Global Change & Sustainability Center

Arehart, Emerson | College of Science, Biology | Advisor: Fred Adler

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Genome Sequencing and Population Genetics of an endangered Chilean mushroom, Boletus loyo”
• Authors: Emerson Arehart, Bryn Dentinger, Alex Bradshaw

Bagherinezhad, Avishan | College of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering | Advisor: Masood Parvania

• Theme: Energy
• “Continuous-time Flexible Ramp Scheduling in Forward Power Systems Operation”
• Authors: Avishan Bagherinezhad, Masood Parvania

Banerjee, Debolina | College of Architecture + Planning, City & Metropolitan Planning | Advisor: Sarah Hinners

• Theme: Water
• “Modeling Stakeholder Knowledge Integration Using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping: A Collaborative Planning approach in Water Quality Decision-Making for Utah Lake”
• Authors: Debolina Banerjee, Dr. Sarah Hinners, Dr. Brett Clark

Blanton, Natalie | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Sociology | Advisor: Brett Clark

• Theme: Justice, Equity & Diversity
• “It’s All Up in the Air: How Air Quality and Climate Change Are Influencing Fertility Decision-Making in Salt Lake County, Utah”
• Authors: Natalie Blanton

Bosworth, Lily | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Geology & Geophysics | Advisor: Paul Brooks

• Theme: Water
• “The Hydrologic Impact of Beaver Dam Analogues”
• Authors: Lily Bosworth

Bradshaw, Alexander | College of Science, Biology | Advisor: Bryn Dentinger

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “On the Origin of Feces: Investigating Truffle diversity and distribution with metagenomic amplicon sequencing of scat material.”
• Authors: Alexander J Bradshaw, Bryce G Alex, Allyson Jellitto, Eric Rickart, Bryn T.M. Dentinge |

Breeden, Benjamin | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Geology & Geophysics | Advisor: Randall Irmis

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “A re-evaluation of fossil reptiles from the Lower Jurassic Nishinakayama Formation in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi: new insights from X-ray computed tomography and geochemistry”
• Authors: Benjamin T. Breeden III, Kentaro Izumi, Makoto Manabe, David B. Kemp, Chisako Sakata, Fumio Takahashi

Carlston, Kelsey | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Economics | Advisor: Codrina Rada

• Theme: Built Environment & Communities
• “Sprawl and Mobility: How Compact Neighborhoods Increase Opportunity”
• Authors: Kelsey Carlston

Castillo, Tamar | College of Architecture + Planning, Multi-Disciplinary Design Program | Advisor: Jon Mills

• Theme: Water
• “Below the Surface”
• Authors: Tamar Castillo

Cavanaugh, Stephen | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Jennifer Weidhaas

• Theme: Water
• “Peak Parking on HPLC as a way to Measure Diffusivity of Legacy and Emerging Munitions”
• Authors: Stephen Cavanaugh, Jennifer Weidhaas 

Cole, Kasey | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Anthropology | Advisor: Joan Brenner-Coltrain

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Oxygen Isoscape of Northeastern California”
• Authors: Kasey E. Cole

Doolin, Maggie | College of Science, Biology | Advisor: Denise Dearing

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Desert herbivory and parasitism in the age of global climate change”
• Authors: Margaret L. Doolin, Sara B. Weinstein, Zahra Z. Khan, M. Denise Dearing

Dorsey, Bridget | College of Honors College, Biology | Advisor: Christopher Mead

• Theme: Built Environment & Communities
• “Advanced Beekeeping Technology: Campus as a Living Laboratory for Environmental Sustainability and Community”
• Authors: Bridget Dorsey

Figueroa, Richard | College of Humanities, Philosophy | Advisor: Carlos Santana

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Preserving the evolvability of what? Biological conservation and the objects of persistence”
• Authors: Richard Figueroa

Forrister, Dale | College of Science, Biology | Advisor: Phyllis Coley

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Insect seasonality in an aseasonal tropical forest”
• Authors: Dale L. Forrister, María-Jose Endara, and Phyllis D. Coley

