ESE Student Profiles
Ecological Sciences and Engineering
ESE students come from varied backgrounds and disciplines, united by a passion for solving environmental challenges. Explore their stories and research interests.
- Home Department: Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
- Mentor / Lab: Lori Hoagland
- Specific Research Area / Project: Plant and Soil Microbial Ecology, Science Diplomacy
- Lab / Personal work-related websites: Lab Website
About Me
I hold a bachelor’s in Biology from Universidad Nacional de Colombia. I am originally from the rural region of Silvania, a small town near Bogota, the capital of my country. I am a fan of orchids, hiking, and world history.
Awards
- Frederick N. Andrews Fellowship for Doctoral Studies, Purdue University- 2022
- Regenerative Agriculture Bootcamp, Food and Agriculture Organization – Santiago, Chile
Presentations:
- Plant Microbiome Symposium 2023 – Quito, Ecuador (Poster); Midwest Microbiome Symposium 2024 – Purdue University (Poster)
Leadership:
- Former president – Colombian Student Association at Purdue (2023 – 2024)
- Former president – ESE Graduate Student Association (Spring 2023)
Home Department: Political Sciences
Mentor / Lab: Leigh Raymond and Rosalee Clawson
Specific Research Area / Project: The Environmental Justice Movement
About Me
Kaleigh Karageorge is a PhD candidate at Purdue University as well as a Smithsonian Environmental Justice Fellow at the Anacostia Community Museum. Her research interests broadly include the Environmental Justice Movement and coalition-building strategies, relying on community engaged research practices.
Kaleigh’s current research project focuses on local autonomy in the Environmental Justice Movement, especially as it relates to partnerships between Mainstream environmental organizations and grassroots groups. In addition to her research, Kaleigh is passionate about teaching and finding new ways to integrate learner-centered principles into the classroom. In her free time, you can find Kaleigh camping, hiking, hosting her friends, or enjoying a large serving of pasta.
Awards
- Smithsonian Institution Environmental Justice Fellow ($131,287)
- Outstanding Prospectus Award ($1000)
- Graduate Grant Submission Award ($250)
- Graduate Student Government Travel Award ($500)
- Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Travel Award ($750)
- Field Paper to Journal Submission Award Runner-up ($250)
- Graduate School Summer Research Grant ($4,900)
- OIGP Most Outstanding Interdisciplinary Project Award Honorable Mention Frederick N. Andrews Environmental Travel Grant ($1,500)
- EPA Environmental Justice Video Challenge Phase 2 Honorable Mention ($12,500)
- EPA Environmental Justice Video Challenge Phase 1 Honorable Mention ($1,000)
- PROMISE Travel Award, Tier 1 ($750) (x3)
Presentations:
- Invited talks:
- A Brief History of Environmental Justice: Perspectives from Multiple Disciplines for Purdue University’s Institute for a Sustainable Future (2023)
- Conference Presentations:
- Western Political Science Association
- Operationalizing and Understanding Threats to Autonomy in the US Environmental Justice Movement (March 2024)
- American Political Science Association
- Just Solutions? A Review of Policy Instruments’ Performance on Dimensions of EJ (September 2023)
- Midwest Political Science Association
- How Do Different ENGOs Pursue Change? Environmental Groups’ Identities and Venue Choice (April 2023)
- Western Political Science Association
- Maintaining Local Autonomy in the US EJ Movement (April 2023)
- Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future Research Expo
- Identifying and Addressing Environmental Justice Issues Related to Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) Contamination in Martinsville, Indiana (April 2023)
- Guest Lectures:
- Introduction to Environmental Policy (Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023)
- Environmental and Conservation Biology (Spring 2022, Spring 2024)
Leadership:
- Ecological Sciences and Engineering Student Ambassador (2023-present)
- Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium Planning Council
- Funding Committee Chair (2022-2023)
- Political Science Graduate Student Association
- At-large Representative (2022-2023)
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair (2021-2022)
- First Year Representative (2022-2023)
- Political Science Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce
- Graduate Student Representative (2020-2021)
Home Department: Forestry & Natural Resources
Mentor / Lab: Zhao Ma
Specific Research Area / Project: Barriers to and Opportunities for Conservation-oriented Adaptation in Rhode Island
Lab / Personal work-related websites:
About Me
I am a PhD Candidate at Purdue University under Dr. Zhao Ma and a NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellow with the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Rhode Island. My current research aims to understand how perceptions of climate change impact the opinions of and engagement with organizations and agencies implementing climate change adaptations throughout Rhode Island. Prior to my PhD, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Wildlife at Purdue University in 2013 and my Master of Science in Biology at Georgia Southern University in 2015. After completing my MS, I worked as a biologist for 5 years in various states across the United States on both flora and fauna species. After completion of my PhD, I want to continue my work in the Northeast United States to help vulnerable communities manage climate change impacts. In my free time, I continue to work with my community by volunteering at the local animal shelter and supporting native plant programs.
