Climate-Smart Siting Postdoctoral Scholar

Dr. Ashraf is an expert in species distribution modeling and a postdoctoral scholar funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in the Wild Energy Initiative. In this role, she studies the intersection between the conservation of wildlife and renewable energy development across the United States and identifying modalities of environmental justice in the planning process.

Contact Dr. Ashraf: uashraf@ucdavis.edu

UC Wild Solar Postdoctoral Scholar

Dr. Steele studies the relationship between wildlife and photovoltaic solar energy infrastructure. Dr. Steele's research applies animal behavior, field ecology, marine biology, and conservation science. Elliott was a conservation scientist at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens where he raised endangered California amphibians and reptiles to be reintroduced into the wild. Elliott received his PhD from Dartmouth College where he studied the visual ecology of sociality.

Contact Dr. Steele: epsteele@ucdavis.edu

UC Wild Solar Postdoctoral Scholar

Dr. Tew’s research centers on restoration ecology in solar parks, where renewable energy generation and biodiversity conservation can be delivered hand in hand. Dr. Tew holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford, a master's degree by research from Imperial College London and a PhD from the University of Bristol. His doctoral research explored insect pollinators in urban landscapes, and he subsequently spent two years working in biodiversity conservation for environmental charities.

Contact Dr. Tew: ntew@ucdavis.edu

Junior Specialist

Riley brings to UC Davis a robust background in sustainability science and industrial/organizational psychology from San Diego State University. During her time as a volunteer with ECOLIFE Conservation, she contributed to sustainable agriculture initiatives in California and supported aquaponics systems for potential application in developing nations. Her studies also took her to Iceland with The Green Program, where she engaged with the country’s renewable energy infrastructure and participated in local environmental restoration projects.

Junior Specialist

Thomas obtained his Bachelor’s of Science from the George Washington University in Environmental and Sustainability Science with minors in Biology and Geographic Information Systems. His undergraduate research focused on how anthropogenic factors influence Mid-Atlantic coastal wetlands. Thomas will apply his love of wetlands in studying the intersection between vernal pool conservation and solar energy development.

Contact Thomas: thuebler@ucdavis.edu

Lab Assistant

Ben's current research focuses on the impact of floating photovoltaics on ecohydrology and water quality in freshwater systems and voltaic landscapes for sustainability. He recently graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management with an emphasis in ecology. He aims to continue investigating integrative climate mitigation solutions within the water-energy-food nexus to contribute to a sustainable future.

Contact Ben: bpnarwold@ucdavis.edu

Lab Assistant

Freya is an undergrad studying Environmental Science and Management on the climate change and air quality track. She is an undergraduate laboratory research assistant working with Daphne Condon on science communication with PV solar installations through a regulatory ecological conservation database. She is focusing on preserving biodiversity while supporting the transition to a more green, sustainable future.

Ph.D. Student | Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry

Moreen is a first year PhD student in the Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry Graduate Group at UC Davis and is co-advised with Dr. Eliot A. Atekwana. She graduated with a BA in Chemistry and a minor in Creative Writing at Augustana College, IL. Her research interest is in understanding whether there are perceived risks, particularly heavy metals, associated with emerging newer technologies: floating solar panels (FPVs). Eventually, she would want to extend the knowledge obtained from the FPV system to other systems impacted by heavy metals.

Contact Moreen: makomeaampeh@ucdavis.edu

Ph.D. Student | Visiting Scholar

Titash is a visiting scholar in Heather Bischel’s lab at UC Davis. She conducts interdisciplinary research intersecting microbiology, global ecology and sustainability. Some potential topics include climate change adaptation of species, micro-plastics, restoration and diagnosing ecosystem health using biotechnologies. Titash received her bachelors in Molecular Biology from UC Santa Cruz, where she studied bio geochemical cycling via interactions between physical environmental factors and cyanobacterial communities in the Monterey Bay region of the Pacific Ocean. She also has over 5 years of industry experience in developing molecular diagnostic assays and portable devices for field use.