Green, Austin | College of Science, Biology | Advisor: Cagan Sekercioglu

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Wasatch Wildlife Watch: Leveraging community science and remote sensing to elucidate the importance of protected areas across a highly fragmented landscape”
• Authors: Austin Green, Mary Pendergast, Cagan Sekercioglu 

Herman, Jordan | College of Science, Biology | Advisor: Dale Clayton

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Nesting with the enemy: the ultimate consequences of coinfection”
• Authors: Jordan M. Herman, Vanina D. Fiorini, Ignacio Crudele, Juan C. Reboreda, Shawn A. Pladas, Sarah E. Bush and Dale H. Clayton

Hosseini, Mohammad Mehdi | College of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering | Advisor: Masood Parvania

• Theme: Energy
• “Automated Switching Operation for Resilience Enhancement of Distribution Systems”
• Authors: Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini, Amarachi Umunnakwe, Masood Parvania

Jafarishiadeh, Fatemehalsadat | College of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering | Advisor: Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani

• Theme: Energy
• “Preventive Dispatch for Transmission De-Icing”
• Authors: Fatemehalsadat Jafarishiadeh, Farshad Mohammadi, Mostafa Sahraei-ardakani

Jamal, Rubayat | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Jennifer Weidhaas

• Theme: Water
• “Estimating the Probability of Illness from Using the Distribution Water in the City of Hyderabad, Pakistan”
• Authors: Rubayat Jamal, Jennifer Weidhaas

Jamison, Logan | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Geology & Geophysics | Advisor: Paul Brooks

• Theme: Water
• “Annual, Subannual, and Decadal Climate Influence on Streamflow”
• Authors: Logan Jamison, Paul D. Brooks, Court Strong, Seth Arens, Meg Wolf

Johnson, Ryan | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Steven Burian

• Theme: Built Environment & Communities
• “Identifying Climate and Urbanization Drivers to Improve Long-Term Water Supply Forecasting in the Intermountain West.”
• Authors: Ryan Johnson, Steven Burian

Johnson, Taylor | College of Humanities, Communication | Advisor: Danielle Endres

• Theme: Water
• “Placing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: Nationhood, Place, and Colonialism in the Trash Isles Campaign”
• Authors: Taylor N. Johnson, Duncan Stewart

Jones, Kaylee | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Geography | Advisor: Kaylee Jones

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Bonneville Basin paleoenvironmental reconstructions using a multi-proxy approach on desert spring sediments.”
• Authors: Kaylee Jones

Joyner, Leah | College of Health, Parks, Recreation & Tourism | Advisor: Kelly Bricker

• Theme: Food Systems
• “Urban Food Justice through Community Campus Partnerships”
• Authors: Joyner, Leah., Yagüe, Blanca.

Karimi, Zahra | College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | Advisor: Roseanne Warren

• Theme: Energy
• “Low cost sodium-ion battery anode materials derived from coal char”
• Authors: Zahra Karimi, Joshua Robert Malzahn, Eric Eddings, Roseanne Warren

Kaur, Kamaljeet | College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering | Advisor: Kerry Kelly

• Theme: Air Quality
• “Collection methods affect the physicochemical properties of combustion particles and their cellular response in a human macrophage-like cell line”
• Authors: Kamaljeet Kaur, Isabel C. Jaramillo, Raziye Mohammadpour, Anne Sturrock, Hamidreza Ghandehari, Christopher Reilly, Robert Paine & Kerry E. Kelly

Lambert, Andrew | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences | Advisor: Gannet Hallar

• Theme: Air Quality
• “Trends in Smoke and Dust: Bad News for Your Lungs”
• Authors: Andrew Lambert, Gannet hallar, Maria Garcia, Jenny Hand, Elisabeth Andrews

Lerback, Jory | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Geology & Geophysics | Advisor: Brenda Bowen

• Theme: Water
• “Characterization of aridland springs and transience of the socio-hydrologic system in the Sierra de la Giganta mountains of Baja California Sur, Mexico”
• Authors: Jory Lerback, Brenda Bowen, Shane Macfarlan

Li, Xia | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences | Advisor: Steven Krueger

• Theme: Climate Change
• “Effects of Midwinter Arctic Leads on Boundary Layer Clouds”
• Authors: Xia Li, Steven Krueger, Courtenay Strong, Gerald Mace, Sally Benson

