Organizers

Main Contact

Please direct all communications to the conference steering committee via the below email address. Questions about participating in the conference as community panelists or subject matter experts are welcome!

  • Washtenaw Water Security Consensus Conference Organizers
  • water-security-cc@umich.edu

Research Team

  • Austin Shannon - I am a 1st year PhD student in the Microbiology and Immunology program here at UM. I am interested in studying viruses but have not settled into a lab yet. I am originally from Arizona and I received my Bachelors in Biomedical Science at Northern Arizona University.
  • Enrique Rodriguez - I am a 3rd year Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. My research focus is assessing the chemical risks involved with converting source-separated urine into a sustainable fertilizer.
  • Christie Rodríguez-Ramírez - I am a 5th year PhD Candidate in the Cancer Biology Program, studying the role of p53 in regulating the cell fate of salivary gland cancer stem cells in the laboratory of Jacques Nör.
  • Allison Furgal - I am a 4th year Ph.D. Candidate in Biostatistics. I research methods for joint models of longitudinal and competing risks survival data with applications in cancer studies.

Recruitment Team

  • Amanda Erwin - I am a fifth year PhD candidate in the University of Michigan Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. For my thesis research, I use electron microscopes to study the structure of bacterial toxins with the goal of understanding how these toxins contribute to pathogenesis.

Steering Committee

Nocona Sanders

I’m a third-year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering as well as the Science, Technology, and Public Policy program. In my research I use computational tools to investigate two-dimensional electronic materials, with a goal of finding new materials for energy efficient, non-toxic LEDs. I’m also interested in energy and environmental policy, finding solutions that balance scientific evidence, economic feasibility, and social sustainability.

Sarah Cusson

I'm a fifth-year PhD candidate in Aerospace Engineering. My research focuses on advanced electric propulsion for deep space missions with the goal of scaling these devices to higher powers and longer lifetimes. I'm also very interested in science policy and science communication to make sure we are making informed solutions based on scientific merit.

Joseph Paki

I'm a PhD student in Physics and the Science and Technology Public Policy program. My research involves using powerful computers to study the properties of exotic materials, like high temperature superconductors, for use in future technologies. I'm also interested in efforts to center community needs and perspectives in policy making when adopting new technologies and research programs.