Research
Stormwater runoff is a significant contributor to both water quantity and quality challenges. My current research combines water science, engineering, and policy to explore how various entities-such as university campuses, residential areas, and public lands-contribute to stormwater management across the mid-Atlantic region. To asses this, I am using a mixed-methods approach, which includes interviews with water professionals and hydrologic modeling of bioretention-type green stormwater infrastructure using the PCSWMM software (a version of the EPA's Storm Water Management Model). This approach allows me to better understand stormwater management strategies, identify challenges, and examine the movement of stormwater through the storm sewer network to detect associated hydrologic issues, while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and water quality standards.
Details of my previous research experiences are outlined below!
Stream Restoration Assessment
08/2020 to 01/2022
Position: Laboratory Technician
Location: University of Delaware
Project Goals: Assess the efficacy of current stream restoration protocols and identify the impacts on water quality, nutrient cycling, and soil health
Contributions:
Installed lysimeters and peizometers throughout field site
Extracted monthly lysimeter samples
Preserved and analyzed lysimeter samples for Total Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen using Shimadzu TOC-L Analyzer or prepped samples and sent them to either on-campus or external lab facilities for further analysis
Collected semiannual soil samples and performed various analyses such as bulk density, isotope analysis, total carbon and nitrogen composition, microbial analysis, and denitrification enzyme assay
Aquatic Ecology
01/2019 to 05/2020
Position: Graduate Research Student
Location: University of Pennsylvania and Wissahickon watershed
Project Goals: Determine stream health and microplastic abundance of five tributaries in the Wissahickon watershed using macroinvertebrates as bioindicators
Contributions:
Collected, identified, and preserved macroinvertebrates
Performed wet peroxide oxidation and gravity filtration to determine the abundance of microplastics ingested by macroinvertebrates within each sample
01/2019 to 05/2019
Position: Graduate Research Student
Location: University of Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico
Project Goals: Observe ecological, ecosystem, and species differences on the different physiographic regions throughout Puerto Rico
Contributions:
Collected visual data regarding the diverse animal and vegetative species
Presented findings and data analysis on the species and the relation to the physiographic region
08/2015 to 12/2015
Position: Undergraduate Research Student
Location: Gwynedd Mercy University
Project Goals: Determine ability of microbial metabolic pathways as a tool for plastic bioremediation
Contributions:
Reviewed current literature regarding metabolic pathways of microbes and their ability to breakdown difference
Collected soil, sediment, and water samples to isolate microbes
Plated microbes on various pieces of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic to observe changes in weight over time
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
08/2019 to 01/2020
Position: Graduate Research Student
Location: University of Pennsylvania and West Bengal, India
Project Goals: Identify current needs and suggest improvements for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities and programs in schools throughout West Bengal
Contributions:
Assessed the sustainability and efficacy of WASH facilities and programs by visiting each school and using an in-depth rating system
Met with administrative staff and stakeholders to understand challenges in supplying adequate WASH systems for students
Presented findings and suggestions for improvement at an International Conference