I am Spring 2018 graduate of Hampton University with a Master of Science Degree in Atmospheric Science. For my research, I am working with colleagues at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) and utilizing DISCOVER-AQ data, furthering work I completed during undergrad. My project was entitled “Utilizing NASA DISCOVER-AQ Data to Examine Spatial Gradients in Complex Emission Environments.” This research was presented at a poster session during the 2017 American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting.
During Spring 2016, I assisted the DEVELOP program as a project volunteer working with the African Great Lakes Weather II team. This project examined severe weather parameters over the African Great Lakes region. During Summer 2016, I completed an internship at NASA’s Langley Research Center working with NASA’s Digital Learning Network. For my project, I correlated interactive modules with national education standards. During Summer 2015, I participated in the NASA DEVELOP National Program at Langley Research Center. I served as team lead for the Texas Water Resources project. For our project, my team worked with the Texas Forest Service (TFS) to assist with wildfire mitigation support. To do this, we compiled a Drought Severity Index (DSI) using four components: precipitation, land surface temperature, soil moisture, and vegetation. Maps were compiled in ArcGIS using a Python script. Different weights were applied to our equation to provide the most accurate index. As a validation for our DSI, it was compared to live fuel moisture content provided by the TFS. At the end of the term, my team presented our poster at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C. I presented this research during two poster sessions at the 96th American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA, in January 2016. I am also a recipient of the 2015-2016 Virginia Space Grant Consortium graduate research fellowship
I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Millersville University in 2014 with a major in meteorology and minors in mathematics and environmental geography. During my undergraduate career at Millersville, I had the privilege of participating in various research opportunities. In January-February 2013 and September 2013 I participated in two NASA DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VErtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) field campaigns in Huron, CA and Smith Point, TX, respectively. As part of these projects I studied air quality with pollutant and chemistry measurements, assisted with set-up and troubleshooting of flux tower, assembled LIDAR and SODAR, assisted with tethered balloon operations, and assisted with Nitrogen Dioxide measurements from sonde prototypes. In June-August 2013 I participated in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Washington State University. For my project, I used the BlueSky Modeling Framework to simulate wildfire model emissions, determined the effect of fuel moisture and meteorology on wildfire emissions, analyzed AIRPACT data and prepared and presented a poster at the REU symposium. I presented this poster at the 13th annual American Meteorological Society Student Conference in Atlanta, GA, in February 2014.