Rachel Schaefer Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, Ma, Us

•Developing integrated spatial site selection and machine learning models to predict the growth and survival of seagrass in National Seashores and more broadly on the East Coast of the USA under different sea surface temperature increase projections. Results will be used to inform National Park Service strategies to restore seagrass meadows (including assisted gene flow).

•In collaboration with university and US EPA ecologists and biologists, planned and carried out field experiments to study correlations between spatial heterogeneity in sediment organic carbon storage with spatial heterogeneity in hydrodynamic intensity across seagrass meadows in Massachusetts, USA.•Applied computer vision methods and percolation theory to historical aerial and satellite imagery to connect spatiotemporal changes in vegetation coverage with spatial variations in sediment organic carbon content in a patchy seagrass meadow, which highlighted the vulnerability of organic carbon reservoirs beneath seagrass meadows.•Designed and conducted laboratory flume experiments to measure, analyze, and model the flow structure, plant-generated hydrodynamic turbulence, and wave damping within a physically scaled seagrass meadow. Demonstrated the importance of considering the relative influences of currents and waves on the motion of flexible plants.•Adapted a numerical model that can simulate the motion of a flexible flat plate to complement laboratory experiments, providing potential insights into the design of flexible biomimetic structures.•Currently conducting collaborative field experiments that aim to compare different methods of quantifying an ecosystem carbon budget in a tidal seagrass meadow, including eddy covariance measurements of oxygen and hydrogen fluxes as well as seagrass growth rate measurements.•Currently synthesizing results from laboratory and field experiments into recommendations for improving methodologies for assessing greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential and awarding carbon credits for seagrass restoration projects.•Published 4 first-author or co-first-author peer-reviewed publications, with 2 more in the review and submission processes. Presented results to a wide range of audiences at conferences and workshops.

•Designed and carried out Honors senior thesis project that measured and analyzed the relative impacts of wind- and ship-generated waves on Pea Patch Island, an important bird nesting ground and historical site in the Delaware River, and the vegetation-induced attenuation of these waves. Presented results to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Results led to two graduate-level projects, a peer-reviewed publication, and ongoing work in advisor’s group with the United States Army Corps of Engineers on designing and implementing living shorelines in Delaware.•Assisted in fieldwork for two experiments at Bethany Beach, Delaware which probed methods of the rapid deployment of sensors to assess impacts of winter storms on beach morphology.•Assisted in fieldwork for an experiment on Wallops Island, Virginia that investigated the mobility and burial of unexploded munitions on beaches by using instrumented surrogate munitions.

Newark, Delaware

•Collaborated with a mechanical engineering undergraduate student and professors, along with engineers at the Delaware River and Bay Authority, to develop a device to harvest energy released when the Delaware Memorial Bridge vibrates, as well as analyze placement of micro wind turbines on the Delaware Memorial Bridge and solar panel mounting options. The collected energy would be used to power the Delaware Memorial Bridge lighting and nearby facilities.•Collected accelerometer data on the Delaware Memorial Bridge and analyzed data using Microsoft Excel and MATLAB.•Analyzed and extrapolated anemometer data on the Delaware Memorial Bridge to evaluate micro wind turbine options.•Worked with a professor to derive a mathematical model representing vibrational energy transfer in an electromagnetic transducer, in order to optimize design parameters for prototyping and testing.

Newark, Delaware

•Lead weekly general chemistry problem solving sections of approximately 20 students•Prepared study materials for general chemistry students•Evaluated post-laboratory reports

Newark, Delaware

•Gathered traffic volume data at intersections in the Newark, Delaware area during peak hours to improve signal timings and reduce congestion.•Analyzed collected traffic data according to Delaware Department of Transportation standards.

Sm/Phd, Civil And Environmental Engineering

Environmental fluid mechanics

Bachelor Of Engineering - Be, Civil Engineering

Activities and Societies: Engineers Without Borders University of Delaware (Treasurer), Tau Beta PiUniversity of Delaware Honors Program.