People

I am interested in statistical applications to ecohydrological models, particularly pertaining to the precipitation inputs of the water balance. My current PhD research builds off of recent studies at Marcell Experimental Forest about the interactions between the water table elevation and peatland methane emissions. I examine the implications of changes in snowfall events due to climate change on this water table elevation analysis as well as early fall frost and spring thaw events on peatland flooding. Prior to my PhD research I completed my Bachelor’s of Science in General Engineering and Mathematics and Statistics at Smith College in Northampton, MA.

I am interested in how the transport of water is changing––and changed by––rural landscapes and urban development. My current research draws in concepts from network science to understand land covers and underground stormwater systems’ impacts on urban hydrology in the Twin Cities metro area. By extension, I am also interested in incorporating water resources into holistic sustainable planning methods that consider climate equities and other social equities. Prior to joining the Feng’s lab at the University of Minnesota, I received my Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and music from Duke University, and worked for three years as a civil engineer and utility management analyst at HDR.

I study how trees grow as well as how to mathematically model tree growth for predictions of tree functioning in a hotter, drier future. In a previous life, I took classes in engineering, soils, and hydrology, but trees are my shtick as of recently. In particular, I focus on how trees acquire, transport, store, and use two resources that limit growth: water and carbon. These resources are interdependently coordinated for trees, producing many tradeoffs. I am currently exploring the hypothesis that trees’ stomata (i.e., small pores on leaves that balance photosynthetic carbon uptake with water loss) optimize their woody growth. Stomata must open and close to balance trees’ supply and demand for carbon. Photosynthesis supplies carbon, while growth and respiration demand carbon. While opening stomata creates more carbon supply, it also reduces demand by lowering trees’ potential for growth and respiration. Presumably, stomata optimize this tradeoff to maximize their growth, survival, and ability to compete with other plants. I apply calculus, by both numerical and analytical solutions, to create models (involving photosynthesis, transpiration, xylem water and/or phloem sugar transport, nonstructural carbohydrate storage, and xylogenesis) and to make predictions.