Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Showing 101-200 of 441 Results
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Lama El Halabi
Ph.D. Student in Energy Science and Engineering, admitted Spring 2022
BioI am a PhD candidate in the Department of Energy Sciences and Engineering and a Data Science Scholar, advised by Adam Brandt. My research is driven by the crucial role renewable energy must play in sustainably meeting our energy demands. The major challenge in transitioning to renewable energy lies in the intermittent and inherently uncertain nature of these energy sources. My current research focuses on predicting energy outputs from these stochastically behaving sources, with an emphasis on uncertainty quantification and volatility. Specifically, I employ computer vision models and statistical techniques to develop short-term probabilistic photovoltaic (PV) power forecasts from sky images and time-series PV data. I hold an MS in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford and a BE in Mechanical Engineering and a BS in Physics from the American University of Beirut. Previously, my research involved using machine learning to model water resources.
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Emily Ellefson
Ph.D. Student in Geological Sciences, admitted Autumn 2021
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am a palynologist, that is, I study fossilized pollen and spores! Previously I have worked on Permian-Triassic and Jurassic-Cretaceous palynology, but here at Stanford I'm excited to be exploring a new time interval and will be working on Silurian-Devonian palynology. My research will focus on how the evolution of terrestrial plants affected the marine redox record through palynology, paleobotany, and geochemistry.
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Safari Fang
Ph.D. Student in Environment and Resources, admitted Autumn 2020
BioSafari Fang is a Ph.D. candidate in the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER). She is an interdisciplinary scientist and ocean conservation leader with proven experience and passion for connecting people from diverse backgrounds to facilitate deep, meaningful collaborations aimed at solving environmental challenges. Growing up next to a polluted Yangtze River in China, Safari aspired from an early age to work in environmental conservation, and she connects deeply with communities that live the real consequences of pollution and habitat destruction. Her current research focuses on aquaculture and fisheries, food security, and community-based marine conservation. Through her research and action, Safari is engaging diverse stakeholders in the global seafood system and fostering collaborations among sectors for the sustainable use of ocean resources.
Safari is an alumna of the Blue Pioneers Program, a leadership development program for ocean conservationists from Asia. She sits on the board of directors of Demos Education Hub, an environmental education and community development NGO in Hainan, China. Safari has lived and worked in several countries, including China, the U.S., Iceland, Germany, and France. She speaks fluent Chinese and English and enjoys reading, swimming, kayaking, hiking, whale watching, yoga, meditation, and creative writing. -
Sarah Fendrich
Ph.D. Student in Environment and Resources, admitted Autumn 2022
BioSarah is interested in the design and evaluation of decision support systems for local and regional-scale climate adaptation. Her research aims to explore the social and cognitive processes through which decision support systems — both digital decision support tools and the activities of regional climate resilience networks — shape adaptation planning and implementation, organizational learning, and environmental outcomes. She is specifically interested in supporting more adaptive and integrated water resources management. Sarah’s current work focuses on better understanding the collaborative landscape of federal decision support activities using social network analysis, as well as the decision-making and planning processes of local stormwater managers in coastal communities across the U.S. using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and document analysis.
Sarah holds a BA in cognitive neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to coming to Stanford, she worked on health care innovation and equity research at the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit and the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics. -
Stephanie Fischer
Ph.D. Student in Earth System Science, admitted Autumn 2022
Ph.D. Minor, Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity
Grad OCT, Hume CenterBioStephanie Fischer (she/her) is a Ph.D. Candidate with the Behavioral Decisions and the Environment group with Dr. Gabrielle Wong-Parodi, and is a Ph.D. minor with the Center for Comparative Studies of Race and Ethnicity. She is largely interested in community-led solutions that bolster adaptive capacity in the face of acute disasters and chronic climate hazards, and the ways culture and identity play a pivotal role in achieving holistic well-being and transformative climate justice.
Stephanie also holds a B.A. in Music Composition and a B.A. in Earth Systems (Human Environmental Systems) from Stanford University. -
Cedric Fraces
Ph.D. Student in Energy Resources Engineering, admitted Autumn 2017
BioPhD candidate in Energy Resources Engineering with over 10 years of experience in the Energy industry. Covered a variety of roles from field engineering to project management in consulting, service and operating companies. Worked on major oilfields in China, Iraq, Kuwait, Mexico, Colombia and interacted with top executives in corresponding National Oil Companies.
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TJ Francisco
Ph.D. Student in Earth System Science, admitted Autumn 2023
BioI primarily work with reptiles and amphibians in forests and agroecological landscapes to investigate the consequences of land-use decisions on biodiversity, species interactions, and invasions. In Costa Rica, I research the effects of strategically diversifying oil palm farms on herpetofauna diversity and habitat quality. I am interested in the interconnections between political ecology, food sovereignty, and wildlife conservation.
