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WSSS Alumni

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Christine Ash

	Christine Ash Graduate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2008 Advisors John Durant, Doug Brugge, Wig Zamore (Mystic View Task Force) Thesis Spatial distribution of vehicular air pollutants in the air near highways
Two highway transects in Somerville, MA were monitored via a mobile laboratory for several air pollutants, including PAHs, NOx, CO, CO2, SOx, and analyzed spatially and temporally to determine their distribution in the air. Post-Graduation Employer and Position Environmental Engineer at Environmental Protection Agency

	Negin Ashoori School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2012 Advisor Elena Naumova, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Interests Water consumption patterns and enteric infection transmission in rural and urban settings of Vellore, India Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2011 TIE Graduate Student Fellowship, 2011

	Melissa Bailey Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food and Environment Program Degree and Year of Graduation PhD, 2011 Advisors Parke Wilde (Chair), Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Timothy Griffin, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Agriculture, Food and Environment Program
Kent Portney, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Political Science Dissertation Livestock Production and Water Quality: An Analysis of Politics and Implementation of USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program This dissertation project seeks to understand the role of EQIP in promoting sustainable or unsustainable livestock production with a focus on water quality and manure management issues. Coupling qualitative and quantitative methods from political and environmental science, this project will analyze the interest groups politics that shaped EQIP program priorities, evaluate whether EQIP is meeting water quality goals set by federal policy and create a framework on what factors or characteristics of livestock operations are most critical to sustainability. This framework will be used to test the hypothesis that EQIP priorities are, in some cases, failing to meet sustainability goals. Publications • Bailey, M. & Merrigan, K. (2010). "Rating Sustainability: An Opinion Survey of National Conservation Practices Funded Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)." Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 65(1): 21A-25A. • Bailey, M. "Environmental Policy and Livestock Production: The Role of EQIP in Water Quality". Sponsored Panelist/Presenter. National Environmental Public Health Conference, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia (October 2009). Abstract published in Public Health Reports. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Part of multi-country team who conducted a transboundary watershed assessment in Mesoamerican Barrier Reef region, statistical software (SPSS, STATA, SAS), qualitative analysis software (NVIVO) and basic GIS

	Jeffrey Bate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2012 Advisor Rich Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Annette Huber-Lee, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Topic Applications of information economics in water resources management and planning. Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2011

	Heather Bell Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food, and the Environment Program Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisor Parke Wilde, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Primary Research Interests Community conflicts over water, agricultural water use, survey research

	Joshua Berkowitz Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2008 Advisors Julian Agyeman (UEP), Rusty Russell (UEP), Paul Kirshen (CEE) Thesis Environmental Equity Assessment of Combined Sewer Overflows in Mystic River Watershed
In my research, I sought to investigate the location of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in relation to community demographics within the Mystic River Watershed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and on the ground field work. This relationship has not been assessed in any comprehensive way to date and will help to determine if, and the extent to which, CSOs constitute an environmental justice violation in the communities of the watershed. Such findings are discussed and policy and planning implications are addressed. Other Project Titles Integrated assessment of the impacts of runoff on coastal water quality in the Bahamas Thesis Berkowitz, Joshua. Into the Mystic: Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and Community Demographics in the Mystic River Watershed: An Environmental Equity Analysis. MA UEP 2008. Advisors: Dr. Julian Agyeman, Dr. Rusty Russell, Dr. Paul Kirshen, Dr. Barbara Parmenter Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills Highly trained and experienced environmental policy and planning professional. Among other areas of expertise, I have experience in natural resource management, air, energy, climate, and water resources planning and policy, environmental and public policy analysis, GIS and spatial analysis, and community sustainability planning. In addition, I have extensive experience carrying out academic and policy research; regulatory and legislative analysis; policy advocacy planning and execution; financial and technical analysis and oversight; nonprofit and program fundraising and development; marketing and outreach communications planning; organizational and program strategic planning; and have extensive program, organizational and nonprofit management experience. I am also a highly trained and experienced mediator and facilitator with experience in high-level stakeholder dialogue and collaborative decision-making, specializing in environmental conflict and dispute resolution. Additionally, I am a proficient professional writer and editor, with experience writing and editing content for policy, technical and lay audiences. Software MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), MS Publisher, Adobe Creative Suite (Acrobat Professional, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver), ArcGIS, GPS, SPSS, QuickBooks, PeopleSoft, RefWorks, EndNote, All Internet applications and desktop email clients, PC and Mac proficiency. Language Conversational Spanish Post-Graduation Employer and Position Director and Project Manager at California Environmental Dialogue (CED) Read an extended interview with Joshua >>

	Racey Bingham Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food and Environment Program Degree and Year of Graduation MA/MS, 2007 Advisors Bill Moomaw, William Lockeretz
Thesis Bingham, Racey. Multiple Use Services: Meeting the Productive and Domestic Needs of the Rural Poor. MALD Fletcher, MS Friedman 2007. Advisors: Dr. Bill Moomaw, Dr. William Lockeretz This report uses a detailed household survey in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to answer the following questions: Does the net impact of productive water strengthen rural livelihoods and reduce poverty of rural households? If so, to what extent do productive uses of water form an important contribution to these livelihoods? Although the realization that the poor and water scarce distribute their water consumption across multiple activities is not a new, attempting to account for these various uses is. Estimating these incremental benefits and costs will help governments and non-governmental organizations value water systems appropriately, and can also inform the design of community water systems. Above all, if the balance of costs and benefits at the household level is known it will determine if multiple-use water services (MUS) are truly a superior approach to water resources development. Other Project Titles Integrated assessment of the impacts of runoff on coastal water quality in the Bahamas Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Dryland rural water resource management for agriculture, animal husbandry and drinking water; large-scale irrigation infrastructure works in central Mali for rice and vegetable production; urban water and sanitation infrastructure in Bangui, Central African Republic; small-scale watering systems for livestock and watershed protection in the Champlain Valley, NY. Languages: French, Arabic (Hassaniya), basic German, Spanish, Fulfulde (Pulaar), Bambara. Software: ArcGIS, Stata, AutoCAD Post-Graduation Employer and Position Operations Specialist, World Bank, Bangui, Central African Republic working primarily on urban water and sanitation infrastructure projects including emergency flood response infrastructure, boreholes, sewers and drainage Read an extended interview with Racey >>

	Benjamin Bornstein Graduate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS Environmental Health, 2009 Advisor Anne Marie Desmarais
Thesis An Evaluation of the Exposure Parameters and Possible Risks Posed to Human and Ecosystem Health Due to Fish Consumption from Areas of the Mystic River Watershed Recent data collected by certain environmental and health agencies suggests that various species of fish within sections of the Mystic River Watershed, MA, have high levels of toxicity. The three most commonly found substances are DDT, chlordane, and PCBs. These compounds have been banned for years in the US but are persistent in the environment and can bioaccumulate to dangerously high levels, especially in the tissues of higher trophic-level organisms. Anecdotal evidence indicates that many community members, especially from certain environmental justice and ethnic populations, may be relying on Mystic-caught fish as a common source of food. These substances are known to cause detrimental effects on human and animal health after high or prolonged exposure. Through my research I hope to gain insight as to the level of risk the contaminated fish pose to humans that consume them, and what sort of long term implications contaminated water and sediments may have on the ecosystem. I will also try to determine exposure statistics for people that consume toxic fish, and try to assess if state advisories are appropriate and having the desired impact. Other Project Titles WSSS Practicum, Nassau, Bahamas Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages ArcGIS, Coastal Surveying, New England Ecosystems, Risk Assessment, Public Health, Geology, Spanish Post-Graduation Employer and Position Environmental Scientist at Eastern Research Group (ERG)

