About Me

Biosketch

I received my BS in applied mathematics from Temple University in December 2015. In the summer of 2015, I participated in the CMMAP (now ESMEI) REU program in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University, where I worked with Prof. Elizabeth (Libby) Barnes's group and explored the climatology of atmospheric rivers (ARs) in Alaska. In August 2016, I joined Libby's group at Colorado State as an MS student and received my degree in December 2018. My MS thesis research focused on the predictability of ARs at short- and medium-range lead times (0-14 days) using numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. After receiving my degree, I moved home to Pennsylvania but continued working with Libby's group as a researcher until August 2019. During this time, I studied the predictability of precipitation at subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) leads based on the phases of the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) and the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). In August 2019, I joined Dr. Colin Zarzycki's group at Penn State, where I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science. My PhD research explores the influence of boundary-layer (PBL) turbulence on modeled tropical cyclones (TCs) in climate models, namely the Community Earth System Model (CESM). The overarching goal of this research is to improve climate model forecasts of TCs at S2S leads.

Away from research, I love spending time outdoors running, swimming, hiking, and kayaking. I enjoy traveling, especially to national parks! As a native of southeast Pennsylvania, I am also a big Philly sports fan. 

Education

Penn State University, PhD in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, 2019-present

Colorado State University, MS in Atmospheric Science, 2018

Temple University, BS in Applied Mathematics, 2015

Awards

Outstanding Oral Presentation, NWP/WAF Conference, 2022 AMS Annual Meeting, January 2022

Paper of Note, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, November 2020

University Graduate Fellowship, Penn State University, 2019

Member, Phi Beta Kappa, Temple University Rho Chapter

Outstanding Student Paper, AGU Fall Meeting, 2015

Sholomskas Scholarship for Mathematics, Temple University, 2014, 2015

Service

Scientists in Every Florida School (SEFS) Classroom Visitor, 2022-present

REU Graduate Student Mentor, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023

Penn State Meteorology Graduate Student Organization Chair, 2022-2023

Penn State Meteorology Graduate Student Ambassador, 2021-present

Penn State Meteorology Graduate Student Recruitment Chair, 2021-2022

Penn State Meteorology Graduate Academic Program Representative, 2021-2022