: Fellow, International Agriculture Education Fellowship Program (IAEFP), Catholic Relief Services, Arua, Uganda
Facilitating two weekly sessions on practical, project-based learning and co-teaching two weekly activity-based lessons for Senior 1 and Senior 2 agriculture students at SMEGSS
Mentoring Young Farmers' Club leaders in the club's establishment and operations
2020-2023: Lab Student Mentor, FIU, Miami, FL: Tropical Rivers Lab, Prof. Elizabeth Anderson
Along with three other postdocs, planning and leading monthly lab meetings for fifteen undergraduate and graduate students with diverse backgrounds and interdisciplinary research topics
Closely mentoring six students in two lab focus groups on (1) Amazon River Basin and (2) rivers and equity
2020: Computing Helper, UW, Seattle, WA: NASA SWOT Early Adopter Virtual Hackathon, Prof. Faisal Hossain
Provided technical support for a week-long, end-user training on simulating data that will be collected by the future SWOT (earth-observing) satellite
Provided intensive, hands-on support for a single end-user facing technical challenges
2018-2020: Google Earth Engine Instructor, UW, Seattle, WA: WaterHackWeek and GeoHackWeek, eScience Institute
Main instructor in 2020; Assistant instructor in 2018 and 2019
Delivered hands-on tutorials for ~40 scientists on using Google Earth Engine, a cloud-based computing system for conducting satellite remote sensing and geospatial analyses
2019-2020: Guest Lecture, UW, Bothell and Seattle, WA: Water, Drought, and the American West Course, Prof. Avery Cook Shinneman; Water Management Course, Prof. Faisal Hossain
Presented three 1-hour lectures to engineering (undergraduate and graduate) students about sediment research for water management and career development
2017: Co-Instructor, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA: Landlab Earth Surface Modeling Toolkit, Prof. Erkan Istanbulluoglu
1-day Short Course, 25 participants
Assisted with developing course materials and providing hands-on training for earth surface processes numerical modeling tool
2017: Teaching Assistant, UW, Olympic Peninsula, WA: Sustainable Water in a Wet Region Course, Prof. Heidi Gough
Summer study abroad program, 2 weeks, 2 undergraduate students
Taught hydrology and geomorphology during a 1-hour classroom lecture, 3-hour river rafting trip, and 3-hour hiking trip
Developed quizzes and provided guidance for students on capstone project
2013-2015: Professional Mentor, CH2M (now Jacobs), Oakland, CA
Formally mentored a summer intern/entry-level engineer on their project work and professional development