	Andrea Brown School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2012 Advisor Elena Naumova, School of Medicine, Public Health and Community Medicine
Primary Research Topic Transmission of diarrheal disease though the land surface: a comparison of rural and urban slum areas in southern India Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2011 TIE Graduate Student Fellowship, 2011

	Lauren Caputo School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisor Rich Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Paul Kirshen, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Interests My research project examines stormwater management strategies under a changing climate. With the acceptance that precipitation patterns change over time comes the reality that the "static design problem" no longer holds. How should we design stormwater management practices under a dynamic climate? Or more importantly, how should we retrofit stormwater management systems in urban areas that are already prone to flooding or have combined sewer overflows? I use the combined sewer system in Somerville, Massachusetts as a case study to explore the possibilities of LID control under different climate scenarios using EPA's SWMM software. Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2010

	Jeffrey Cegan School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisors Rich Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Paul Kirshen, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Interests Environmental surprises are bound to occur. Surprise is induced by uncertainty and chaos in environmental systems and exacerbated by anthropogenic attempts to gain control over these systems. I am interested in the concept of surprise and its role in water resources management. In particular, I focus on the connection between surprise and resilience. I explore methods in which integrated adaptive management and critical thinking embrace uncertainty and absorb surprise impacts, and explain how regional preparedness is critical to mitigate adverse effects of climate-induced surprises. Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2010

	Katie Cerretani Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food and Environment Program Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2009 Advisors Willie Lockeretz, Kathleen Merrigan Primary Research Topic Urban agriculture and water reclamation/reuse
Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages 3 yrs working on compliance end of USAID- and USDA- funded food aid programs, some proposal writing; spanish Post-Graduation Employer and Position Presidential Management Fellow at USDA Forest Service

	Sarah Coleman Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food and the Environment Program Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisor Jennifer Coates, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Primary Research Interests Regional food systems as a means to support environmental conservation, social justice, and health Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages WSSS Advisory Committee Member, 2010-2011

	Claudio Deola Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Development Economics and Human Security, International Environment and Natural Resource Policy Degree and Year of Graduation MAHA, 2011 Advisor Astier Almedom, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Jeffrey Griffiths, Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine
Primary Research Interests Water and Sanitation in Urban Humanitarian Crisis Summary of Research Deola, Claudia. Health Outcomes of Crisis-affected Urban Displaced: a review. MAHA 2011. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages I have been working in complex emergencies contexts since 2003 as engineer humanitarian worker, namely in Afghanistan, Sudan and Pakistan. I collaborated with INGOs and Internation Organizations in the domain of water supply system, sanitation, hygiene promotion, rehabilitation and reconstruction of conflict affected infrastructures. Furthermore I carried out development projects in Algeria and Tanzania, respectively on water treatment station design and gravity, ground water and rain harvesting water supply systems. Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2011

	Jalal Elhayek Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food and Environment Program Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisor Tim Griffin, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Agriculture, Food and Environment Program
Primary Research Interests Water quality, water scarcity, sustainable agriculture policy Post-Graduation Employer and Position Policy Researcher (Internship) at Stockholm Environment Institute

	Holly Elwell Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2009 Advisor Mary Davis, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Thesis Elwell, Holly. Defining Capacity: Community-Based Watershed Organizations and Climate Change Adaptation. MA UEP 2009. Advisor: Mary Davis Post-Graduation Employer and Position Environmental Planner at Horsley Witten Group Read an extended interview with Holly >>

	Rhiannon Ervin School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation PhD, 2012 Advisor Andrew Ramsburg, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Interests Quantification of DNAPL architectural features using partitioning tracers in a modified push-pull test In recent history, many groundwater aquifers have been contaminated by accidental or purposeful disposal of organic compounds, such as chlorinated solvents. Currently, a great deal of research is being conducted on how best to remove these contaminants from the subsurface and restore groundwater quality. Within the aquifer, chlorinated solvents form a non aqueous phase which is distributed as small blobs in individual sand grain pores, or as larger blobs in interconnected pores, known as pools. The best type of remediation and the benefit of attempting remediation is largely dependant on this spatial distribution. The purpose of my research is to develop a tool that can be used to estimate the spatial distribution of the contamination, with the hope that this information will help guide remediation designs. Thesis or Dissertation Ervin, Rhiannon, Assessment of Partitioning Tracers for Estimation of DNAPL Source Zone Architecture. Publications Ervin, R.E., Boroumand, A.B., Abriola, L.M. and C.A. Ramsburg. Kinetic limitation on tracer partitioning in ganglia dominated source zones. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Vol. 126, Issue 3-4 , pp. 195-207, Novemeber 2011. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Fate and transport of chemicals in the environment, chemical lab work, experimental design Post-Graduation Employer and Position Geosyntec Consultants

	Derek Etkin Graduate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2008 Advisors Paul Kirshen, Richard Vogel, Steven Block Primary Research Topic Utilizing Seasonal Forecasts for Reservoir Operations in the Comoé River Basin, Burkina Faso.
A network of reservoirs and diversion structures in the Comoe River Basin in southwestern Burkina Faso, West Africa, provides municipal water supply and irrigation water for sugarcane agribusiness and a population of subsistence farmers. The region is characterized by severe intra seasonal and inter-annual variability with respect to precipitation and reservoir inflows. Reservoir operations are generally conservative, even during wet years. This work shows how seasonal precipitation and stream flow forecasts can provide more efficient and equitable release decisions throughout the entire irrigation cycle. Working closely with stakeholders and local institutions, a stochastic linear programming model was developed which translates conditionally weighted scenario-tree stream flow and precipitation forecasts into optimal release schedules for reservoir operators to implement in real-time as forecasts and system conditions change. A VBA-based graphic user interface (GUI) is used to ensure implementation and ease of use by operators. Other Project Titles - Global reservoir storage-yield performance regression - Real-time updated rainfall runoff modeling in the Comoe River Basin Thesis Etkin, Derek. Utilizing Seasonal Forecasts to Improve Reservoir Operations in the Comoé River Basin. MS Environmental and Water Resources Engineering. Advisor: Paul Kirshen Publications • Roncoli, C., Kirshen P., Etkin D., Sanon, M., Somé, L., Dembélé, Y., Sanfo, B. J., Zoungrana, J. and Hoogenboom, G. From Management to Negotiation: Technical and Institutional Innovations for Integrated Water Resource Management in the Upper Comoé River Basin, Burkina Faso. Environmental Management. August, 2009. • Etkin D., Kirshen, P.H., Watkins, D., Diallo, A.A., Hoogenboom, G., Roncoli, C., Sanfo, B. J., Sanon, M., Somé, L. and Zoungrana, J.. Stochastic Linear Programming for Improved Reservoir Operations for Multiple Objectives in Burkina Faso, West Africa.World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008, May 2008, Honolulu Hawaii. • McMahon, T.A., Vogel, R.M., Pegram, G.G.S., Peel, M.C. and D. Etkin, Global streamflows – Part 2 Reservoir storage-yield performance, Jour. of Hydrology, Vol. 347, No. 3-4, pp. 260-271, 30 December 2007. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, SWMM, STELLA, Mathematical Optimization (GAMS), Linear Programming, Stochastic Modeling, 2 years as water treatment engineer, Land Surveying, French Post-Graduation Employer and Position CDM Smith, Cambridge. Water Resources Engineer. Read an extended interview with Derek >>

