About me

I'm currently a PhD Candidate studying physical hydrogeology at the University of California Davis with Dr. Graham Fogg. My research interests concern the monitoring and modeling of vast underground aquifers – finite water stores in the Earth's crust extracted for human consumption. Methodologically, I integrate tools from geostatistics, 3D groundwater flow and contaminant transport, statistical/machine learning, optimization, calibration, and mathematical modeling to explain and forecast the behavior of hydrologic systems. I'm also fascinated by remote sensor networks, data science, data visualization/communication, and the power of open source software.

Before pursuing my PhD, I taught environmental science to middle and high school students in Yosemite and the Marin Headlands for the educational nonprofit NatureBridge, and spent summers leading expeditions in the wilderness, and in Thailand for National Geographic Student Expeditions. Those were some of the best years of my life. I learned how to work with tight knit groups of people for weeks on end, speak comfortably to large crowds, communicate science to diverse audiences, and improvise.

I love to learn new things, cook, play guitar, explore the alpine environment with a rope and harness, take bike tours, and catch waves in the cold California ocean.