News

I presented “Bridging Gaps in Water Quality Monitoring: Opportunities and Limitations of Community-Based Approaches” during the U.S. EPA’s quarterly Recreational Water Quality call. The talk focused on how community-based monitoring can help fill water quality data gaps while recognizing the technical, socioeconomic, and practical barriers that can limit its effectiveness.

I was honored to represent NC State during Graduate Education Day at the North Carolina General Assembly as a graduate student ambassador. The event provided an opportunity to engage with state legislators and highlight the impact of graduate research, innovation, and higher education across North Carolina.

Awarded the NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher Award at the 2026 CALS Celebration of Excellence for my research focused on improving water quality modeling and better informing management decisions.

My poster titled “Nutrient Monitoring in Surface Waters of Agriculturally-intensive Regions of the U.S.: Current Status and Needs for” was awarded second place in the Environmental Sciences category at the 19th Annual NC State Graduate Student Research Symposium. 

The poster highlights key findings from Oates et al. (2024) and preliminary results from my second dissertation chapter.

My article, "Surface Waters in Socially Vulnerable Areas Are Disproportionately Under-Monitored for Nutrients in the U.S. South Atlantic-Gulf Region", was featured in Scienmag. The piece highlights key findings from my research on nutrient monitoring disparities. Read the coverage here.

Had the opportunity to give a webinar on monitoring phosphorus in the environment and ways to address monitoring gaps.

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and strength of the scientific and engineering workforce of the U.S. The NSF GRFP was established to recruit and support individuals who demonstrate potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. 

I received first place for my presentation, "Surface Water Nutrient Monitoring in Agriculturally-Intensive Regions of the U.S.: Current Status and Needs for Expansion", at the 2025 North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute Annual Conference.

• The talk detailed findings from "Effective Nutrient Management of Surface Waters in the United States Requires Expanded Water Quality Monitoring in Agriculturally Intensive Areas". 

My artwork was chosen for the cover of the January 15, 2025 issue of ACS Environmental Au. The illustration depicts contrasting approaches to nutrient water quality monitoring, highlighting differences between well-managed watersheds and agriculturally intensive areas that often remain unmonitored.

• "Effective Nutrient Management of Surface Waters in the United States Requires Expanded Water Quality Monitoring in Agriculturally Intensive Areas" is the accompanying article. 

I was named Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department for my work supporting BAE 200: Computer Methods in Biological Engineering.

The Global Change Research Fellows Program is designed to prepare the next generation of global change scientists by providing financial, scientific, and professional development support for graduate students who are interested in interdisciplinary research. 

The STEPS Center Director’s Fellowship supports graduate students pursuing innovative, cross-disciplinary research in phosphorus sustainability and will allow me to further my work on water quality monitoring and nutrient management in collaboration with researchers across multiple institutions.