The Interfaces of Global Change Welcomes Its Newest PhD Fellows!

January 15, 2025

The Interfaces of Global Change IGEP is excited to introduce fifteen new Ph.D. Fellows, including our Diversity Fellows and REH T32 Trainees starting this spring 2025. This diverse cohort represents seven departments across four colleges at Virginia Tech, reflecting the interdisciplinary spirit of the Global Change Center. Join us in extending a warm welcome to the newest cohort of Fellows!

Erin Crone

Biological Sciences

Working with Dr. Meryl Mims

Research Interests: Biodiversity; climate change; species vulnerability; conservation prioritization

Sameer Dhakal

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Working with Dr. Landon Marston

Research Interests: Human-water systems; water governance; socio-hydrology; agent-based modeling

Dominique Edwards

Biological Sciences

Working with Dr. Cayelan Carey

Research Interests: Aquatic ecology; macrophytes; greenhouse gases; drinking water quality

Ying-Xian Goh

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Working with Dr. Jingqiu Liao

Research Interests: Ecology and evolution of foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in the environment.

Natalie Hermosillo

Geosciences

Working with Dr. Benjamin Gill

Research Interests: Biogeochemistry; paleoceanography; environmental health; climate change

Nivedita Kamaraj

Geosciences

Working with Dr. Manoochehr Shirzaei

Research Interests: Remote sensing of water quality; eutrophication assessment; detecting phytoplankton community composition; geospatial data analysis

Sadia Afrin Khan

Biological Systems Engineering

Working with Dr. Jonathan Czuba

Research Interests: Sediment transport; river engineering and hydraulics; complex river network connectivity and modeling

Emily Matthews

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Working with Dr. Ryan Calder

Research Interests: Public health; environmental health and policy making; environmental modeling; long-range impacts of environmental hazards and interventions

Harrison Miles

Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Working with Dr. Carrie Fearer

Research Interests: Invasive species; forest health; microbial ecology; interaction of culture and science

James Moloney

Biochemistry

Working with Dr. Chloé Lahondère

Research Interests: Plant and insect interactions; insect olfaction; disease vector insect biocontrol

Benedicta Ada Ottairoegbu

Biological Sciences

Working with Dr. Susan Whitehead

Research Interests: Plant adaptation to rapid environmental changes

Maria Popescu

Biological Sciences

Working with Dr. Cayelan Carey

Research Interests: Freshwater ecology; phytoplankton and biogeochemistry; forecasting; climate change

Reyhane Rastgoo

Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Working with Dr. Ashley Dayer

Research Interests: Quantitative and qualitative social research; conservation social science; human-wildlife interactions; human dimensions of wildlife

Carly Sear

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Working with Dr. Alasdair Cohen and Dr. Landon Marston

Research Interests: Drinking water quality; the intersection of environmental and public health; environmental justice; adapting to and mitigating challenges from climate change