Awards
- Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship (2024). Purdue University. Award to complete dissertation titled: “Barriers to and Opportunities for Conservation-oriented Adaptations to Climate Change in Narragansett Bay.”
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management, Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship (2022-2024). Co-PI (PI: Zhao Ma). Barriers to and Opportunities for Conservation-Oriented Adaptation to Climate Change in Narragansett Bay. $119,996.
- ESE Outstanding Research Student (2024). Purdue University Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program. $350.
- Challenger Award (2024). NOAA Office for Coastal Management Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship program. Award in recognition of “strength to challenge the norm and speak up for positive change for Rhode Island communities” at the 2024 Social Coast Forum in Charleston, SC.
- Frederick N. Andrews Environmental Travel Grant (2024). Purdue University Graduate School Fellowship Office.
- Graduate Ag Research Spotlight. Purdue University College of Agriculture (2023). Award video can be accessed at https://ag.purdue.edu/news/department/arge/2023/12/graduate-spotlight-mary-strickland.html.
- International Association for Society and Natural Resources Conference Scholarship (2023).
Publications:
- Strickland, M., M. A. Jenkins, Z. Ma, and B. D. Murray. (2024). How has the concept of resilience been applied in research across forest regions? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, e2703. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2703.
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Presentations:
- Strickland, M., and Z. Ma. (2024). “Barriers to and Opportunities for Conservation-oriented Adaptation in Rhode Island.” Oral presentation at the International Association for Society and Natural Resources Conference in Supporting sustainability transformations with research into the resilience and adaptive capacity of communities. Cairns, Australia.
- Strickland, M., and Z. Ma. (2024). “Barriers to and Opportunities for Conservation-oriented Adaptation in Rhode Island.” Oral presentation at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting in Resilience and Adaptations to a Changing Climate sponsored by the Hazards, Risks, and Disasters Specialty Group. Virtual.
- Strickland, M. (2024). “How to use participatory processes for culturally responsive coastal decision making.” Oral presentation and panelist at the Social Coast Forum in How to Use Knowledge, Values, Perceptions, and Beliefs in Improving Coastal Management. Charleston, SC.
- Strickland, M., and Z. Ma. (2024). “Barriers to and Opportunities for Conservation-oriented Adaptation in Rhode Island.” Oral presentation at the Social Coast Forum in Equity and Community Engagement Frameworks. Charleston, SC.
- Strickland, M., and Z. Ma. (2023). “Barriers to and Opportunities for Conservation-oriented Adaptation in Rhode Island.” Poster Presentation at the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association Annual Meeting. Galloway, NJ.
- Strickland, M., and Z. Ma. (2023). “Understanding Opportunities for Conservation-oriented adaptation in Rhode Island.” Poster Presentation at the Institute for a Sustainable Future Annual Research Expo, Purdue University. West Lafayette, IN.
- Strickland, M., and Z. Ma. (2023). “Understanding Opportunities for Conservation-oriented adaptation in Rhode Island.” Poster Presentation at the International Association for Society and Natural Resources Annual Conference. Portland, ME.
- Strickland, M., M. A. Jenkins, Z. Ma, and B. D. Murray. (2023). “Conceptualization and Operationalization of Resilience in Forest Ecology Research and its Implications on Forest and Human Communities.” Poster Presentation at the Forestry and Natural Resources Poster Symposium, Purdue University. West Lafayette, IN.
- Strickland, M., M. A. Jenkins, Z. Ma, and B. D. Murray. (2022). “Conceptualization and Operationalization of Resilience in Forest Ecology Research and its Implications on Forest and Human Communities.” Poster Presentation at the International Association of Society and Natural Resources Virtual Conference.”
