Bringing campers to take a drill a permafrost core
Fostering Sci. (2022-Present)
Foster youth are underrepresented in summer camps. Barriers such as cost and transportation make participation difficult. I have co-coordinated, co-instructed, and am now Associate Director of a youth education program called Fostering Science that provides free science experiences to Alaskan foster youth.
Co-created and co-ran a leadership program during which our paid participants write a cover letter and resume, receive training in science and science communication, co-create and teach science curriculum for our youth camp, and assist in running the camp as junior counselors.
Leading an effort to formally evaluate our programs with IRB approval using a mixed data approach that includes qualitative interviews and Photovoice. I am specifically interested in the program’s impacts on perceived science identity, participant values, the impact of multi-age relationships with other foster youth, and where youth and educator perspectives align.
USGS Circular 1139
Lecturer (2020-Present)
Teaching a senior-level course at the University of Washington in the Civil and Environmental Department titled, “Analytical Methods in Groundwater Flow.” The purpose of this course is to give a general introduction to the theory and practice of groundwater hydrology. Concepts are derived from principles of physics, and applied to a famous hydrogeologic site in Woburn, MA that was the center of the court case described in the book and movie, “A Civil Action.”
Presented two 80-minute lectures weekly (across hybrid, fully online, and in-person formats)
Added diversity, equity, and inclusion components (Example: Added lecture material regarding disproportionate regional effects of climate change)
Utilized new technologies (in-class text-in questions, Kahoot quiz competition, lecture subtitles, etc.) to increase engagement and accessibility
boardwalk over my Thermokarst bog site outside of fairbanks, AK
PhD Candidate (2018-2024)
Studying the effects of rapid permafrost thaw on carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in a warmer and wetter climate in the Hydro-biogeochemical Research Group (lab website) at the University of Washington. Advancing understanding of these processes will better inform climate/world models and in turn, increase environmental predictability.
Design and implement a complex long-term field campaign as part of a research team
Conduct diverse field data collection at two sites in Alaska including hydrologic, biogeochemical, and geospatial measurements
Analyze data from diverse arctic and sub-arctic field sites
Present research at conferences, outreach/education events, and through peer-reviewed journal articles
Co-coordinate and Instruct in Bonanza Creek Science and Adventure Camp (a free summer camp for foster youth across Alaska)
Co-built Bonanza Creek Leaders in Training, a program to provide leadership education, job material support, and field experience to youth leaving the foster care system
photo taken in wadi rum, jordan during water in an arid land FIELD-COURSE
Master’s Student (2017-2018)
I completed the hydrology and hydrodynamics Master’s program in Civil and Environmental Engineering department at the University of Washington. This program included coursework in both hydrology and environmentally focused fluid mechanics. Courses included: Physical Hydrology, Analytical Methods in Groundwater Flow, Water in an Arid Land (field course in Jordan), Snow Hydrology, Data Analysis for Water Sciences, Hydrodynamics, Numerical Modeling of Hydrodynamics, Hydraulics of Sediment Transport, Aquatic Chemistry, Chemical Fate and Transport, and Environmental Microbial Processes.
snowshoe trip on mt rainier with the nccc americorps group
AmeriCorps (2016-2017)
The year following undergrad, I took an AmeriCorps position at Pierce Conservation District as their “Water Quality and Outreach Specialist.” This unique position included diverse tasks from scientific monitoring to program management to volunteer management.
Contributing member of the Lower Watershed Forestry committee, a sub-category of the Puyallup Watershed Initiative.
Organized and implemented $15,000 discount tree sale to increase canopy cover in Pierce County.
Facilitated streamside native planting and depave efforts with 20-150 volunteers weekly
Conducted and trained others to conduct water quality field testing
Delivered educational talks to diverse audiences
Managed a 10 person visiting AmeriCorps team on various restoration projects
Graduation with my now wife!