ESE Alumni Profiles

First & Last Name Mentor/Lab Home Department(s)
Helena Avila-Arias Ron Turco and Larry Nies Agronomy

Helena Avila-Arias

Home Department:

Agronomy

Mentor / Lab:

Ron Turco and Larry Nies

Specific Research Area / Project:

Soil Microbial Community Response to Metal Oxide Engineered Nanomaterials Involved in Energy Storage Technologies

Helena Avila-Arias

About Me

I decided to jump into this Ph.D. journey primarily because I love research and was 100% convinced that I wanted to be a professor.

My passion for research is intact. The discovery process from identifying a gap of knowledge through analyzing the ‘weirdness’ of the results is just fascinating!

My passion for teaching is present as well. I believe we are all students and teachers every day, not only within an academic institution. Inspiring and being inspired is a daily experience!

Meeting people in the name of science (including traveling!) is one exciting part of being a scientist in which I very much enjoy! Interacting and sharing experiences with researchers within and outside your field is so enriching; seeing the same topic through different lenses is an awing experience!

ESE has allowed me to do exactly that; it has helped open my mind (and ears) to interdisciplinary approaches across many topics. We are a community that looks forward to solving problems and improving situations. Sharing with eyes from different backgrounds has been absolutely beneficial to my growth and success thus far.

Awards:

  • Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship. The Graduate School. Purdue University. 2017
  • Teaching Assistant. Soil Ecology. Fall 2015 & Fall 2016.
  • Colciencias Colombia-Purdue fellowship. Doctor of Philosophy, studies abroad. 2012-2016

Publications:

  • Z. Arbeli, E. Garcia-Bonilla, C. Pardo, K. Hidalgo, T. Velásquez, L. Peña, E. Ramos, H. Avila-Arias, N. Molano-Gonzalez, P.F.B. Brandão, F. Roldan. Persistence of pentolite (PETN and TNT) in soil microcosms and microbial enrichment cultures. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2016, 1-12
  • Patricia A. Holden, Frederick Klaessig, Ronald F. Turco, John H. Priester, Cyren M. Rico, Helena Avila-Arias, Monika Mortimer, Kathleen Pacpaco, and Jorge L. Gardea-Torresdey. Evaluation of Exposure Concentrations Used in Assessing Manufactured Nanomaterial Environmental Hazards: Are They Relevant? Environmental Science & Technology 2014 48 (18), 10541-10551
  • Avila, F.H. 2012. Study of TNT and PENT aerobic degradation by bacteria isolated from explosives-contaminated soils. MS thesis. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Bogota, Colombia.
  • Avila, F.H. and Cruz, A.M. 2008. Effects of the plant coverage and climatic season over total microorganisms and heterotrophic density in soils of La Vieja and Otun river basins in the Colombian coffee eco-region. Undergraduate Research. Bachelor of Science, Industrial Microbiology. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Bogota, Colombia.

Presentations:

  • Avila-Arias, H., Nies, L., Bischoff Gray, M. and Turco, R.F. Impacts of Molybdenum-, Nickel-, and Lithium- Oxide Nanomaterials on Agricultural Soil Resilience. Poster session presented at: ICEENN 2016. 11th International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials; 2016 Aug 14-18; Golden, CO.
  • Avila-Arias, F.H., Nies, L., Bischoff Gray, M. and Turco, R.F. Assessing the Impact of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Soil Microbial Communities. Poster session presented at: EmCon 2014. Fourth International Conference on Occurrence, Fate, Effects, & Analysis of Emerging Contaminants in the Environment; 2014 Aug 19-22; Iowa City, IA.
  • Roldán, F., Avila, F., García, E., Garzón, V., Rodríguez, G., Villegas, S., Numpaque, M. and Arbeli, Z. TNT Aerobic Degradation and Surfactant Production by Bacteria. Poster session presented at: World Biotechnology Congress 2013; 2013 June 3-6; Boston, MA.

