I am an incoming Master's student working with Anastasia Piliouras on Arctic river deltas and Arctic sea ice dynamics. I did undergrad here at Penn State as well and loved it so much that I decided to stick around a couple more years. I worked with Dr. Piliouras doing undergraduate research so I am excited to be back with the CoLD research group. Outside of academics, I enjoy traveling, hiking, cooking, and exploring State College. 

Ava is pursuing a Master’s degree in Geosciences and Operations Research Engineering. Her research focuses on using decision-making tools to understand how urban environments can most effectively build resiliency against climate change and other stressors. Ava previously earned a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado, where her studies focused on hydrology and water resources. Ava is a big fan of chocolate chip cookies, trail running, and cold brew coffee!

I am an aspiring planetary scientist with a keen interest in exploring the interiors of rocky exoplanets and their similarities to Earth. My research focuses on unraveling the structure, composition, and thermal dynamics of planetary mantles, along with their evolutionary processes. Additionally, I am fascinated by the interplay between planetary interiors and atmospheres, studying how these interactions shape a planet’s overall environment. Through a combination of theoretical models and numerical simulations, I aim to deepen our understanding of exoplanets in the context of Earth-like and potentially habitable worlds.