	William H. Farmer Graduate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2012 Advisors Richard Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Topic Estimation of Monthly Flow Timeseries in Ungaged Basins

	Ana Martha Fernandes Graduate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2005 Advisors Paul Kirshen, Richard Vogel Primary Research Topic Regional Siting of Fecal Sludge Treatment Facilities: St. Elizabeth, Jamaica
In the developing nation of Jamaica 70% of the population depends on on-site sanitation systems (OSS) which can provide an effective and low-cost option for rural wastewater treatment. However, there are serious environmental and human health effects associated with their mismanagement and deterioration. This thesis was focused on developing a methodology to determine suitable areas for fecal sludge (FS) treatment systems and to select an optimum combination of FS treatment options for the region. Historically, fecal sludge management has been studied and addressed as a localized problem, while this research was aimed at developing a systematic analysis of regional sludge management. A regional decision model of FS treatment was developed which incorporated treatment alternatives to hauling or pumping to existing treatment systems. The problem was formulated as a mixed-integer programming model which selected the optimal combination of treatment options and locations for the region based on a variety of social, economic, and environmental constraints. Publications • Young, Charles A., Marisa Escobar, Martha Fernandes, Brian Joyce, Michael Kiparsky, Jeffrey F. Mount, Vishal Mehta, David Purkey, Joshua H. Viers, and David Yates. Modeling the Hydrology of Climate Change in California’s Sierra Nevada for Sub-Watershed Scale Adaptation. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. Manuscript Submitted June 2009. • Fernandes, Ana Martha, Paul H. Kirshen and Richard M. Vogel. Optimal Siting of Regional Fecal Sludge Treatment Facilities: St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. Volume 134, Issue 1, January/February 2008. • Klein, R.J.T.; Alam, M.; Burton, I.; Dougherty, W.; Ebi, K.L.; Fernandes, M.; Huber-Lee, A.; Rahman, A.A.; Swartz, C. Applications of Environmentally Sound Technologies for Adaptation to Climate Change: Technical Paper for the UNFCCC Secretariat. 2006. • Elgizouli, Ismail, Nagmedlin Goubti, Martha Fernandes, and Bill Dougherty. 2005. NAPAssess: A Decision Support Tool for Use in the Sudan NAPA Process. Presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 11), Montreal, Canada. November 28-December 9, 2005. Thesis Fernandes, Ana Martha. Regional Siting of Fecal Sludge Treatment Facilities: St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. MS CEE 2005. Advisors: Dr. Paul Kirshen and Dr. Richard Vogel Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Water and Sanitation Field/Project experience in Benin, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nepal, Nicaragua, Rwanda, and the United States of America. Software: Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), GAMS and Lingo Optimization Software, ESRI GIS, Idrisi, AutoCAD, MathCAD, Macromedia Dreamweaver MX, Microsoft Applications. Languages: French, Portuguese, and basic Spanish. Post-Graduation Employer and Position Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH) Global, Boston, Project Engineer Read an extended interview with Martha >>

	Michael Gove Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2009 Advisor Barbara Parmenter Primary Research Topic Indicators for Community Watershed Managment in Pico Bonito National Park, Honduras
Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages UNESCO International Hydrological Programme Intern, GIS, Spanish, Portuguese Post-Graduation Employer and Position ORISE Fellow, Office of Water at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

	Karen Patterson Greene Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2012 Advisor Rusty Russell, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Primary Research Interests Risk assessment of contaminated sediments and policy implications Other Water Relevant Experience Having worked in various aspects of watershed management for the last 12 years

	Gogi Grewal Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Food Policy and Applied Nutrition Program School of Medicine Department of Public Health and Community Medicine Degree and Year of Graduation MS/MPH, 2011 Advisors Peter Walker, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Alan Shawn Feinstein International Center Janet Forrester, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine
Primary Research Interests Food security and international health, access to water and sanitation, and interaction with nutrition Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2010

	Patrick Hall Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2006 Advisors Rachael G. Bratt, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Thesis Hall, Patrick. Getting with the Program: Rural Radio and Water Resource Planning in Sub-Saharan Africa. MA UEP 2006. Advisor: Professor Rachel G. Bratt

	Katie Houk Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Food Policy and Applied Nutrition Program Degree and Expected Year of Graduation MS, 2012 Advisor Beatrice Rogers, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Food Policy and Applied Nutrition Program
Primary Research Interests International food security and water

	Jyotsna Jagai Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Food Policy and Applied Nutrition Program School of Medicine Department of Public Health and Community Medicine Degree and Year of Graduation PhD, 2009 Advisors Elena Naumova (chair), Jeffrey Griffiths, Patrick Webb, Paul Kirshen
Primary Research Topic Environmental Determinants of Seasonal Patterns of Waterborne Diseases Waterborne diarrheal diseases, which are a concern in both developing and developed countries, demonstrate strong seasonal patterns suggesting environmental drivers for these diseases. The goal of this thesis was to evaluate seasonal parameters of waterborne diarrheal diseases with respect to environmental determinants. In Aim 1, we utilized a meta-analysis approach demonstrate disease incidence is associated with meteorological parameters, temperature and precipitation, but strength and direction of the association varies by disease. In Aim 2, we assessed the impact of river discharge on the seasonal pattern of outcomes of gastrointestinal (GI) infections in the elderly for two watersheds and demonstrated that the seasonal patterns GI illnesses are not driven by the seasonal patterns in river discharge but there is an interaction. In Aim 3 we demonstrated that density of overall livestock production is a risk factor for enteric infections; specifically that the density of cattle is a risk factor for protozoan infections in the U.S. elderly. Our findings regarding sensitivity of seasonal patterns of waterborne diseases to environmental time-varying exposures provides policy makers and public health practitioners insight to the degree of environmental associations and potential determinants of these patterns. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Statistical Software (SPSS, SAS), Matlab, GIS - ArcGIS, statistical methods, epidemiology, survey methods Post-Graduation Employer and Position US EPA, Chapel Hill , NC, Post Doctoral Fellow In the News "Seasonal Sickness." The Telegraph. [Calcutta] 11 June 2012 Read an extended interview with Jyotsna >>

