Kristen Downs, Phd Email & Phone Number

Chapel Hill, NC, US

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Apex, North Carolina, United States

Volunteer position (part-time)As Director of Climate and Water, I am scoping out the feasibility of creating an experiential learning/field study site in Palau that can highlight Palau's natural and cultural resources to support local, regional, and international learners. We are very interested in and open to discussing potential partnerships, needs and.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

• Managed data and developed data visualizations on water affordability and environmental justice in R and Tableau. Designed and conducted 3 user studies (2 focus groups: virtual and in-person; 1 in-person interview).
• Managed the execution of two water and wastewater rates dashboards (national and state). Supervised students collecting information on rates and financials, engaged with client, performed QA/QC on data and created.
• Provided technical assistance to water and wastewater utility clients on environmental finance topics.
• Taught and led 7 in-person and virtual trainings on multiple environmental finance and management topics.

Chapel Hill, NC

• Dissertation: Modeling Precipitation, Acute Gastrointestinal Illness, and Environmental Factors in North Carolina, USA
• Conceptualized and designed doctoral dissertation research to investigate the relationship between emergency department cases of acute gastrointestinal illness in North Carolina (2008-2015) and antecedent weather.
• Modeling the sensitivity of these relationships to socioeconomic and environmental characteristics under different model specifications and exposure definitions using R and ArcGIS.
• Selected Coursework: Microeconomics I, Econometrics, Microeconometrics (panel data analysis), Analysis of Categorical Data, Public Investment Theory, Program Evaluation in Environmental Policies, Water and Sanitation.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

• Developed a valuation plan and metrics to track progress, demonstrate, and report on the value of the IoW.
• Wrote 3 data stories, which included background interviews with water professionals and the development of graphics and data visualization elements (R, Lucidchart).
• Participated in steering committee meetings and investigated and customized online forum technology platforms to support and develop IoW peer-to-peer networks for state agencies and water/wastewater utilities.
• Provided planning, logistical, and programmatic support for pilot projects, workshops, stakeholder meetings, and board meetings. Stakeholder engagement included representatives from federal agencies, state agencies.

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

• Project: Implemented the participatory Vulnerability, Consequences, and Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) process in Nags Head, NC to increase the barrier island’s resilience to sea level rise in the next 30+ years.
• Collaborated with NC Sea Grant staff and interns to customize the VCAPS process and content to Nags Head, based on a review of their town land use and infrastructure plans, and participated the VCAPS town meeting as a.
• Co-developed an interview script designed to elicit feedback on planning processes, past experiences, perceived vulnerabilities, and adaptation strategies to coastal hazards from 25-30 community stakeholders.
• Conducted 3 interviews and took notes for 5 interviews with community members and staff.Project: Identifying weather- and climate-sensitive decisions in coastal North Carolina communities.
• Co-developed a semi-structured interview script coastal stakeholders (individual fishermen) to learn about the influence of weather and climate on their decisions.
• Created a customized map of the North Carolina coast in ArcGIS 10.0 to use as a participatory tool to elicit spatially-referenced activities of fishermen during interviews.

Sparks Glencoe, Maryland, United States

• Environmental Engineering Intern in Site Characterization and Remediation. Developed 3D model of groundwater contaminant plume. Experience using ArcView, Environmental Visualization Software (EVS), and Microsoft.
• Calculated the steady state mass flux estimates of contaminants from the site into the bay.
• Created stratigraphic cross-sections between offshore boreholes using RockWorks 14.Project: Visualization of a trichloroethylene (TCE) plume for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control.
• Performed data quality control and developed a Microsoft Access database of contaminant data.
• Created a 3D model of a groundwater TCE plume using Environmental Visualization Software and ArcView GIS.

Nyeri, Kenya

• Science and Math High School Teacher (US Peace Corps Kenya)
• Taught five classes of physics (grades 9 and 10), chemistry (grade 10), and math (grades 9 and 10) to Kenyan high schoolers with limited English skills, in a rural district school of ~140 students in Nyeri district.
• Supervised 10 students in five project teams that competed in the Regional Science Congress. Taught students the scientific method and its application to their project.
• Launched a new student health club to address issues related to HIV/AIDS.
• Served as the Central Regional Representative of the Peace Corps AIDS Resource Committee (ARC).
• Learned basic, conversational Kiswahili.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Environmental Sciences & Engineering

Activities and Societies: Frank Porter Graham Graduate and Professional Honor Society Inductee, UNC-Chapel Hill (2021) Dissertation.

Masters Of Science, Geography And Environmental Engineering

Activities and Societies: Graduate Advisor for JHU Engineers Without Borders Social Team Leader and Team Member for South Africa Team for.

Bs, Chemistry (Summa Cum Laude), French (Minor), 3.92

Activities and Societies: Resident Assistant, Golden Key International, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, Florida Alternative Breaks, Gator.

Graduate Fellowship