Li, Jiada | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Steven Burian

• Theme: Water
• “Comparing Effects of the Precipitation and Landscape Imperviousness on Urban Flooding: Implications of Designing Drainages in Response to Changing Conditions”
• Authors: Jiada Li, Steven Burian, Zachary J. Bortolot

Marthi, Rajashekhar | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Metallurgical Engineering | Advisor: York Smith

• Theme: Energy
• “Selective Lithium Concentration from brines using Hydrothermally Treated Titania Slag ”
• Authors: Rajashekhar Marthi, York R. Smith

Maxeiner, Philip-Peter | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Geology & Geophysics | Advisor: Kathleen Ritterbush

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Microfacies of Marine Paleoecological State-Shifts around the End-Triassic Mass Extinction within the Pucará Group, Peru”
• Authors: Philip-Peter Maxeiner, Kathleen Ritterbush, Thure Cerling, Diego Fernandez, Frank Corsetti, Silvia Rosas, David Bottjer

McNay, David | College of Health, Parks, Recreation & Tourism | Advisor: Jeff Rose

• Theme: Nature & Culture
• “Social and Spatial Dimensions of Recreation User Activity at Little Dell Reservoir, Salt Lake City, Utah”
• Authors: McNay, G. David, Hicks, Russell, Rose, Jeff

Mirzapour, Omid | College of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering | Advisor: Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani

• Theme: Energy
• “Stochastic Transmission Impedance Control Considering Carbon Emissions”
• Authors: Omid Mirzapour, Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani

Mohammadi, Farshad | College of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering | Advisor: Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani

• Theme: Water
• “Cost-Benefit Analysis of Desalination: A Power Market Opportunity”
• Authors: Farshad Mohammadi, Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani

Morrison, Travis | College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | Advisor: Eric Pardyjak

• Theme: Climate Change
• “The Role of Horizontal Advection and Vertical Flux Divergence on the Temperature Tendency Equation”
• Authors: Travis Morrison, Marc Calaf, Stephen Drake, Chad Higgins, Alexei Perelet, Eric Pardyjak

Mullen, Casey | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Sociology | Advisor: Sara Grineski

• Theme: Air Quality
• “Patterns of distributive environmental inequity under different PM2.5 air pollution scenarios for Salt Lake County public schools”
• Authors: Casey Mullen, Sara Grineski, Timothy Collins, Wei Xing, Kerry Kelly, Ross Whitaker, Tofigh Sayahi, Tom Becnel, Pascal Goffin, Pierre Gaillardon, and Miriah Meyer

Neate-Clegg, Monte | College of Science, Biology | Advisor: Cagan Sekercioglu

• Theme: Climate Change
• “Elevational shifts in an Afrotropical bird community: a 39-year resurvey”
• Authors: Monte Neate-Clegg, Simon Stuart, Cagan Sekercioglu & William Newmark

O'Brien, Kaedan | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Anthropology | Advisor: J. Tyler Faith

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Evolutionary and ecological overview of Equidae from the early Pleistocene of East Turkana”
• Authors: Kaedan O’Brien and J. Tyler Faith

Olds, Baylee | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Geology & Geophysics | Advisor: Peter Lippert

• Theme: Air Quality
• “A yearlong study in air quality: the correlation between the magnetization of evergreen needles and particulate matter concentration”
• Authors: Baylee Olds, Grant Rea-Downing

Parks, Melissa | College of Humanities, Communication | Advisor: Robin Jensen

• Theme: Nature & Culture
• “Tracing a Discursive Term: An Ecological Explication of the More-than-Human Construct”
• Authors: Melissa M. Parks

Pinegar, Haruka | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Metallurgical Engineering | Advisor: York Smith

• Theme: Energy
• “Recycling of Waste Lithium-Ion Batteries by Mechanical Methods and Thermal Reduction Treatment”
• Authors: Haruka Pinegar, York R. Smith

Post, Emily | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Anthropology | Advisor: Shane Macfarlan

• Theme: Justice, Equity & Diversity
• “Tracking Cross Cultural Gender Bias in Reputations”
• Authors: Emily R. Post, Shane J. Macfarlan, PhD