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Julia Frohmann
Ph.D. Student in Energy Science and Engineering, admitted Autumn 2023
BioJulia Frohmann is a PhD candidate in Energy Science and Engineering, and leads the demand side technology utilization modeling at STEER. Her research focuses on the feasibility of large-scale grid storage deployment in the US by evaluating battery energy storage revenue generation potential. Julia's key areas of interest are electricity market operations, and macro-scale energy systems modeling. Previous work focused on renewable grid penetration effect on electricity exchange variability and modeling optimal integration of power-to-heat-to-power storage. Julia obtained her bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and masters in Energy Engineering from RWTH Aachen, Germany.
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Prerana Gawde
Ph.D. Student in Oceans, admitted Autumn 2024
BioPrerana is a marine ecologist with over five years of experience working closely with fisher communities and recreational SCUBA divers in Lakshadweep, India, conducting ecological assessments of fishery-important small pelagic baitfish and collaborating with fishers to document traditional ecological knowledge for community-led fisheries management. Currently pursuing a PhD at Stanford University’s Department of Oceans, she is exploring the ecological interactions of shipwrecks and their role in socio-ecological systems through interdisciplinary research frameworks.
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Rwaida Gharib
Ph.D. Student in Environment and Resources, admitted Autumn 2023
Research Asst-Graduate-Hourly, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability - Dean's OfficeBioRwaida is a PhD student in Environment and Resources at Stanford’s School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on the international policy frameworks shaping climate adaptation and mobility, with an emphasis on environmental justice for displaced communities, rural populations, and women and girls. She examines how global institutions respond to climate vulnerability—and how they can better support frontline communities.
Her current work spans climate displacement and adaptation efforts in the Global South, grounded in field research across East Africa and Central America, but also here at home in California where she researches the social impacts of wildfire recovery. She examines how narrative structures, legal categorization, and financial allocations can influence how climate risks and resilience are interpreted within policy and institutional settings.
She brings over 15 years of experience in international development and humanitarian policy, including advisory roles with the World Bank Group, USAID, and UNDP, and an appointment in the Obama Administration, where she helped design the White House’ clean energy initiative, Power Africa. Currently, she supports adaptation finance research at Stanford's Sustainable Finance Institute as well as the Graduate School of Business’s Ecopreneurship Program. -
Anna Gomes
Ph.D. Student in Earth System Science, admitted Autumn 2020
Responsible Purchasing Fellow, Business AffairsBioMy main interests lie within anthropogenic climate change, environmental science, and agriculture. The complex system dynamics and interconnections between agriculture and the environment including nutrient cycling, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions are a few of the most critical challenges for today's soil scientists. After completing a master’s degree in Sustainability Science and Environmental Studies at Lund University in Sweden, researching farmer adoption of practices which mitigate GHGs from arable soils in the Netherlands at Wageningen University, I started a PhD in Earth System Science at Stanford University, aiming to focus on soil and environmental biogeochemistry. In parallel to my work in academia, I have been working on a start-up to address food waste and food insecurity in CA (Ugly Food Market), in addition to being a team member on several projects including a sharing library (Circle Centre), a soil science educational platform (Soil Life), and other sustainability related initiatives.
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Halldora Gudmundsdottir
Ph.D. Student in Energy Resources Engineering, admitted Autumn 2014
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy PhD research focuses on developing predictive models for geothermal systems. I am interested in direct predictions of the future performance of geothermal reservoirs as well as characterization of the subsurface flow behavior that can aid in operational decision making. Currently, I am incorporating principles from statistics and artificial intelligence into workflows that can be used for production and injection optimization.
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Sydney Aleah Hampton
Ph.D. Student in Oceans, admitted Autumn 2023
Master of Public Policy Student, Public PolicyBioSydney is a PhD student in the Oceans department, interested in using an interdisciplinary approach to explore the biophysical interactions of marine migratory species with their environment, and their responses to ecological and anthropogenic stressors. She is particularly interested in using what we know about various environmental variables and large-scale climate events to further predict and understand changes to the migratory patterns of marine species. Sydney holds a BS in Marine Science and BS in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina.