	Georgia Kayser Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Development Economics, International Environmental Policy, and Water Resources Management Degree and Year of Graduation PhD, 2011 Advisors William Moomaw, Julie Schaffner, Jeffery Griffiths, Beatrice Rogers
Primary Research Topic An Improved Millennium Development Goal for Water: Testing Hard and Softpath Solutions Currently the world is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goal for water, to reduce by 2015 those without access to improved drinking water. Unfortunately, achievement of the MDG for water is not enough. To reduce diarrheal disease, access to “improved” water sources is not enough. Achieving deeper goals of improved health requires that the water, households consume, be safe, or free of pathogens. Ms. Kayser’s research tests the relative merits of technological and programmatic options for improving drinking water supply safety and sustainability over the long-term. Specifically, the researcher has established collaborative partnerships with Non-Governmental Organizations to analyze the household health, economic and sustainability impacts of household versus community-based drinking water technologies in Honduras, and the efficacy of "build-and-walk-away" drinking water supply versus "build-and-support-with-on-going technical assistance" water supply in small rural and peri-urban areas of El Salvador. Publications • Kayser, G. (2007). Hydrodiplomacy: Negotiating a regional ridge to reef approach to the world’s water crisis. International Environmental Negotiation, XVI. Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Treaty Making System. Eds. Susskind, L., Moomaw, W. • Kayser, G., Morrison, S., Pixarro, C. (2007). Socioeconomic findings in Rapid Assessment of Anthropologic Impacts on Select Transboundary Watersheds of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) Region (editors, Bailey, M., Meerman, J., Vasquez, M., and Parish, A.), Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems Project, Belize City, Belize, May 2007. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Socio-economic field research coordinator for a multi-country interdisciplinary team that conducted a transboundary watershed assessment for the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef region; Coordinated a pre-post evaluation of the household health and economic impacts of small drinking water treatment plants in rural Honduras for two NGOs. Software: statistical software (STATA), ArcGIS. Languages: English and Spanish.

	Peter Kelly-Joseph Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2011 Advisors John Witten,Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Scott Horsley, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Research interests: Coastal zone management, water quality in coastal areas Thesis abstract: Coastal protection permitting data from 780 Notice of Intent submissions is presented from three towns on Cape Cod, Massachusetts to analyze the coastal protection permitting experience since the creation of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act in 1978. Notice of Intent records serve as a measure of demand for coastal protection and indicate that demand is rising in the towns of Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham and there appears to a trend towards soft coastal protection alternatives. A number of potential anthropogenic and natural variables are discussed that could influence demand for coastal protection permits but no clear trends are identified. Municipal decision-making processes should to be refined to plan for upward trends in coastal protection permitting to take advantage of wide regional expertise in the field. Thesis: Kelly-Joseph, Peter T. Analysis of the Coastal Protection Experience in Three Towns on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. MA, UEP 2011. Advisors: Mr. John Witten and Mr. Scott Horsley Post-Graduation Employer and Position: ORISE Fellow, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ocean, Ocean and Coastal Protection Unit, EPA New England.

	Lauren Klonsky Graduate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2008 Advisors Richard Vogel, Lee Minardi, Jack Ridge
Primary Research Topic Effective Discharge and Sediment Transport in Rivers The concept of effective discharge, Qe, introduced by Wolman and Miller in 1960 is that stream flow which transports the most sediment over time. Recently, numerous investigators have questioned how meaningful Qe is as a descriptor of sediment transport and new discharge indices, such as the half-load discharge Q1/2, have been introduced to improve the precision with which one describes the ability of a particular discharge to transport sediment. Numerous recent studies have also suggested that among the various empirical estimators of Qe, there does not seem to be a uniform consensus as to which is most consistent and meaningful. This study uses an example to clarify the method of estimation of both Qe and Q1/2. We show that the discharges up to the effective discharge for the Mississippi River at St Louis, are only responsible for carrying 25% of its long term sediment load. We question whether or not such a discharge is truly "effective" in terms of its ability to transport sediment, over time. An alternative index, the half load discharge, is recommended instead, because it is always responsible for transporting 50% of the long term sediment load. Publications Lauren Klonsky1,* and Richard Vogel2, Effective Measures of “Effective” Discharge. Journal of Geology. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages: Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), MathCAD, Environmental Engineering Consultant, Intern, Research Assistant on a constructed wetland facility, Spanish Post-Graduation Employer and Position Water Resource Engineer at CDM Smith

	Karen Claire Kosinski School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation PhD, 2011 Advisors John Durant, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
David M. Gute, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Miguel Stadecker, Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences, Immunology Program Jeanine Plummer, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Kwabena M. Bosompem, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Primary Research Topic Novel Preventative Measures for the Control of Schistosomiasis: A Preliminary Trial in Adasawase, Ghana Approximately thirty-five percent of children and adolescents in Adasawase, Ghana are infected with the parasite Schistosoma haematobium. They contract the parasite in several local rivers where they play, bathe, and collect water. The disease caused by this parasite, urinary schistosomiasis, may be characterized by painful urination, blood in the urine, and possible long-term bladder pathology. I hypothesize that a water recreation structure will be a novel, effective, and sustainable intervention for schistosomiasis. Publications Kosinski, Karen. A Novel Community-Based Water Recreation Area for Schistosomiasis Control in Rural Ghana. Submitted to the Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, November 2010. [Supported by WSSS Research Fellowship.] Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Excel, Lindo, Mathcad, Visual Modflow, Spanish, very basic Twi Post Graduation Interests International work, use of water resources engineering to prevent/mitigate public health problems, especially parasitic diseases, in the tropical world Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2010

	Jonathan Lautze Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Graduate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MALD 2005, PhD in CEE 2008 Advisors MALD: Adil Najam, Paul Kirshen PhD: Paul Kirshen, Jeff Griffiths, Matthew McCartney (IWMI), Andrew Spielman (deceased)
Primary Research Topic Transboundary Water Management in Africa, Reservoir management and malaria transmission in Ethiopia. The construction of dams in Africa is often associated with adverse malaria impacts in surrounding communities. However, the degree and nature of these impacts are rarely quantified and the feasibility of environmental control measures (e.g., manipulation of reservoir water levels) to mitigate malaria impacts has not been previously investigated in Africa. My thesis topic examined entomological and epidemiological research conducted in the vicinity of the Koka Dam and Reservoir in Ethiopia. Key findings of the study include: a) substantially greater malaria case rates observed in communities close to the reservoir; b) greater abundance of malaria vectors found in community dwellings close to the reservoir as a consequence of breeding habitats created along the reservoir shoreline; and c) faster falling water levels are associated with lower mosquito larval abundance in shoreline puddles. These findings confirm the role of the reservoir in increasing malaria transmission and suggest there may be potential to use dam operation as a tool in integrated malaria-control strategies. Publications • Gerlak, A., Lautze, J., Giordano, M. in submission. Data and Information Sharing in transboundary Water Law. International Studies Quarterly. • Giordano, M. and Lautze, J. forthcoming. Managing Waters in Extreme Environments: The Role of International Actors in Africa. In: Managing Waters in Extreme Environments. • Lautze, J., and Kirshen, P. 2009. Water Allocation, Climate Change, and Sustainable Peace: The Palestinian Position. Water International 34(2): 189-203. • Lautze, J., Barry, B., and Youkhana, E. 2008. Changing Paradigms in Volta Basin Water Management: Customary, National, and Transboundary. Water Policy 10(6): 577-594. • Lautze, J., and Giordano, M. September, 2007. Demanding Supply Management and Supplying Demand Management: Transboundary Waters in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Environment and Development 16(3): 290-306. • Lautze, J., and Kirshen, P. September, 2007. Dams, Health, and Livelihoods: Lessons from the Senegal, Suggestions for Africa. International Journal of River Basin Management 5(3). • Lautze, J., McCartney, M., Kirshen, P., Olana, D., Jayasinghe, G., and Spielman, A. 2007. The Effect of a Large Dam on Malaria Risk: The Koka Reservoir, Ethiopia. Tropical Medicine and International Health 12(8): 982-989. • Lautze, J., and Giordano, M. 2007. A History of Transboundary Law in Africa. Chapter 5 in Grieco, M., Kitoussou, M., and Ndulo, M., eds. The Hydropolitics of Africa: A Contemporary Challenge. Cambridge Scholars Press. • Lautze, J., Barry, B., and Youkhana, E. 2006. Changing Interfaces in Volta Basin Water Management: Customary, National, and Transboundary. ZEF Working Paper 13. Culture, Knowledge and Development Group. Center for Development Research: Bonn. • Lautze, J. and Giordano, M. 2006. Equity in Transboundary Water Law: Valuable Paradigm or Merely Semantics? Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy 17(1): 89-122. • Lautze, J., and Giordano, M. 2005. Transboundary Water Law in Africa: Development, Nature, and Geography. Natural Resources Journal 45(4): 1053-1087. • Lautze, J., Reeves, M., Vega, R., and Kirshen, P. 2005. Water Allocation, Climate Change, and Sustainable Peace: The Israeli Proposal. Water International 30(2): 197-209. Post-Graduation Employer and Projects IWMI, Postdoc, Projects include USAID-funded water governance in MENA region and ADB-funded Water Resources Outlook Study for Asia Read an extended interview with Jonathan >>

