Water Resources Scientist

• Aug 2021 - Present

Hydrologic GIS Analyst with Lynker in support of the Geospatial Intelligence Division (GID) at NOAA's Office of Water Prediction (OWP) and National Water Center (NWC). Hydrologic GIS Analyst with Lynker in support of the Geospatial Intelligence Division (GID) at NOAA's Office of Water Prediction (OWP) and National Water Center (NWC).

Geospatial Researcher at NASA DEVELOP

• Jun 2021 - Aug 2021

Conducted a 25-year shoreline and land cover change time-series analysis using Google Earth Engine and satellite imagery from Landsat 5, 7, and 8 to understand the effects of sea-level rise and urbanization in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) located on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico. Conducted a 25-year shoreline and land cover change time-series analysis using Google Earth Engine and satellite imagery from Landsat 5, 7, and 8 to understand the effects of sea-level rise and urbanization in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) located on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico.

Engineer and GIS Analyst

• May 2020 - Jun 2021

• Led the development of a spatial assessment tool that uses GIS software (ArcGIS Pro) and publicly available data to prioritize sites for establishing nature-based solutions in Cook County, IL. • Produced maps representing urban flood risk reduction, biodiversity, public health, and social benefits that can be achieved through the implementation of green infrastructure at the parcel level. • Shared the tool in an ArcGIS Web Mapping Application for stakeholders to use for decision making. Show less

PhD Candidate in Environmental Engineering

• Mar 2015 - Jun 2021

Advisors: Dr. Aaron Packman and Dr. William M. Miller• Deployed and maintained a sensor network (precipitation, water level, temperature, soil moisture, and electrical conductivity) at Gensburg Markham Prairie (GMP). • Retrieved, organized, and analyzed water resource data from GMP sensors that are being used to develop hydrologic models to assess water storage at the site.• Collected soil (+150) and water samples (+500) from GMP; measured concentrations of heavy metals, phosphorus, and chloride using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Ion Chromatography (IC). • Conducted spatial and large dataset analyses using ArcGIS and Python to understand the soil-landscape relationships and assess the impacts of atmospheric deposition, stormwater runoff, and road salt intrusion in the freshwater prairie-wetland to guide conservation efforts. • Performed simulations using the HYDRUS 1-D model and time-series data to assess the hydrologic response of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s green roof after summer storm events. • Participated in interdisciplinary studies that combine earth science, social science, data science, and engineering to reduce communities' vulnerabilities to extreme weather events and climate change. • Developed partnerships with Argonne National Laboratory, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois, University of Birmingham (UK), Northeastern Illinois University, and the Chicago Botanic Garden.• Coordinated project schedules, fieldwork campaigns, and purchases of equipment. • Mentored, trained, and supervised 11 interns and volunteers. • Participated in an academic exchange program with the Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina focused on water and energy conservation.• Contributed to the preparation of an NSF proposal titled Forging Regional Governance for Equitable Sustainability in the Great Lakes. Show less

Intern at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) of The Graduate School (TGS)

• Oct 2019 - May 2020

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• Oct 2019 - Dec 2019

Environmental Transport Processes

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• Jan 2016 - Mar 2016

Engineering Analysis II (Statics and Dynamics)

Research Intern

• Jul 2015 - Sep 2015

• Selected appropriate instrumentation and sensors (e.g. soil moisture sensor, rain gauge and flow meter) to start collecting data in a green roof of the Chicago Botanic Garden with the long-term objective of utilizing modeling to study the spatial patterns of vegetation self-organization in dryland ecosystems. • Developed protocols for soil moisture sampling and performed data analysis using ArcGIS under the supervision of M. Cristina Negri. • Selected appropriate instrumentation and sensors (e.g. soil moisture sensor, rain gauge and flow meter) to start collecting data in a green roof of the Chicago Botanic Garden with the long-term objective of utilizing modeling to study the spatial patterns of vegetation self-organization in dryland ecosystems. • Developed protocols for soil moisture sampling and performed data analysis using ArcGIS under the supervision of M. Cristina Negri.

Undergraduate Research at Center for Education and Training in Agricultural and Related Sciences

• Sep 2011 - Dec 2014

• Studied the feasibility of designing a TiO2-glass composite by sintering process for the remediation of polluted soils and found the optimum sintering parameters such as temperature and time to fabricate the composite. • Obtained micrographs of the composite’s samples with an optical microscope to perform porosity analysis using ImageJ Software. Also, executed sieve analysis to the powder glass to determine its particle size range. • Prepared samples to perform compression and percolation tests and completed XRD Tests to the samples to determine the TiO2 phase presented in the composite before and after sintering. • Conducted a minimum of 10 hours of research per week under the mentoring of Dr. O. Marcelo Suárez. Show less

Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP)

• Jun 2014 - Aug 2014

• Conducted research during 8 weeks (45 hours per week) under the mentoring of Dr. Aaron Packman and the graduate students Kevin Roche and Minwei Xie. • Worked in the understanding of two processes in the sediment-water interface: bioturbation and the turbulence- driven exchange. • Quantified the effect of zinc contaminated sediments collected from a Superfund Site in the bioturbation activity of Lumbriculus variegatus worms. • Prepared the experimental set-up for the turbulence project where a hydraulic flume containing a fixed packed bed of spheres was used to conduct the experiments. • Collaborated in the fixed and subsequent placement of sensors in the flume’s spheres. • Performed dye and NaCl injections into the flume in order to observe their transport across the spheres. Show less

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

• May 2013 - Aug 2013

• Investigated the best methods of designing cold mixtures for the Chip Seals and Slurry Seals preservation treatments for asphalt pavements. • Quantified the effects of emulsions modification, curing times, curing temperatures and moisture damage on the bond strength of asphalt residues and emulsions using the Bitumen Bond Strength Test (BBS). • A total of 350 samples were prepared and analyzed during the 10 weeks of research at the Modified Asphalt Research Center under the mentoring of Dr. Hussain Bahia and the graduate student Petrina Johannes. Show less