Academic 

University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO      Fall 2009 - present 

Chancellor’s Fellow for Research, Engineering for Developing Communities Program 

Department of Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering (PhD, expected May 2014) 

Research topics: appropriate technologies in water resources, low-cost adsorbents (e.g. biochar/charcoal) 

for water treatment, water treatment and eco-sanitation for developing communities. 

University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA       Fall 2001 – Spring 2005 

Masters of Science in environmental biogeochemistry (May 2005) 

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, Department of Earth & Planetary Science 

Research topics: environmental biogeochemistry, soil science, geomicrobiology, mineralogy 

Other topics of study: environmental philosophy and ethics, political economy of energy, ecological 

economics and sustainability science. 

Franciscan School of Theology – Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA   January 2004 

Intensive course participant: “Liberating Nonviolence.” Topics of study: religion and social justice,  

nonviolence theory and praxis, liberation theology, eco-spirituality, religion and environment. 

Universidad de las Americas, Cholula, Mexico       Spring 1998 

Topics of study: Spanish language, Mexican literature, photography. 

Clemson University, Clemson, SC        Fall 1995 - Dec. 2000 

With Honors, Summa Cum Laude 

Bachelor of Science in chemistry, minor in environmental engineering (December 2000) 

Research in electron transfer rate kinetics and methods of chemical analysis. 

Non-formal, extra-curricular, and “practical” education 

Introductory Machine Shop and Shop Safety, Physics Trades Teaching Laboratory, CU-Boulder     February 2011
Trained in basic machining equipment, materials and techniques, fabrication skills, safety protocols.

Introductory Welding and Welding Safety, Physics Trades Teaching Laboratory, CU-Boulder     October 2010
Trained in basic welding equipment, materials and techniques, fabrication skills, safety protocols.
 

The Ashevillage Institute, Asheville, North Carolina, USA     April 2008 

Workshop leader and participant in Residential Rainwater and Greywater Harvesting Workshop. 

Panya Sustainable Living Project, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand    November 2007 

Permaculture Design Course particpant. 

International Society for Ecology and Culture, Ladakh, India     August – Sept. 2007 

Learning From Ladakh Farm Project. Cultural immersion with Ladakhi family; participated  

in farming, household and community work; attended workshops on globalization, development,  

sustainability and economic localization at the Women’s Alliance of Ladakh. 

Pun Pun Organic Farm & Sustainable Development Center, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand Dec 2006 – March 2007 

Farm intern, activities included: organic gardening, seed saving and food crop biodiversity  

conservation; natural building (e.g. adobe, cob, bamboo, timber framing and carpentry), appropriate 

technologies development (e.g. solar, micro-hydro, biomass energies; water resources, eco-sanitation). 

Lost Valley Intentional Community and Educational Center, Dexter, OR   October 2006 

Permaculture Design Certification Program with emphasis on sustainable community development. 

Landmark Education, San Francisco, CA       April – August 2006 

Landmark Forum; Landmark seminar series: “Being Extraordinary”; Landmark Advanced Course.

California Straw Building Association, Yorkville, CA     June 2006 

Weekend intensive workshop on straw bale building—participant and production support. 

Building Education Center, Berkeley, CA   Alternative building materials short-course: straw bale and cob.