Rapp, Christopher | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences | Advisor: Gannet Hallar

• Theme: Air Quality
• “Utah Winter Fine Particulate Study: A Statistical Overview”
• Authors: Christopher Rapp, Gannet Hallar

Razaulla, Talha | College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | Advisor: Roseanne Warren

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Nanoparticle Thin-Film Coatings via Liquid Phase Atomic Layer Deposition (LPALD)”
• Authors: Talha Razaulla, Misha Bekeris, Roseanne Warren

Renault, Matthieu | College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | Advisor: Eric Pardyjak

• Theme: Energy
• “High-resolution modeling of heterogeneous land-surface features and their impacts on pollution dispersion, wildfire spread and renewable-energy availability”
• Authors: Matthieu Renault, Eric Pardyjak, Rob Stoll

Rubio, Ricardo | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Sociology | Advisor: Sara Grineski

• Theme: Justice, Equity & Diversity
• “Social disparities in children’s exposure to on-road air pollution in the United States: An intersectional approach to studying race/ethnicity and language-based environmental injustices”
• Authors: Ricardo Rubio, Sara Grineski, Timothy Collins 

Rui, Xinyang | College of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering | Advisor: Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani

• Theme: Energy
• “Stochastic Unit Commitment Under Renewable Generation Uncertainties Considering Optimal FACTS Operation”
• Authors: Xinyang Rui, Mostafa Sahraei-Ardakani

Sahulka, Sierra | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Ramesh Goel

• Theme: Water
• “Fate and Transport of Antibiotic-Resistant Waterborne Pathogens in a Drinking Water Distribution System in Hyderabad, Pakistan”
• Authors: Sierra Quinn Sahulka; Dr. Ramesh Goel; Dr. Jennifer Weidhaas

Stein, Nathaniel | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Ramesh Goel

• Theme: Water
• “Biological degradation of munitions wastewater containing mixture of legacy and insensitive munitions using aerobic and anaerobic granular sludge reactors”
• Authors: Nathaniel Stein, Aditi Podder, Jennifer Lee Weidhaas, Ramesh Goel

Stott, Jerry | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Political Science | Advisor: Hanseup Kim

• Theme: Energy
• “Low-cost ultra-low-power chemical sensor for early detection of invasive parasitic weeds and herbivores in biofuel crops”
• Authors: Kyeongheon Kim, Shakir Ul Khan, Aishwaryadev Banerjee, Justin Salvant, Shuai Chen, Sayali Tope, Sang Truong, Joseph Edward Lyman, Esther Kim, Jerry Michael Stott, Ashrafuzzaman Bulbul, Seungbeom Noh, Ling Zang, Mingyue Ji, Carlos Mastrangelo, James Schnable, Hanseup Kim

Stott, Jerry | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Political Science | Advisor: Juliet Carlisle

• Theme: Water
• “Improving Urban Water Management by Bridging the Digital Divide between Urban Farmers and Soil Sensing”
• Authors: Juliet Carlisle, Hanseup Kim, Steven Burain, Jerry Michael Stott, Kyeong Heon Kim, Daniyal Hassan, Joseph Edward Lyman, Esther Kim, Nate Kennington, Ashraf Bulbul

Su, Juhn-Yuan | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Michael Barber

• Theme: Water
• “Modeling Framework for Assessing Water Quantity and Quality Impacts under Population Growth and Climate Change in a Semi-Arid Mountainous and Urbanized Watershed”
• Authors: Juhn-Yuan Su, Mohammad Hasan, Nicholas von Stackelberg, Debolina Banerjee, Mohammad Imran

Tran, Dana | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Jennifer Weidhaas

• Theme: Water
• “Improving Sustainable Munitions Wastewater Treatment”
• Authors: Dana Tran, Saru Poudel Acharya, Dr. Jennifer Weidhaas 

Tremble, Keaton | College of Science, Biology | Advisor: Bryn Dentinger

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Utilizing global population genomics of the porcini mushroom to identify instances of local adaptation”
• Authors: Keaton Tremble, Bryn Dentinger

Uehling, Bryce | College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | Advisor: Roseanne Warren