Leadership:

  • Counselor – Biofuel Team. Duke Energy Academy at Purdue. 2015
  • Treasurer. Colombian Student Association at Purdue. 2013-2014
  • Poster and 3MT competition Chair. Annual Symposium Ecological Sciences and Engineering Program. 2013


Natalie Chin Keith A. Cherkauer Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Natalie Chin

Home Department:

Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Mentor / Lab:

Keith A. Cherkauer

Specific Research Area / Project:

The Potential Impacts of Extreme Weather Events on the Great Lakes: Environmental and Socioeconomic Vulnerability, Adaptive Capacity, and the Creation of Usable Science

Natalie Chin

About Me

Before coming back to school full-time to pursue my PhD, I worked for about four years in Washington, D.C., for several science and environmental policy organizations. It was through this setting that I came to more fully appreciate the importance of people who can communicate across disciplines and the many ways that science and society interact. It was my hope, in pursuing further education, that I would be able to develop the skills and expertise needed to work across disciplines on important environmental issues. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of the ESE program because it allows me to pursue these aspirations while conducting research that builds on my engineering and policy backgrounds.

Awards:

  • Purdue Doctoral Fellowship 2013-2015
  • Andrews/Blosser Environmental Travel Grant 2014
  • Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellowship 2010-2013
  • Purdue Climate Change Research Center Graduate Student Travel Grant Award 2012, 2013

Publications:

  • Day, J., N. Chin, S. Sydnor and K. A. Cherkauer. “Weather, Climate, and Tourism Performance: A Quantitative Analysis.” Tourism Management Perspectives 5 (January): 51–56.

Presentations:

  • Chin, N., J. Day, S. Sydnor, K. A. Cherkauer (2013). Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism-Dependent Communities in the Great Lakes. Poster presentation at the American Geophysical Union 2013 Fall Meeting; December 9-13, 2013, San Francisco, CA.
  • J. Day, N. Chin, S. Sydnor (2013). Building Resilience to Climate Change in Great Lakes Communities: Tourism Dependent Destinations. Oral presentation at the International Association for Great Lakes Research Conference; June 2-6, 2013, West Lafayette, IN.
  • Chin, N., J. Day, S. Sydnor, K. A. Cherkauer (2012). Tourism and Climate Change: The impact of weather on tourism profitability. Oral presentation at the International Conference on Tourism, Climate Change, and Sustainability; September 13-14, 2012, Bournemouth, UK.

Leadership:

  • Philanthropy Chair, Agricultural and Biological Engineering-Graduate Student Association 2013-2014
  • Volunteer, Wabash River Enhancement Corporation 2010-2013
  • Presenter and Organizer, Ecological Sciences and Engineering Keystone Series 2011-2013
  • Marketing Co-Chair and Volunteer, Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium 2010-2011


Caitlin Grady Ernest R. Blatchley III Civil Engineering

Caitlin Grady

Home Department:

Civil Engineering

Mentor / Lab:

Ernest R. Blatchley III

Specific Research Area / Project:

Post implementation research on non-profit water treatment and watershed management interventions in developing countries.

Lab / Personal work-related websites:
Current Research

Caitlin Grady

About Me

It is not very common for an engineer to have political ambitions. Since I was in middle school however, policy and politics are all I’ve wanted to do. As my interest in international policy grew throughout high school and college, so did my interest in water resources. Water is such an important part of everyone’s lives, and is the cause of both conflict and cooperation locally, regionally and globally.

In college I was guided by a wonderful advisor who encouraged me to continue technical training in graduate school in order to bring a scientific perspective and understanding into policy in my future profession. At Purdue, the ESE program has allowed me to work on interdisciplinary projects that will prepare me for my future work in policy.