	Simcha Levental Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2011 Advisor Laurie Goldman, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Primary Research Interests Urban aspects of water management; poverty, conflict, and water; ground water; remote sensing and GIS Projects The Battir Spring - the Road to a Safe Water Resource (Click here to open document)

	Regina Lyons Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, February 2009 Advisors Rusty Russell Marji Erickson-Warfield (Brandeis University)
Primary Research Topic An Implementation Evaluation if the No Discharge Area Program in Casco Bay, Maine. A No Discharge Area (NDA) is a federally approved state designation for a water body in which all sewage, treated or untreated, is prohibited from being discharged from any vessel. Under Section 312 (f) (3) of the Clean Water Act, a state can petition the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through a written application, for approval of a NDA designation for some or all of its coastal waters. My program evaluation analyzed the implementation and process of the No Discharge Area Program within Casco Bay for quality review and program clarification. The three program evaluation instruments used were 1) a mail survey of Casco Bay boaters, 2) an in-person survey of Casco Bay pumpout facility operators, and 3) site visits of the Casco Bay pumpout facilities. Recommendations for the improvement of the Casco Bay NDA program were made based on the overall research findings. Publications • Co- Author, “Conserving Freshwater and Coastal Resources in a Changing Climate,” A Report Prepared for The Nature Conservancy, August, 2007. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Coastal nutrient criteria survey (CTD apparatus & chlorophyll filtration), Dye studies, Electofishing, National River and Streams Assessment, Groundwater well monitoring, SPSS statistical software Post-Graduation Employer and Position U.S. EPA, Region 1 (New England), Office of Ecosystem Protection, Ocean and Coastal Unit Biologist Read an extended interview with Regina >>

	Jack Melcher School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisors Richard Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
John Durant, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Scott Horsley, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Rusty Russell, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Primary Research Topic Stormwater Policy and Planning My research will examine the use of stormwater modeling techniques to place Best Management Practices and meet water quality goals. Other Project Titles WSSS Practicum 2009; Engineers Without Borders potable water supply in San Jose Villanueva, El Salvador Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Internship at the Charles River Watershed Association, Summer 2009. Five years of experience as a project engineer doing land development, public water supply design and testing, on-site wastewater disposal system design, and stormwater design in the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts. Internship at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection – wetlands mapping project. Competent using AutoCAD Civil 3D, performing topographic surveys, and researching property records. Licensed as a Professional Engineer and as a Soil Evaluator in Massachusetts. Post Graduation Interests I hope to work on projects that use technology to make better decisions on complex issues. Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2010

	Armando Milou Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2008 Advisors Scott Horsley, Paul Kirshen
Primary Research Topic Stormwater Low-Impact Development BMPs feasibility for Low-Income Communities in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The objectives of the project include the identification of successful LID policies, technologies and practices that can potentially be transferred to Low-Income Settlements (LIS) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Particular attention will be given to areas with higher slope gradient, susceptible to erosion, landslides and mudflows. Special consideration will be given to current stormwater infrastructure in LIS and the "common dilemmas" they face. Primary data will be collected on-site during February and March 2008, and will include person-to-person questionnaires on 100 households in low-income settlements--tracked using GPS; and interviews with key stakeholders, such as municipal water commissions, NGOs and local politicians via e-mail, survey monkey and/or personal interviews. The goal of this project is to measure the feasibility, applicability and barriers to the implementation of policies that promote the use of LID BMPs. The georeferenced locations will be used to analyze the responses according to their proximity to natural drainage flows and "formal" city limits; elevation; and the extent of nearby deforestation. The study is partially funded by a Graduate Student Research Award from Tufts' Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Other Project Titles Redeveloping the Lower Mystic River: Case Studies and Best Practices; Integrated Water Management (Flooding and water quality) Alewife Brook, MA Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages: Geographic Information Systems (ArcMap) Post-Graduation Employer and Position GIS Analyst and Urban Planner Consultant at Mercy Corps, GIS Strategic Consultant at MICRA Indonesia Read an extended interview with Armando >>

	Melissa Ng School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisor Rich Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Topic Impacts of increased urbanization on hydrologic processes within two neighboring river basins in Massachusetts: 1940s - present My study will evaluate the combined effects of landuse, climate change and water use on the entire streamflow regime (low flows, average annual flows and floods), providing insight to the importance of considering interactions among these variables when evaluating the sensitivity of streamflow. Two watersheds within eastern Massachusetts, the Aberjona River Basin and the Neponset River Basin, will be used as case studies utilizing data from the 1940s until present. Both watersheds are similar in size and have had significant increases in urbanization. Interestingly, one river basin shows an overall increase in streamflows over the past few decades, whereas the other basin shows a decrease in low flows. In order to compare the effects of changes in landuse, climate and water use, we introduce a multivariate regression approach to estimate their elasticity. The sensitivity of streamflow to such changes is shown to be site specific and to depend heavily on the temporal and spatial scale of the analysis. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Chemical and bacteriological lab work, ArcGIS Post-Graduation Employer and Position Staff Engineer at Geosyntec Consultants

	Makito Ohikata Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2009 Advisor Rusty Russell
Primary Research Topic Slum improvement/Disaster reconstruction I am interested in a combined policy/strategy of water management issues and housing issues in developing countries. An example of such an approach is a slum improvement policy that addresses the provision of housing, drinking water, and sanitation in slum environments in developing countries or post disaster reconstruction policy for low-income communities including resettlement and disaster prevention for flooding or tsunami. I intend to focus on a specific topic and area for my graduate thesis. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages AutoCAD, VectorWorks, Spanish, Japanese

	Nathaniel Olken School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MEng, 2010 Advisor Rich Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Interests Watershed management, ecologial flows, balance between humans and nature Post-Graduation Employer and Position Paddle sport guy at Next Adventure

