Kelsey Bilsback Email & Phone Number

Golden, Co, Us

Golden, Colorado, United States

My research uses modeling tools to quantify the air quality, health, and equity impacts of energy policies and planning. Examples of my work include quantifying the indoor and outdoor air quality impacts of methane leaks from the oil and gas sector and evaluating the health and equity impacts of utilities’ energy production portfolios.

Fort Collins, Colorado Area

Modeling & Data Analysis:I utilized and contributed to the GEOS-Chem-TOMAS model (a global chemical-transport model with online aerosol microphysics) to evaluate the health and climate impacts of several international air-pollution-control policies. I investigated the residential heating coal-to-electricity transition currently being implemented in Beijing, and I investigated several international policies for cargo ships. I validated and interpreted the model output using statistical methods and extensive datasets collected from air pollution monitors located across the world.Software:I used our Linux cluster to run GEOS-Chem-TOMAS (written in FORTRAN) and Git for model version control tracking. The model outputs large multi-dimensional datasets (housed as netCDF files) that I post-processed and analyzed using Python and bash scripting. Other Skills:I received formal training on communicating with the public, the media, policymakers, and experts from different disciplines through the Sustainability Leadership Fellow program at CSU. I have helped mentor graduate students with their research, published research results in peer-reviewed scientific publications, and presented at conferences.

Fort Collins, Colorado Area

Field Emissions Testing: I participated in four three-week field campaigns (Chennai, India; Kampala, Uganda; La Esperanza, Honduras; Gu’an China) to characterize the climate and health-relevant properties of smoke from solid-fuel cookstoves using a custom-built portable air pollution sampler. At each site, I took day-long emissions measurements from solid-fuel cookstoves in ~10 homes and installed low-cost temperature sensors on stoves in ~30 additional homes.Laboratory Emissions Testing: I developed a novel laboratory testing protocol designed to characterize smoke from solid-fuel cookstoves in a laboratory setting comprehensively. I designed and executed large-scale laboratory-based studies to measure the climate and health-relevant properties of smoke emitted by various stove technologies. Gas and aerosol measurements included: fine particulate matter (PM2.5), CO, CO2, ions, carbonyls, volatile organic carbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon, particle scattering, and absorption, and particle size distribution.Data Analysis & Software:I compiled and conducted descriptive analysis of large datasets from laboratory- and field-based experiments (in R and MATLAB). I developed statistical models and used Akaike information criterion (AIC) selection to infer, which cookstove operating parameters best correlate with emissions. I also conducted a correlation analysis to infer whether PM2.5 and CO can be used as proxies for other health-relevant emissions.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Physics

Spring Semester 2012