Awards:

  • WPI Congressional Fellow on Women and Public Policy: Oct 2014
  • U.S. Borlaug Global Food Security Graduate Research Grant: May 2013
  • Challenge Program on Water and Food; Opportunity Fund Research Grant: Apr. 2013
  • Next Generation Delegate for the Chicago Council Global Food Security Symposium: May 2014
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship: 2012-2015
  • U.S. Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security: Jun. 2013
  • Across Borders Fellow, US Department of State. Early Career Award to Study
  • Trans-Boundary Environmental Resources in the Middle East and the US: Jun.-Jul. 2011
  • National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Program: May-Aug. 2009

Publications:

  • Grady, C. E. Kipkorir, K. Nguyen, E.R. Blatchley III. 2015. Microbial quality of improved drinking water sources: evidence from western Kenya and southern Vietnam. J. of Water and Health. 13(2): 607–612.
  • Grady, C., X. He, S. Peeta 2015. Integrating social network analysis with analytic network process for international development project selection to increase organizational reach. Expert Systems with Applications. 42(12). doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2015.02.039
  • Grady, C., A. P. Reimer, J. R. Frankenberger, and L. S. Prokopy. 2013. Locating existing Best Management Practices within a watershed: The value of multiple methods. Journal of American Water Resources Association. 49(4): 883-895.
  • Grady, C. and T. Younos. 2012. Bottled Water Technology and Its Global Ramifications: An Overview. International Water Technology Journal. 2(2):185-195.
  • Younos, T. and C. Grady eds. 2014. Potable Water: Emerging Global Problems and Solutions. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. Springer Publishing. ISBN 978-3-319-06562-5.
  • Grady, C., S.C. Weng, and E.R. Blatchley III. 2014. Global potable water: current status, critical problems and future perspectives. In Potable Water: Emerging Global Problems and Solutions. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. Springer Publishing. 37-60.
  • Younos, T., and C. Grady eds. 2013. Climate Change in Water Resources. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, Vol 25. Springer Publishing. ISBN: 978-3-642-37585-9

Presentations:

  • Grady, C. March 2014. "Social Network Analysis in the Mekong River Basin: Opportunities for Research". An Giang University. Invited presentation. Long Xuyen, Vietnam.
  • Grady C.. March 2013. "Performance of Biologically-Active Sand Filters for Drinking Water Treatment: Exploration of Biophysical Factors and Consumer Social Behavior Trends in Eldoret, Kenya". Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Spring Reception. Invited presentation. West Lafayette IN.
  • Grady, C., E.R. Blatchley III, Isaac Soita. February 2013. "Performance of Biologically-Active Sand Filters for Drinking Water Treatment: Exploration of Biophysical Factors and Consumer Social Behavior Trends in Eldoret, Kenya", Disinfection and Public Health Conference. Indianapolis, IN.
  • Grady, C. January 2012. "Preparing Emerging Young Professionals for Transboundary Environmental Research and Leadership through Experiential Learning: The Across Borders Fellowship Program", National Council on Science and the Environment Annual Conference. Washington DC.
  • Grady, C. and M. Schaefer. September 2011. "Water words that work, how to make an engaging brochure", Indiana Watersheds Webinar Series, Invited Presentation.
  • Grady, C. and J. Frankenberger. August 2011. "The impact of scale: evaluation of best management practices in the Eagle Creek watershed", American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers Annual Conference, Oral Presentation. Lexington, KY.
  • Grady, C. April 2011. "Energy implications for the future of desalination", Environmental Virginia Conference, Oral Presentation. Lexington, VA.
  • Grady, C. March 2011. "Methods for identifying best management practices throughout watersheds in Indiana", Indiana Lakes Management Society, Oral Presentation. Angola, IN.
  • Grady, C. and J. Frankenberger. October 2010, "Integrative approach to analyzing best management practices in the Eagle Creek Watershed", Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium, Poster Presentation. West Lafayette, IN. Purdue University.