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Rachel Herring
Ph.D. Student in Environment and Resources, admitted Autumn 2024
BioRachel Herring (Choctaw Nation) is investigating pathways towards a Just Transition as an E-IPER PhD student. Previously, she has recommended policy alternatives for domestic mining with the Department of Energy’s Indian Energy Program, and has explored impacts of critical mineral extraction on Native land as a Kathryn Wasserman Davis Conflict Transformation Fellow. Additionally, as a Fulbright Fellow and National Geographic Explorer, Rachel continues to investigate the intersection between the clean energy transition and the depopulation crisis in rural Japan. She was named a Next Generation Photographer by the 2024 Japan Photo Award in Kyoto, and her work has appeared in the New York Times. She holds an MA in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute, and a BA from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
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Susannah Herz
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2023
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am interested in investigating the impacts of ocean anoxia through the end Permian mass extinction. My work utilizes a variety of isotope geochemistry techniques, including investigations of the sulfur, calcium, and thallium systems through both modeling and lab-based approaches.
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Mathis Heyer
Ph.D. Student in Energy Science and Engineering, admitted Autumn 2024
BioMathis Heyer, from Kiel, Germany, is pursuing a Ph.D. in Energy Science & Engineering at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Process Systems Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, as well as a master’s degree in Management Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing.
His research in the Environmental Assessment and Optimization Group at Stanford (https://eao.stanford.edu/) focuses on advancing the understanding of complex energy and process systems through mathematical modeling and optimization. Mathis' work builds on his previous research experiences at the Climate Policy Lab at ETH Zurich and the Sustainable Reaction Engineering Group at Cambridge University. Outside of his academic pursuits, Mathis enjoys volunteering with organizations such as "Engineers Without Borders" and "Europe Meets School" both involved in promoting intercultural exchange.
Mathis has been recognized as a Klaus-Murmann Fellow by the Foundation of German Business (sdw) while at RWTH Aachen and is currently an ERP Fellow with the German Academic Scholarship Foundation and a recipient of the SGF Fellowship. -
Stepfan Huntsman
Ph.D. Student in Geological Sciences, admitted Winter 2022
BioI've had an interest in rocks and fossils since I was a small child, amassing a large collection in my youth, but hadn't considered it a viable career path instead starting my path as a social scientist studying gender and sexuality. My interest in a career in paleontology peaked after finishing my first degree, leading me to pursue a second bachelors degree. While working on my undergraduate at Weber State I discovered a true deep love of plants as well as a curiosity about the methods they use to adapt to new environments, which has lead me to pursuing a doctoral degree here at Stanford University.
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Amanda Jackson
Ph.D. Student in Geological Sciences, admitted Autumn 2022
Masters Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Summer 2025BioI’ve long been fascinated with volcanoes, and my research interests broadly include igneous petrology, trans-crustal magmatic systems, high temperature geochemistry, and geo/thermochronology. My first PhD project explores the formation of Catalina Island and investigates pluton assembly in continental rift settings. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, reading, yoga, and playing with my cat, Carl.
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Shaunak Joshi
Ph.D. Student in Energy Science and Engineering, admitted Autumn 2022
BioI am Shaunak, from India. I am starting my PhD in Energy Science and Engineering with Prof. Daniel Tartakovsky and Prof. Hamdi Tchelepi. My research will primarily focus on pore-scale modeling of lithium-based batteries.
Prior to this, I graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay with a Bachelor's and a Master's in Energy Science and Engineering. I love to play all sorts of sports, especially football, badminton, and cricket. You would usually see me running around the campus on odd days. Hit me up if you want to have a chat! -
Leah Kahn
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2024
BioI have broad interests in paleobiology and Earth history. My current research projects include quantifying body-size bias in biodiversity databases and studying reef ecology across the Late Devonian extinctions.
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Isabelle Kavanagh
Ph.D. Student in Oceans, admitted Winter 2025
BioIsabelle Kavanagh is a first year PhD student in the Oceans department at Stanford University, studying hydrodynamics and heat transfer over coral reefs with Dr. Stephen Monismith.
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Ayako Kawano
Ph.D. Student in Environment and Resources, admitted Autumn 2022
BioAyako Kawano is a Ph.D. candidate at Stanford University. Her research interests include the impact analysis of air pollution on population health and climate change in low- and middle-income countries using remote sensing data and machine learning methods. Before coming to Stanford, she worked as a Data Scientist at UN Global Pulse and as a Program Manager at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
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Madolyn Kelm
Ph.D. Student in Oceans, admitted Summer 2024
BioMadolyn Kelm is a Ph.D. student in Oceans at Stanford University, specializing in the biophysical interactions of kelp aquaculture in Southern California. Her research aims to optimize farming productivity through predictive modeling. Currently, she is working on validating the MacroAlgae Cultivation MODeling System (MACMODS) through the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to advance sustainable kelp farming practices.
With a unique interdisciplinary background, Madolyn integrates biological and physical dynamics to drive focused coastal ocean research. Committed to addressing the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems, she aspires to become a professor and contribute to fostering diversity in STEM.