Leadership:
- Spring 2023 Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium – funding committee
Home Department: Forestry & Natural Resources
Mentor / Lab: Bryan Pijanowski
Specific Research Area / Project: Using acoustics to assess rangeland condition in a coproduced project in Arkhangai, Mongolia
Lab / Personal work-related websites: Lab Website
About Me
My name is Sam! I am a fourth year PhD student in ESE. I love being outside and exploring Lafayette. One of my favorite activities is visiting the farmers market in the summer with friends. I love to travel and enjoy going to new places for conferences, field work, or really any other reason! I also enjoy a quiet night in reading or playing video games with my two cats at home.
Awards
- Lynn Fellowship
- Bilsland Fellowship
- ISF Travel Grant
Publications:
- Malhotra, R., Lima, S., & Harris, N. C. (2022). Temporal refuges of a subordinate carnivore vary across rural–urban gradient. Ecology and Evolution, 12, e9310. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9310
Presentations:
- Poster Presentation, “Coproducing rangeland health assessments using passive acoustic monitoring in Arkhangai, Mongolia” Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Research Symposium, Purdue University, May 1st, 2024
- Poster Presentation, “Coproducing rangeland health assessments using passive acoustic monitoring in Arkhangai, Mongolia” Forestry and Natural Resources Symposium, Purdue University, April 12th, 2024
Leadership:
- Co-chair of the 2021 cohort ESE Symposium
- Volunteer at the West Lafayette Public Library
Home Department: Civil Engineering
Mentor / Lab: David J. Yu and Yan Cong
Specific Research Area / Project: Risk Assessment Using NLP
Lab / Personal work-related websites: Lab Website
About Me
I am Sukrati Gautam, a PhD student at Purdue University specializing in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Outside of my academic pursuits, I am an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast. My passion for nature complements my involvement in the Ecological Science & Engineering Graduate Student Organization (ESE GSO), where I actively participate in organizing events and networking with ESE alumni. This role allows me to foster community and connections within the field, blending my love for the outdoors with professional development and collaboration.
Awards
- Lynn Fellowiship 2021
- Ron Wukasch Environmental Engineering Scholarship 2022
- Outstanding Teaching Award 2023
- Most Outstanding Interdisciplinary Award 2023
- Elmer Ballotti Memorial Fellowship 2023
- System Fellowship, Purdue System Collaboratory 2024
Publications:
- Marston, L. T., Zipper, S., Smith, S. M., Allen, J. J., Butler, J. J., Gautam, S., & Yu, D. J. (2022). The importance of fit in groundwater self-governance.
- Sukrati Gautam, Danielle Wagner, Nuela Enebechi, Elevating the Unsung Heroes: Assessing Graduate Teaching Assistants’ Experiences in Service-Learning Programs. ASEE, 2024
- Sukrati Gautam, Samuel Park, J Yu David, Margaret Ellen Garcia, and Murugesu Sivapalan. Water extremes: The interplay of formal rules and cognitive biases in reservoir operation. AGU23, 2023
- Sukrati Gautam, Hoon Shin, J Yu David, Fragility of Public Water Supply: Effects of Introducing Alternative Water Sources with Common-Pool Resource Characteristics. AGU23, 2023
- Gautam, S., Park S., DJ Yu, M Garcia, and M Sivapalan. Reservoir Operations Management: The Confluence of Institutional Guidelines and Cognitive Biases in Water Extremities. Nature Water, Water governance. 2024 (In Progress)
- Gautam, S., HC Shin, DJ Yu. Exploring the Influence of User Rivalry on Public Infrastructure Cooperation: A Behavioral Experiment in the Context of Water Scarcity. Water Resource Research. 2024 (In Progress)
Presentations:
- Invited keynote Speaker at MOIPA, Spring Reception 2023
- Invited for oral presentation at Empowering Students and Strengthening Community Relationships at ASEE 2024
Leadership:
- ESE GSO Vice President 2023 – Present
- ESE Symposium Chair 2022
- Mentor for Women in Engineering
- Mentor Civil Engineering Graduate Student Advisory Council
- Secretary, American Society of Engineering Education at Purdue University 2024-25
