Student Researcher
Governance of Urban Sustainability Transitions (GUST) Project | February 2015 - September 2015
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I worked as a Student Research Assistant with the Governance of Urban Sustainability Transitions (GUST) Project, a project that brings together researchers from Lund University, Durham University, Dutch Research Institute for Transitions and Joanneum Research. The GUST Project seeks to address urban issues in providing continued economic prosperity and social cohesion while also achieving environmental sustainability. In collaboration, my research focused on innovation for sustainability in cities, focusing on living labs.
Credited as an innovative and collaborative space that brings together a multitude of stakeholders (municipality, industry, academia, civic society, etc.), living labs have the potential to inform knowledge, impact behavior, and alter governance by and within cities. I performed qualitative and quantitative analysis, investigating the potential of living labs. I studied institutional networks that support urban innovation, investigated funding mechanisms that support these interventions, and explored social equity issues surrounding urban innovation. Through my work, I conducted literature review, content analysis and interviews. I administered a questionnaire and performed GIS and geospatial analysis. |
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Co-Founder
LuvSolar | September 2013 - July 2015
Noteworthy:
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My business partner, Joshua Kirkman, and I recongnised the growth potential in the solar photovoltaic market, especially within Europe. Capitalising on recent success in Germany and elsewhere, we recognised that not everyone can afford the large upfront cost associated with solar panels for residential use. Therefore, seeing recent trends in crowdsourcing, peer-to-peer lending and impact investing, we looked to develop an online platform that connects investors to household recipients through loans geared for solar panel installation. We developed a business model that sought to offer competitive returns to investors while reducing the upfront costs of solar panels for homeowners through our solar financing platform.
As co-founder, I was prominent in development of concept, business model, cash-flow modeling, stakeholder engagement, pitching to investors, etc. Through our work with LuvSolar, we developed a diverse group of stakeholders to support our development. We have won business competitions and received scholarships to allow us to work on our business idea full-time. Ultimately, market research and stakeholder interactions showed us the market is not ready in Sweden. However, my business partner looks to take the idea to Australia and I am very eager to continue to watch this business idea develop moving forward. |
Teller (Financial Assistant)
PNC Bank | November 2012 - July 2013
The economic downturn proved challenging for recent college graduates. After a successful tenure at Penn State, I ventured out into the job market vulnerable and naive. I graduated with a degree in environmental meteorology. In discussing with hiring managers after being turned down yet again, I learned that most of the applicants chosen over me had Master's degrees or had years of experience in the field but willing to work at an entry-level salary.
Of the jobs that I was offered (often in the nonprofit sector), I had to turn them down because they were in high cost-of-living areas with limited pay. Coming out of college with mountains of student debt, it was unfeasible to commit to a job with a salary barely above the poverty line.
After many months on the hunt, my student loans kicked in and I needed to become financially independent. Looking to work and add value, I began working at PNC Bank in Muskego, WI as a full-time bank teller. While working in the financial sector, I gained valuable perspective in micro- and macro- economics, business operations, and financial tools and products. I gained experience interacting with numerous types of people in a business and professional setting. PNC strives to differentiate themselves from other financial institutions by offering superior customer service, something I was proud to contribute towards. It turned out to be a worthwhile experience, one that I am glad I got to experience. Moreover, I think it is an experience that will benefit me as I have a greater appreciation and understanding of economic objectives.
Of the jobs that I was offered (often in the nonprofit sector), I had to turn them down because they were in high cost-of-living areas with limited pay. Coming out of college with mountains of student debt, it was unfeasible to commit to a job with a salary barely above the poverty line.
After many months on the hunt, my student loans kicked in and I needed to become financially independent. Looking to work and add value, I began working at PNC Bank in Muskego, WI as a full-time bank teller. While working in the financial sector, I gained valuable perspective in micro- and macro- economics, business operations, and financial tools and products. I gained experience interacting with numerous types of people in a business and professional setting. PNC strives to differentiate themselves from other financial institutions by offering superior customer service, something I was proud to contribute towards. It turned out to be a worthwhile experience, one that I am glad I got to experience. Moreover, I think it is an experience that will benefit me as I have a greater appreciation and understanding of economic objectives.
Ernest F. Hollings Intern
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | May 2011 - August 2011
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The NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship programme affords students a monthly financial stipend during their undergraduate studies, along with a paid summer internship at a NOAA facility. As someone who seeks out new experiences, I negotiated an opportunity to work with the Faga'tele Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the American Samoa Department of Commerce, specifically the Coastal Management Program.
I was the principle investigator measuring the impacts of land-based sources of pollution in a local critical watershed. Faga'alu watershed had many severe land-based sources of pollution that were having observable impacts on the coral reef in the bay. I designed and implemented a study to measure turbidity and other water quality standards in a local stream to statistically determine which land-based sources of pollution were contributing to the degradation of the coral reef. With this information, I was able to demonstrate that a local quarry and construction project were causing significant sedimentation of the local stream. A cease-and-desist letter was sent to the violating parties until sediment control practices were implemented and stream water was in compliance with AS-EPA turbidity standards of 5 NTU. I built upon my knowledge, using field and laboratory testing equipment. Moreover, I used statistical analysis and GIS to show significance of point-source pollution. I also looked at soil properties and used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) Model to look at sheet erosion rates. Together with EPA and DOC, management practices were suggested to reduce the impacts of sedimentation on the steam and coral reef within the bay. I gained numerous cultural experiences and learned how to communicate scientific knowledge to a diverse community. 
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Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at Stony Brook University | May 2010 - August 2010
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I was selected to take part in a National Science Foundation funded REU. As a part of the experience, we traveled to South Bimini, Bahamas to conduct two weeks of field research. I sought to investigate the type and quantities of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) produced by mangroves and the subsequent aerosol reactions that took place in the atmosphere.
I collected numerous samples that varied with time, temperature, solar radiation, etc. Moreover, samples were collected for both Red (Rhizophora mangle) and Black (Avicennia germinans) Mangrove species. Collection took place for two weeks and taken back to Stony Brook for analysis on the PTR- Time-of-Flight - Mass Spectrometer. This sophisticated piece of equipment can sample continuously with real-time concentrations of compounds entering the intake. Analysis was performed and atmospheric concentrations were calculated using the known flow rate, temperature, volume of enclosure, and concentrations of the emitted BVOCs. The research yielded results that showed the Black Mangrove produced more BVOC's than the Red Mangroves. Moreover, during times of stress (high temperature, etc.), the mangroves responded by producing more BVOCs. Despite these findings, it was difficult given experiment design to accurately determine exact concentrations. However, Benzene, Isoprene, Toluene, and Dimethyl-Sulfide all were produced at measurable levels by each mangrove species.
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