	John Parker Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy / Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food, and the Environment Program Degree and Year of Graduation MALD/MS, 2012 Advisor Astier Almedom, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
Primary Research Topic Facilitating land and water management innovation in rain-fed smallholder farms in the semi-arid tropics Enhancing soil moisture or “green water” management has become increasingly recognized as essential for achieving higher crop yields, improving agricultural water management, and alleviating poverty in rain-fed smallholder farms in semi-arid and arid regions. Achieving improvements in green water management requires smallholder farmers to adopt on-farm land and water management practices including conservation tillage, mulching and compost use, and terraces and furrows. In many rain-fed agricultural regions, however, there has been limited adoption of these practices by smallholder farmers exemplifying the frequent disconnect between new concepts and theories and on-the-ground realities. How might the increased uptake of these practices by smallholder farmers be achieved? By analyzing the successful widespread adoption of the Quesungual Slash-and-Mulch Agroforestry System (QSMAS) in Central America and Southeast Asia through social-ecological resilience theory and diffusion of innovations theory, this research seeks to improve our understanding of how and why land and water management innovations occur in smallholder farms and how sustainable improvements in green water management might be achieved. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Implementer of USAID-funded watershed management programs in Central America; Hands-on technical skills related to small-scale aquaculture production, livestock production, agro- and analog forestry, and on-farm soil and water conservation technologies. Languages Spanish, Kichwa (Ecuadorian Amazon basin region) Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2010

	Allison Quady Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food and Environment Program School of Medicine Public Health and Professional Degree Programs Degree and Year of Graduation MS Nutrition/MPH, 2009 Advisor Kathleen Merrigan
Primary Research Topic Recovery of Cryptosporidium oocysts in reclaimed wastewater My WSSS-related research is in regards to the water and feces borne protozoa, Cryptosporidium, and a new device developed by Tufts Veterinary School researchers to improve recovery rates of the organism in reclaimed effluent. The device is a continuous flow centrifuge and can concentrate oocysts in large volumes (10-100 liters) of water. The Tufts method contrasts with the existing EPA method that uses a more expensive filter which clogs easily with large volumes of water. Working in the Veterinary School lab this summer I found the two methods to not be significantly different in oocyst recovery rates. The information will be useful to water treatment plants in case of a new EPA regulation requiring Cryptosporidium testing. Other Project Titles Implementing a gardening program with the St Francis House community; Future project proposal: Interviews with Massachusetts' teachers for their views on agriculture in the classroom Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages SPSS, SAS, and GIS; fluent in French, Spanish Read an extended interview with Allie >>

	Nathan Rawding Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2011 Advisor Rusty Russell, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning

	Patrick Ray School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation PhD, 2009 Advisors Richard Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Paul Kirshen, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Primary Research Interests Water management and the Middle East Water resources system decision makers have difficult jobs. Water resources system decision makers in Amman, Jordan, have particularly difficult jobs. We have been working on an optimization model to assist a hypothetical decision maker in Jordan in the process of water system planning and management. We want to present the decision maker with information on the initial capital cost of the proposed water system, its expected operation and maintenance costs, and its likely performance (e.g., reliability, vulnerability, and sustainability). We want to provide him/her with the means to choose from a number of substantially varied alternative water system designs based upon the particular requirements of his/her (natural, political, economic, and social) environment. The difficulty, of course, is the uncertainty in which future conditions, and therefore the future performance of the proposed water system, are shrouded. In order to properly inform the decision maker we must properly communicate the likely effects of uncertainty (e.g., changes in climatic, demographic, economic, or political conditions) on the proposed water system, and provide the decision maker with a logical, understandable method for inserting into the decision his or her tolerance for various forms of risk. We have learned that, among the various techniques used for uncertainty analysis in optimization modeling, robust optimization (RO) might be the best qualified for evaluation and control of the various risks of poor system performance resulting from the uncertainties in the data input to water resources problems. Due to the great deal of variety in the use of, and some amount of confusion regarding, the term RO in the water resources literature, we offer an updated definition of the term for use in this field, and an improved formulation of the model to account for some well know deficiencies in the original formulation. We then applied the improved formulation to the water system in Amman. The RO model designed for Amman provides the essential information on tradeoffs to be made between traditional water development paths (megascale projects such as the Disi Aquifer and desalinated water from the Red Sea), and greater reliance on wastewater reclamation and nonpotable reuse. The results of the model in terms of cost, risk of cost overruns, and risk of water shortages make a strong argument for deviation from the traditional water development path toward adoption of greater levels of water reuse. Other Project Titles - Dual Quality Optimization of the Integrated Water System in Beirut, Lebanon - Water as a Source of Conflict and Cooperation: Exploring the Potential Issues in the Provision of Water and Sanitation to Rapidly Expanding Peri-Urban Areas - Suggestions for the Improvement of Water Supply to the Landless Poor of Abidjan, Ivory Coast Dissertation Ray, Patrick. Integrated Optimization of a Dual Quality Water and Wastewater System: A Case Study of Greater Beirut, Lebanon. PhD CEE 2009. Advisor: Dr. Paul Kirshen Thesis Ray, Patrick. Integrated Optimization of a Dual Quality Water and Wastewater System: A Case Study of Greater Beirut, Lebanon. PhD CEE 2009. Advisor: Dr. Paul Kirshen Publications Ray, P., P.H. Kirshen and R.M. Vogel, Integrated optimization of a dual quality water and wastewater system, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Vol. 136, No. 1, pp. 37-47, 2010. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages GAMS and LINGO (optimization tools); Visual Basic programming language; EPANET2 (pipe network simulation); AutoCAD 14/2000; MathCAD; Matlab; MINITAB (statistical software); ESRI Arcmap/ArcCatalog/ ArcToolbox (GIS tools) Post-Graduation Employer and Position Assistant Professor at Middle East University Read an extended interview with Patrick >>

	Sarah Reich Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2006 Advisors Julian Agyeman (UEP) and Rusty Russell (UEP)
Primary Research Topic Constructing Identity: The Role of the Watershed Organization in Bringing Meaning to the Watershed The concept of watershed identity draws together ideas developed in a wide range of disciples from psychology to human geography. A limited, though growing, body of research indicates that these ideas—place attachment and sense of place—are useful conceptions that may help to explain people’s awareness of a watershed and their willingness to change personal behaviors to promote a watershed’s environmental integrity. In this thesis, four theoretical propositions are introduced to describe the watershed organization’s role in the development of watershed identity. The analysis indicates that watershed organizations play several important roles in constructing and mediating watershed identity: defining the watershed’s physical space; constructing and communicating the watershed’s symbolic identity; fostering opportunities for individuals to develop functional relationships with the watershed; and connecting individuals who care about the watershed together under common purpose. Thesis Reich, Sarah L. Constructing Identity: The Role of the Watershed Organization in Bringing Meaning to the Watershed. MA UEP 2006. Advisor: Dr. Julian Agyeman Publications • Ward, B., E. MacMullan, and S. Reich. 2008. "The Effect of Low-Impact Development on Property Values." Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, Sustainability 2008. Pp. 318-323. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/wef/wefproc/2008/00002008/00000006/art00022 • New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. 2006. The Cost of Clean and Safe Water: Sustaining Our Water Infrastructure. May. http://www.neiwpcc.org/neiwpcc_docs/costofcleanwater.pdf Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Using economic techniques to analyze the value of water-related ecosystem goods and services, including non-market goods and services. Post-Graduation Employer and Position ECONorthwest (www.econw.com), Policy Analyst Relevant Projects I have been working on a variety of water-related projects at ECONorthwest, all focused on exploring how water-related ecosystems and socio-economic systems interact, and how to use economic tools to describe the value of water-related goods and services. Here are some water-related topics I’ve worked on recently: - Low-impact development, green infrastructure, and sustainable site design - Watershed and ecosystem restoration and preservation - Agricultural and urban water use, including conservation and efficiency efforts - The full range of economic effects of water-bottling projects