Leadership:

  • Graduate Mentoring Program Leadership Team: May 2011- May 2014
  • Access Engineering Staff: May 2013-Aug. 2013, May 2014- Aug. 2014
  • Community Teaching Experience
  • Lyn Treece Boys and Girls Club Keystone Kids Garden: 6-12th Grade Science: Apr. 2013- Present
  • Montgomery County School System: Crawfordsville, IN: Fourth Grade Science Fair: Sep. 2012, Sep. 2013
  • Team in Training for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Sep. 2010- May 2011
  • Agricultural and Biological Engineering Graduate Student Association: Sep.2010- Jan. 2012
  • Spring Fest Planning Committee: Jan.- Apr. 2011
  • Ecological Sciences and Engineering Annual Symposium Planning Committee


Fushcia-Ann Hoover Laura Bowling Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Fushcia-Ann Hoover

Home Department:

Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Mentor / Lab:

Laura Bowling

Specific Research Area / Project:

Urban Stormwater Management

Fushcia-Ann Hoover

About Me

While my experience at Purdue has been challenging at times, my time in the ESE program has been nothing but positive. My advisor, Dr. Lee and ESE peers truly make me feel supported and valued as a researcher and as a contributing individual to the program. I am fortunate enough to share an office with 5 other ESE students at various stages of their master’s and doctoral studies. In this office, we have weekly and oftentimes daily discussions on things from how to prepare for prelims or a defense or insights on courses to ideas for research methods and proposals. We talk about personal struggles and successes and generally provide a very inclusive environment where anyone can talk freely. This is one of the biggest aspects I appreciate about the program and its members. Asking questions is always okay and there are always people to help you along the way so despite the fact that everyone has their own research, goals and advisors, you never have to navigate the graduate school process alone because we all want to see each other succeed.

Awards:

  • Midwest Crossroads Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) scholar, admitted spring 2013
  • The Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science (MS PHD'S®) Scholar
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
  • 2012 Indiana Association of Environmental Professionals Graduate Student Award
  • Certificate of appreciation for the MLK Jr. Commemorative Planning Committee

Publications:

  • Hoover, F., Bowling, L. Water Quality Evaluation for an Extensive Green Roof System. Int. Perspectives Water Resources & Envirn Proceedings, Izmir, Turkey, 2013. (accepted)
  • F. Hoover and J. Abraham, A review: Comprehensive comparison of corn-based and cellulosic-based ethanol as biofuel sources, Clean Technology Conference and Expo 2009, Houston, TX, May 3-7, 2009.
  • F. Hoover and J. Abraham. Assessment of the Carbon Dioxide and Energy Balances of Biofuels, Climate Change Technology Conference 2009, Hamilton, Ontario, May 12-15, 2009.
  • F-A Hoover, J. Abraham, A Comparison of Corn-Based Ethanol with Cellulosic Ethanol as Replacements for Petroleum-Based Fuels: A Review, Int. J. Sustainable Energy, Vol. 28 (4), pp. 171-182, 2009.

Presentations:

  • Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM, 2014, presenter
  • American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2013, poster
  • International Perspectives on Water Resources and the Environment 2013, presenter
  • Capturing Resilience: The Bridge from Recovery to Prosperity 2013 ESE Symposium, poster
  • Purdue Student Sustainability Summit 2013, poster
  • Purdue Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, 2013 Spring Reception, poster
  • Urban Rise: Footprints of a Global Civilization 2012 ESE Symposium, poster
  • Climate Change Technology Conference 2009, presenter
  • Clean Technology Conference and Expo 2009, poster

Leadership:

  • Recruitment co-chair, Agricultural & Biological Engr. Graduate Student Association, 2013-current
  • ember-Purdue Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club, 2012-current
  • reasurer-Purdue Graduate Student Government, 2012-2013
  • undraising Chair-Ecological Sciences and Engineering Program’s Annual Symposium, 2012
  • SE Annual Keystone Series Planning Committee, 2012, 2011
  • inorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science Initiative Program (MSPHD’S), 2011, Cohort 8
  • merican Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Attendee, 2011
  • enator-Purdue Graduate Student Government, 2011-2012
  • graduate coordinator-Women in Engineering Program’s Innovation to Reality After School Engineering Program, Purdue University, 2011-2012
  • urdue University Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee, 2011-2013
  • ompact for Diversity in Teaching and Mentoring Meeting, 2012


