Grace Payne Email and Phone Number

Working with Professor Luis Alvarez-Leon, I am conducting preliminary research on the top companies in various parts of the Electric and Autonomous Industry. Specifically, I am analyzing semiconductors, software companies, and advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) to evaluate geopolitical tensions on supply chains within the EAV sector. This project was recently approved as a Presidential Scholar Research Project for the Fall and Winter of the next academic school year (24-25).

I am working under Dr. Xun Shi in the Geography Department to research chemicals that potentially correlate to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) disease in the state of Ohio. I am the lead undergraduate researcher on the geospatial team, in charge of aiding and instructing two to three other RA's. Primarily, I conduct analysis using data from the EPA's AERMOD air dispersion model and manipulate it in ArcGIS Pro through coordinate systems, georeferencing, and raster calculator tools. Then, using a moving window analysis, results are produced that capture odds ratios for varying population density windows and migration history windows and visualized to determine if a chemical has a negative or positive correlation.

As a UGA, my focus is on fostering wellness, safety, and a strong sense of community among my twenty-five first year residents. I'm dedicated to responding to crises, offering individual support, and contributing to a peaceful living space by aiding the development of conflict resolution.

I redesigned Dartmouth's GEOG 55 Course: Critical Analysis in GIS. This involved creating new homework assignments in RStudio, developing the course's Github Repository, and reading the latest academia on teaching Geocomputation. Additionally, I found connections between cultural contexts of GIS in papers and the language of R, bridging the gap between the technicalities of GIS and political/cultural geography. Lastly, I offered feedback on topics for further restructuring.

As a student facilitator for the SVPP Sessions, I play a role in creating a safe community for all of Dartmouth. I lead interactive First-Year Sessions on a weekly basis, handle sensitive topics with empathy, and continue to develop a deeper understanding of content related to sexual violence prevention and power dynamics. The content covered in sessions ranges from educating incoming freshman on resources (including Title IX, Counseling Services, and Responsible Employees) to offering advice on creating healthy relationships and practicing effective bystander intervention.

I created engaging curriculum plans, daily, for a group of children ages four to six that were both educational and exciting. For example, I facilitated nature hikes and immersive hands-on animal enrichment activities to spark curiosity in wildlife. I also developed more experience in conflict resolution by providing campers a safe place to disclose emotions and solve problems with adult supervision.

I was a resource to customers by regularly providing advice on plant selection and care techniques. During the peak summer season, I handled over 200+ customer sales a day. I also ensured the quality of produce when packaging pallets of vegetables for grocery shipments.