	Katie Resnick Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2009 Advisors Rusty Russell, Justin Hollander, Kent Portney
Primary Research Topic Enhancing Local Capacities for Stormwater Management in Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas An integrated stormwater assessment of Nassau was conducted. Nassau was chosen as a proxy for other well-developed, working waterfronts in the Caribbean that serve as fishing and shipping ports, tourism centers, cruise ship harbors, and economic centers. Two hypotheses were proposed from a policy perspective: -The success of regulatory strategies or lack thereof has direct implications on stormwater management and coastal water quality. -The lack of successful regulatory strategies provides opportunity for the development of non-regulatory strategies in managing stormwater in The Bahamas. A land use inventory was conducted on the ground to determine land use patterns around Nassau harbor, and pollutant loading was estimated using the results of the land use analysis and modeling using the Simple Method. Additionally, government agencies and non-governmental organizations were interviewed to determine the extent of management regimes and potential capacity to address stormwater management issues. Thesis Resnick, Katie. 2009. Sealing the Envelope: How Urban New England Communities can mitigate Climate Change by Encouraging Energy Efficient Home Renovations. Tufts University. 78 pp. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages ArcGIS, Statistical Software (SPSS, MiniTab), water quality monitoring and analysis, wetland delineation, watershed mapping, nutrient loading and water balance modeling Post-Graduation Employer and Position Environmental Planner at Horsley Witten Group Read an extended interview with Katie >>

	Ana Rosner School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Expected Year of Graduation MS, 2012 Advisor Rich Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2011

	Jesus A. Sanchez Graduate School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2009 Advisor Rich Vogel
Primary Research Topic The Probability Distribution of Natural Hazards: Earthquakes, Winds, Floods, and Bird Extinctions Datasets of natural hazard phenomena tend to be heterogeneous and involve multiple samples m, both aspects inhibiting inter-sample comparative analysis. Most existing methods are quite elaborate and intensive, requiring m individual hypothesis tests followed by field significance tests which combine results from individual tests. In this study, a new method for distribution identification is introduced, which involves a data normalization technique that enables an evaluation of the probability distribution of m samples arising from both homogeneous and heterogeneous populations using a single probability plot. The use of a single probability plot is shown to be advantageous as it provides a single metric to compare the goodness-of-fit of multiple alternative distributions. The proposed data normalization results in a single normalized sample that enables the use of a single hypothesis test to evaluate the probability distribution of multiple m samples. We show via hypotheses tests and power studies that the approach can efficiently and effectively identify the ‘parent’ probability distribution using a single probability plot and its associated probability plot correlation coefficient hypothesis test. ‘Parent’ distribution identification is performed on several large-scale data sets of natural hazards including: bird sighting records, earthquake magnitudes, wind speeds, and flood discharges to enable comparisons of the results with previously published work. The conclusions of this study agree with previous studies in all cases, and further results are obtained, although still somewhat speculative, should encourage future research to further evaluate the proposed approach. Other Project Titles Rainfall runoff modeling and calibration: "Utilizing Seasonal Forecasts for Reservoir Operations in the Comoé River Basin, Burkina Faso". Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages: HydroCAD; SWMM; MATLAB; urban watershed model development and calibration; development of unique statistical techniques for probabilistic analyses; application of appropriate water distribution and treatment system technologies in rural communities; spanish proficiency. Post-Graduation Employer and Position Senior Staff Engineer at Geosyntec Consultants

	Janice Snow Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2009 Advisors Sheldon Krimsky, Ann Rappaport and George Ellmore
Primary Research Topic Misunderstanding Soil Ecosystems: Consequences for Land, Water and Climate Policy Without functioning soil ecosystems life on earth as we know it would not exist. Soil ecosystems affect global climate change, carbon sequestration, the quantity and quality of fresh water, the productivity and nutritional value of plants growing in soil, the success of invasive organisms, the health of bays and estuaries and the availability of new medicines for human health. Belowground ecosystems are key drivers of the global cycles of carbon, water, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur; yet, the U.S. has no policy to protect the biological integrity of soil systems as it does for water? Flawed conceptual models of soil functions due in part to lack of cross-disciplinary approaches have been cited by soil ecologists as contributing to inadequate funding of research in the U. S. and lack of policy to protect soil ecosystems. The thesis analyzes conceptual models of soil held by a variety of interest groups and answers the following questions: - What role if any have commercial interests, research funding, soil policy history, disciplinary boundaries, economic and political interests played in promoting our limited understanding of soil ecosystems? - What points of view, what biases are embedded in the language used to describe soil by various interest groups? - What conceptual models and language should be presented to policy makers and to the public to correct their misunderstanding of soil ecosystems' role in local and global environmental health? Other Project Titles Adapting to Climate Change in the Alewife Basin: A Case Study; Boston's Groundwater Crisis: Seeking Sound Water Policies in an Unnatural Watershed; Black's Nook Pond Water Quality Analysis & Management Recommendations; Integrating Land Use Policy and Watershed Protection: The Rhode Island Approach; Privatizing Urban Water Systems to Achieve Millennium Development Goals: Effects on Human and Environmental Health: Lessons and Cases Thesis Snow, Janice. Misunderstanding Soil Ecosystems: How flawed conceptions of soil have lead to flawed U.S. land, water, and climate policies. MA UEP 2009. Advisor: Sheldon Krimsky Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Vice Chair, Advisory Board for Cambridge Water System's Fresh Pond Reservation; co-author, Fresh Pond Reservation Master Plan; Water Policy Intern, Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.

	Edward Spang Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy International Environment and Resource Policy Degree and Year of Graduation PhD, 2011 Advisors Bill Moomaw, Kelly Gallagher, Paul Kirshen (Battelle Consulting), David Marks (MIT)
Primary Research Topic Understanding the Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of the Energy-Water Nexus Sustainable water and energy systems are fundamental to human civilization and the global environment. However, increasing demand and inadequate sectoral management are stressing these resource systems in many regions of the globe. Considering these two systems are highly integrated, it is important for policymakers to understand how the links between these resources change over time and from region to region. This research focuses on the development and application of a set of indicators to track and map the coupled nature of water and energy systems temporally and spatially to highlight potential opportunities for integrated management of these resources. Other Project Titles The Potential for Wind-Powered Desalination in Water-Scarce Countries (Master's Thesis); Alpine Lakes and Glaciers of Peru: Managing Sources of Water and Destruction (TIE Grant Project); Interdisciplinary Rapid Watershed Assessment in Central America (Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems Project) Thesis Spang, Edward. The Potential for Wind-Powered Desalination in Water-Scarce Countries. MALD Fletcher 2006. Advisor: Dr. William Moomaw Publications • Spang, E. (2006) “The Potential for Wind-Powered Desalination in Water-Scarce Countries” in Pulido Bosch, A., and M. Perez Garcia (eds.), Communications to the International Conference on Renewable Energy and Water Technologies, Vol. I: WRE 80-85, Almeria, Spain. ISBN 84-933658-3-1 • Spang, E. & McLellan, M. (Eds.). (2006) Focus on Africa: Justice and Development. Praxis: The Fletcher Journal of Human Security. Medford: Tufts University. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages ArcGIS, System Dynamics Modeling, Field Research on integrated watershed and coastal zone management for the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems Project (Belize), Field research on water resource vulnerability and melting glaciers (Peru), Research on Low-Impact Development technologies for the WEAP modeling platform (SEI-US), Spanish, Moderate Portuguese. Post-Graduation Employer and Position Green Islands Project Coordinator. MIT-Portugal Program. Research coordinator for the development of integrated clean energy strategies for the Azores.