• Theme: Energy
• “Life Cycle Analysis”
• Authors: Bryce Uehling, Micheal Lybbert, Roseanne Warren

Velásquez-Franco, Susana | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Geography | Advisor: Mitchell Power

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Listening to the lagoon: biodiversity legacies from conflict zones to improve tropical forest environmental management.”
• Authors: Susana Velásquez-Franco & Mitchell Power

Vernon, Kenneth | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Anthropology | Advisor: Brian Codding

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Modeling Habitat Suitability for Fremont Farmers on the Wasatch Front”
• Authors: Kenneth Vernon, Roxanne Lamson, Brian Codding

Wagner, Courtney | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Geology & Geophysics | Advisor: Peter Lippert

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “FORC-PCA on Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum Sediments from Wilson Lake, New Jersey ”
• Authors: Courtney Wagner, Ioan Lascu, Peter Lippert

Wideman, Isabell | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Olivia Calvillo

• Theme: Built Environment & Communities
• “Less Light for Bird Flight: Making Salt Lake City’s Skies Darker – and Safer – for Migratory Birds”
• Authors: Isabell Wideman, Lucila Fernandez, Cooper Farr

Wolf, Meg | College of Mines & Earth Sciences, Geology & Geophysics | Advisor: Paul Brooks

• Theme: Water
• “Snowmelt runoff efficiency mediated through multi-year climatic controls on groundwater recharge in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah, USA.”
• Authors: Meg Wolf, Andrew Gelderloos, Courtenay Strong, Logan Jamison, D. Kip Solomon, Paul D. Brooks

Yaworsky, Peter | College of Social & Behavioral Science, Anthropology | Advisor: Brian Codding

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Risk Mitigation in a Changing Environment: A Subsistence Farmer Perspective”
• Authors: Peter M. Yaworsky

Yoo, Taehyun | College of Architecture + Planning, Multi-Disciplinary Design Program | Advisor: Siosifa Tonga

• Theme: Water
• “Water Use and Waste”
• Authors: Taehyun Yoo

Zebelean, Dani | College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering | Advisor: Jennifer Weidhaas

• Theme: Water
• “Biomineralization of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one For Sustainable Regeneration of Ion Exchange Resins”
• Authors: Danielle Zebelean, Jennifer Weidhaas, Ramesh Goel

We have invited participation from students in the Geopaths program, which serves as a bridge between Salt Lake Community College and the  UU to develop and recruit great environmental science students. These students are working with GCSC-affiliates to conduct place-based research within the Wasatch Environmental Observatory network.

Ashurst-McGee, Logan | Salt Lake Community College | Advisor: Christopher Johnson

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Mine Waste in Cardiff Trail Area; Alta, UT”
• Authors: Logan Ashurst-McGee, Lily Wetterlin, Hannah McIlwain, Christopher Johnson

Bogart, Sedi | Salt Lake Community College | Advisor: Christopher Johnson

• Theme: Water
• “High-resolution Spacial Sampling for total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen and temperature in the Jordan River, Salt Lake City, Utah”
• Authors: Sedi Bogart, Alesha Rivera, Mallory Scofield, Jasmine Garcia, Lily Wetterlin, Hannah McIlwain, Chris Johnson

Cowgill, Ethan | Salt Lake Community College | Advisor: Christopher Johnson

• Theme: Water
• “Spatial Analysis of Dissolved Cadmium, Zinc, and Copper in the Impaired Little Cottonwood Creek, Utah”
• Authors: Ethan Cowgill , Brooke Garza, Lily Wetterlin Christopher Johnson

Culbertson, Adam| Salt Lake Community College | Advisor: Christopher Johnson

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “Effectiveness of Beaver Dam Analogs as a Restoration Strategy to Mitigate Increased Water Temperatures and Decreased Dissolved Oxygen”
• Authors: Adam Culbertson, Chris Johnson, Lily Wetterlin, Andrew Potter

Weed, Natalie | Salt Lake Community College | Advisor: Christopher Johnson

• Theme: Ecological & Environmental Change
• “LiDAR Identification of Landslides in Cache County”
• Authors: Ryan Taggart, Natalie Weed