About you
I’m a 4th year PhD candidate in the IGPMS program working with Dr. Nicholas Nidzieko in the Coastal Oceanography and Autonomous Systems (COAST) Lab. I’m originally from Long Beach, California and have always been drawn to the ocean. I received my B.S. in Environmental Science and Management with a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from the University of California, Davis in Davis, California. When I am not deep in research in the lab, I am spending time around the Santa Barbara harbor working with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum as their Marine Science Educator teaching local students about ocean health!
Research summary
My research uses satellite images to track how far saltwater moves into freshwater estuaries. As sea levels rise and storms become more intense, saltwater is pushing farther upstream, threatening freshwater supplies that communities rely on. Water managers often release freshwater from dams in the summer and fall to help keep saltwater from moving inland, but in the winter, when heavy rain and snowmelt send large amounts of water through the system, it becomes much harder to keep track of where the saltwater is. From space, satellites can see how turbid or “cloudy” the water looks at the surface. These cloudy areas often form where freshwater and saltwater meet, because the mixing of the two causes sediments to gather in one place. This zone, called an estuarine turbidity maximum, shifts back and forth with the tides and changing river flow. My research connects these visible patterns in satellite images to the movement of saltwater, turning them into a tool for tracking intrusion across the estuary. This approach helps managers monitor conditions across the entire estuary at once, especially during fast-changing winter storms when traditional measurements are most difficult. By adding a broader, real-time view, satellite tracking can support better decisions about protecting freshwater resources in a changing climate.
How and why did you get into your area of research?
As an undergraduate at the University of California, Davis, I worked as a researcher for the Center for Watershed Sciences and learned about threats to our wetlands in California. Through this position I learned how to work behind a microscope, conducted fieldwork monitoring fish migration patterns, and presented at scientific conferences. I graduated and left feeling like I was meant to be a scientist. Having completed numerous GIS courses, I also knew that I had a passion for remote sensing. When applying to PhD programs, I knew I wanted to combine my interests of coastal ocean systems with remote sensing, which led me to the research I am conducting in the COAST Lab at UCSB.
What do you find rewarding about your research?
The most rewarding part of my research is knowing that the work connects directly to the communities that live alongside these estuaries. My study systems are working landscapes, cultural spaces, and ecological habitat; people fish there, farm nearby, kayak through the channels, and depend on the water for their livelihoods and sense of place. Turbidity influences habitat health, water quality, and restoration success, all of which affect local fisheries, conservation efforts, and long-term resilience to climate change. Being able to translate complex spatial data into information that can support restoration planning or adaptive management makes the work feel tangible and meaningful.
What made you choose IGPMS over other programs?
When it comes to choosing a program where you are going to spend the next 5+ years, location can play a huge role. Santa Barbara is a beautiful city and the UCSB campus is a prime location for lots of research opportunities along the Santa Barbara Channel. As someone who has lived in California for most of my life, I knew that the Southern California climate was something that would be hard to pass up.
Describe your favorite day of research so far—whether in the field, the lab, or at your desk
Most of my daily research involves coding at a computer but the field days are always a highlight. One of the field projects that I help with most regularly is the Santa Barbara Long Term Ecological Research (SBC LTER) kelp forest drone surveys. A few times a month I go to different locations along the Santa Barbara Channel and fly drones to collect data on the giant kelp forests off the coast. Since we aim to fly on sunny days, I am usually spending time along the beach, listening to the waves and watching for marine life (and the drone!) as I collect vital data on this major keystone species. So far I have spotted dolphins, sea otters, whales, pelicans, and the heartstopping low-flying helicopter!
How has the interdisciplinary nature of the program helped your research?
Because it is an interdisciplinary program, the ocean is our common thread, but the research paths are incredibly diverse. What I value most is the exposure to perspectives outside my own niche. It pushes me to think differently about my work and see connections I might otherwise miss. It also means that if I’m struggling to understand a concept in, for example, marine biogeochemistry as a physical oceanographer, there’s likely someone just across campus who has exactly the insight I need.