	Ayron Strauch Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Biology Degree and Year of Graduation PhD, 2011 Advisors Astier Almedom, Michael Reed, Francie Chew, David Gute, John Durant, Joann Lindenmayer
Primary Research Topic Water quality impacts on social and ecological systems in Northern Tanzania Water resources in the Serengeti ecosystem are spatially and temporally variable and the result of regionally disparate geological and biological conditions as well as local differences in traditional resource management (TRM). This asymmetry has repercussions for the seasonal distribution of large mammals, the cycling of nutrients, and the health of communities. My objective is to understand the variability of water resource quality and how TRM affects the health of households. I hypothesize that particular water-related uses severely impact water quality but that the level of contamination varies based on the time of use, the season, and the individual water source. There are likely to be social and traditional mechanisms in the village that limit contamination, either by temporal or spatial separation of conflicting water-related uses. Whether these mechanisms promote human health or adversely impact the ecosystem is unknown. Thesis Strauch, A.M., A.R. Kapust and C.C. Jost. Impact of livestock management on water quality and streambank structure in a semi-arid, African ecosystem. Journal of Arid Environments, Volume 73, Issue 9, September 2009, Pages 795-803. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2009.03.012. Publications Strauch, A.M., Seasonal variability in faecal bacteria of semiarid rivers in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol 62, 2011, pp 1191-1200. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Intern as Water Chemistry Analyst, New England Aquarium, GIS analysis of water related behavior in rural Tanzania

	Justine Treadwell Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Degree and Year of Graduation MALD, 2009 Advisor Steve Block Primary Research Topic Irrigation policy and practice in lakeshore communities of Malawi
Other Project Titles Does Tobacco as a Cash Crop in Malawi Make Economic Sense in Light of Endemic Food Insecurity? Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages Special water related experience: erosion control through soil improvement and edible groundcover in tropical agriculture; permaculture systems design and management; Kiswahili, Chichewa (Malawi/Zambia), some Spanish

	Yu-shiou Tsai School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Expected Year of Graduation PhD, 2011 Advisors Richard Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sabir Umarov, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Mathematics Jeffrey Zabel, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Economics Primary Research Interests Assessing climate and anthropogenic impacts on freshwater availability across the US, water-saving-efficiency assessments on the water conservation programs implemented in Ipswich Watershed

	Ellen Parry Tyler Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Agriculture, Food and the Environment Program Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisor Parke Wilde, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Primary Research Interests Ecosystem Approach to Regional Food Systems, Seafood Sustainability Selected Awards & Fellowships • “Fisheries Management Re-localized” Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (2010) • Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge Winner (2010) • “Food Policy Councils: Lessons Learned” Institute Food and Development Policy (2009) Water-Relevant Experiences • By Land & By Sea: Connecting Maine’s Fishing and Farming Communities, Founding Partner (2009-2010) http://www.tufts.edu/alumni/magazine/winter2011/planet-tufts/surf.html • North Atlantic Marine Alliance: Intern, then Fish Locally Collaborative co-leader (2010-Present) • Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant Program, Research Assistant with Regional Ocean Science Initiative: Climate Change Outreach (Spring 2010) Current Status • Consultant, Enhancing Food Security of Underserved Populations in the Northeast through Sustainable Regional Food Systems: baseline data on regional fisheries production • Co-leader, Markets Transformation Workgroup, Fish Locally Collaborative

	Eric Vaughan School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisors Rich Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Tim Griffin, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Agriculture, Food and Environment Program
Annette Huber-Lee, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Primary Research Interests Water resources management in water scarce regions Proper long term planning is vital to mitigating the impact of future economic shocks caused by increasingly non-stationary hydrologic conditions, demographic shifts and land-use changes. Under-developed nations are particularly vulnerable due to poverty and lack of capacity, particularly where water is already scarce. Additionally, they often lack the tools required to effectively evaluate future conditions. My research focuses on developing economic water allocation models that improve the efficient use of water resources in water scarce regions, particularly in the developing world. I am currently working on a project for the Middle East. Related Software GAMS, WEAP, Python, MapWindow GIS, Excel with VBA Selected Awards & Fellowships WSSS Research Fellowship, 2010

	Samantha Weaver Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2012 Advisor Ann Rappaport, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Primary Research Interests I am interested in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, and integrating energy and water policy as part of local and national planning efforts to address climate change. I became interested in water and climate change when I participated in field research related to coral reef bleaching off the coast of southern Thailand as an undergraduate. I speak functional Spanish and Thai. Related Software I have experience with SQL database scripting, Microsoft Excel and Access.

	Kendall Webster Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Degree and Year of Graduation MA, 2011 Advisor Rusty Russell, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
Primary Research Topic Conservation and advocacy for water bodies, watersheds, aquifers, etc. This concern stems from my environmentalist background, and I believe that if you can protect a watershed, you're also protecting the ecosystem around the watershed. I am interested in handling water conservation issues from a policy standpoint, although the idea of working in politics makes my skin crawl. Right now I'm looking at alternatives to politics. For my thesis, I may research the strategies of non-profit organizations like the Nature Conservancy, which buys open space to restrict development and protect the resources it holds. This is one of my favourite models for conservation. However, I do believe that stringent policy for watershed protection should be developed in the next couple of years. Water-Relevant Experiences, Technical Skills, Software, Languages I've travelled all over the world and consider myself a very experienced traveller. I think this will come in very handy when we go south for the field project. I also speak Spanish, which has been extremely helpful for me in all that I do. Also, I'm a water polo player and a great swimmer. That's a pretty literal water-relevant skill! On a more serious note, I don't have much technical experience with water issues. I've just learned how to delineate a watershed, prepare a hydrological budget for it and calculate the total maximum daily load of contaminants to it from Scott Horsley, although I wouldn't say that I'm a pro at that. I'm looking forward to learning everything I can about water in the certificate program. Post-Graduation Employer and Position Development Director at Yikes Tikes

	Ingrid Weiss Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Food Policy and Applied Nutrition Program Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2011 Advisor Shibani Ghosh, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy

	Viktoria Zoltay School of Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree and Year of Graduation MS, 2007 Advisors Richard Vogel, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Paul Kirshen, School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Thesis Zoltay, Viktoria. Integrated Watershed Management Modeling: Optimal Decision Making for Natural and Human Components. MS CEE 2007. Advisors: Dr. Paul Kirshen, Dr. Rich Vogel, Dr. Kirk Westphal Publications Zoltay, V.I., P.H. Kirshen, R.M. Vogel and K.S. Westphal, Integrated Watershed Management Modeling: A Generic Optimization Model Applied to the Ipswich River Basin, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Vol 136, No. 5, pp 566-575, Sept/Oct 2010.

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The Water: Systems, Science and Society (WSSS) program is a graduate research and education program that provides Tufts students with interdisciplinary perspectives and tools to manage water-related problems around the world.

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