ESE Alumni Profiles

Associate Professor

University of Arkansas

Home Department: Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Mentor / Lab: Indrajeet Chaubey

Specific Research Area / Project: Watershed Modeling

Lab / Personal work-related websites: Lab Website

About Me

I am originally from Arkansas where I recently moved back as faculty in 2023. I have a 4 year old and my favorite hobbies are reading and gardening.

Awards

• Lori Libbert New Faculty Commendation, UA Teaching and Faculty Support Center, 2024
• Invited Participant, First Connections to Sustain Science in Latin America, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, 2024
• Early Career Alumni Award, University of Arkansas College of Engineering, 2022
• Outstanding Faculty Mentor, ASU Faculty Women’s Association, 2021
• Inductee to the Arkansas Academy of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, 2020
• New Face of American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, 2020
• France A. Cordova Leadership in Action Award, Purdue University, 2014
• ABE Outstanding Service Award, Purdue University College of Engineering, 2014
• Emily M. Wadsworth Graduate Mentoring Award, Women in Engineering Program, Purdue University, 2012
• Robert E. Stewart Engineering and Humanities Award, American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, 2011
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2009

Publications:

• Plant Microbiome Symposium 2023 – Quito, Ecuador (Poster); Midwest Microbiome Symposium 2024 – Purdue University (Poster)

Leadership:

• At Purdue I was involved as the President of the Graduate Student Government (as well as secretary and ABE representative). I was also a Peer Ombudsman, Leadership in the Graduate Mentoring Program, and participated in many WIEP programs like I2R.

Associate Professor
George Washington University

Home Department: Civil Engineering

Mentor / Lab: Ernest R. Blatchley III

Specific Research Area / Project: Water and Food Development in International Context

Lab / Personal work-related websites: Lab Website

About Me

Dr. Grady is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at The George Washington University in Washington DC. She also runs a niche consulting firm called CGR Strategies LLC. Prior to joining GWU, Dr. Grady served as an Assistant Professor at The Pennsylvania State University. Her academic background and research expertise spans a variety of engineering and policy domains across food, energy, and water systems. This includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches to studying systems such as agricultural trade, the electricity grid, natural hazards, and adaptation to climate change. Prior to her academic roles, she held several federal government roles including with the House of Representatives, the Department of Energy, and the Department of State. In these roles, she worked on a myriad of issues including agriculture, water & energy, air quality, budget & appropriations, international development, and diplomatic engagement.

Awards

• During School: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship; Borlaug Fellowship on Global Food Security
• Faculty: NSF CAREER award; Lawrence J. Perez Memorial Student Advocate Award, Penn State; Non-Resident Fellow to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs “

Publications:

• https://tinyurl.com/gradyscholar

Leadership:

• During School: Women in Engineering
• As a Faculty: Women in Engineering; Ethics in Engineering

Home Department: Mechanical Engineering

Mentor / Lab: Bill Hutzel

Specific Research Area / Project: Biofiltration in an Energy Efficient, Residential, HVAC System

Personal work-related websites: Employer Website

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