Meghan Moser James Camberato Agronomy

Meghan Moser

Home Department:

Agronomy

Mentor / Lab:

James Camberato

Specific Research Area / Project:

Residual effects of inorganic nitrogen fertilization on soil nitrogen pools and corn growth.

Meghan Moser

About Me

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson. As a young scientist, my work embraces this statement to make new discoveries for both the environment and the agriculture industry. Since I was born and raised on a farm, I grew up believing that my “path” would lead me to continue the farming tradition. However, a soil science research position at Ohio State shifted my career goals in a new direction. I soon discovered the exciting field of research, a constantly changing and challenging field, but one that would quickly become my passion.

Following graduation from Ohio State, I realized I wanted more and felt that I had a lot to offer to research, the environment, and to agriculture. I soon came across and was admitted to Purdue’s Ecological Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (ESE-IGP). I felt that my background in agriculture and my degree from Ohio State in Environmental Science would bring ESE an insightful and balanced viewpoint of environmental issues.

Thus far, my time in graduate school has taught me a range of skills; I value the importance of communication, attention to detail in the lab and field, patience when teaching, and most of all, the connections and people I have met along the way. Upon completion of my thesis in December 2016, I will set out on a new path. I aspire to leave new trails towards soil conservation and management. I thank everyone who has impacted my path so far and am excited to see what the future holds.

Presentations:

  • Moser, M., Nielsen, R., and Camberato, J. Long-term effect of nitrogen fertilization on soil nitrogen pools and crop growth. Poster presentation at Purdue’s Corn Showcase, West Lafayette, IN, July 26, 2016.

Leadership:

  • Committee Member: Pioneer Plant Breeding Symposium, Purdue University, 2016
  • Committee Member: Ecological Sciences & Engineering Annual Symposium, Purdue University, 2015
  • Representative: Agronomy Graduate Student Representative, Purdue University, 2015
  • Mentor: ESE Graduate Student Mentor, Purdue University, 2015
  • Participant: Pelotonia, Ohio State, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Fellow: NSF Fellow, Georgia Tech, 2013
  • Team Member: Hunt Seat Equestrian Team, Ohio State, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014


Dan Newkirk Bill Hutzel Mechanical Engineering

Dan Newkirk

Home Department:

Mechanical Engineering

Mentor / Lab:

Bill Hutzel

Specific Research Area / Project:

Biofiltration in an Energy Efficient, Residential, HVAC System

Dan Newkirk

About Me

Perhaps not unlike other undergraduates in mechanical engineering, I made the mistake of going in to the discipline because I was “good at math and science” and I wanted to keep my options open. However, I quickly learned the traditional mechanical engineering jobs (design and manufacturing valves, gears, machines, etc.) did not interest me; I could not see their broader impacts. It was not until the summer after my sophomore year I realized my interest in thermodynamics and pursued this interest by conducting energy audits for the Iowa DNR as a Pollution Prevention Intern. This is where I found my passion, using my analytical mindset to help the environment and further society. I decided to further my education in the field by coming to Purdue, joining the ESE program to better understand global problems, working part-time at Purdue Facilities to apply my current skillset and developing technological solutions through my research.

Awards:

  • ASHRAE Innovative Research Grant
  • P3 Award Recipient Phase I
  • 2nd Place Poster, Ecological Sciences and Engineering Annual Symposium

Leadership:

  • ESE Symposium Logistics Manager and Peer Mentor
  • ASHRAE Student Chapter President and Treasurer
  • Purdue Energy Forum Member
  • USGBC Student Chapter Member


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