Contact Titash: tchatterj@ucdavis.edu

Ph.D. Student | Energy Graduate Group

Daphne is a Ph.D student in the Energy Graduate Group studying the impacts of renewable energy development on species biodiversity, human attitudes, issues of environmental justice, and energy production targets. Daphne holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy from Western Washington University with a minor in Leadership Studies. She also received her Master of Science degree in Cultural and Environmental Resource Management from Central Washington University. As a graduate researcher, Daphne analyzed the complex political debate of local solar power production facility development within a decarbonizing state.

Contact Daphne: dcondon@ucdavis.edu

Ph.D. Student | Geography Graduate Group

Emma is a Ph.D. student in the Geography Graduate Group at UC Davis. Her current research focuses on the siting considerations and technical potential of floating solar photovoltaics. Emma earned her bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Planning with a minor in applied statistics from Sonoma State University. Her ultimate goal is to combine her love of Geographic Information Systems and the environment to inform planners and decision makers.

Contact Emma: ekforester@ucdavis.edu

Ph.D. Student | Energy Graduate Group

Noah is a Ph.D. student in the Energy Graduate Group at UC Davis, studying interactions between solar energy and soils – namely, the effect of restorative solar practices on soil carbon sequestration and storage. Noah obtained his Bachelor’s of Science from UC Davis in Civil and Environmental Engineering, with a minor in Sustainability in the Built Environment. Noah studies relationships between soils and solar energy, but to inform management practices that maximize soil carbon sequestration, improve efficiency of solar energy generation, and provide communities with actionable steps to reclaim degraded land.

Contact Noah: nzkrasner@ucdavis.edu

Ph.D. Student | Visiting Scholar

Xiao is a visiting doctoral student in Sarah M. Jordaan’s Lab at McGill University. He is from the department of Hydropower & Water resources in Wuhan University (2020-2023). His research interests include renewable energy economics and policy, renewable energy sustainability, and techno-ecology synergy. In his PhD, he addressed the renewable operations considering its techno-economic-ecology synergy. He has designed a whole framework for long-term renewable investments, forward contract, boundary and self-scheduling in electricity markets. He explores the deployment of renewables worldwide, to effectively limit carbon emissions, from a multi-disciplinary view.

Contact Xiao: xli283@jhu.edu

ResearchGate Profile

Ph.D. Candidate | Energy Graduate Group

Yudi’s research involves the restoration of two utility-scale PV solar farms in the Central Valley, investigating the co-benefits to plant and pollinator communities as well as PV performance. Yudi received his bachelor’s degree in ecology, evolution, and environmental science with minors in wildlife science from Purdue University, and master’s degree in conservation sciences from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. He was also an intern of Argonne National Laboratory, exploring the ecosystem services of solar-pollinator habitats in the Midwest for two years.

Contact Yudi: evoli@ucdavis.edu

Ph.D. Candidate | Visiting Scholar

Michael is a visiting scholar in Ruth DeFries’ Lab at Columbia University. He translates his interest in the regions where humans and wildlife actively share the landscape into research on the movement ecology of meso-carnivores in North America. As a PhD student based in the DeFries Lab at Columbia University and a Nature Conservancy NatureNet Fellow, his PhD research focuses on the intersection of renewable energy development and biodiversity conservation, specifically on how solar energy infrastructure may influence the movement and habitat selection of bobcats in solar-dense regions of North Carolina. He received an M.A. in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology from Columbia University, and a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University.

Contact Michael: mol2112@columbia.edu

Joaquin is an undergraduate research assistant working with Noah Krasner on the Photovoltaic Solar and Soil Carbon Project. He is currently working towards a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management at UC Davis with a focus in Watershed Sciences. In the future, he hopes to further his experience in groundwater restoration projects, as well as overall watershed management within California, in order to improve the state’s ability to combat droughts while building a water-sustainable future.

Dahlia is an undergraduate research assistant for Noah Krasner’s projects on PV solar and soil carbon. She is studying Environmental Science and Management, with an emphasis on Natural Resource Management. She is also a Lead Student Farmer at the UC Davis Student Farm, interested in sustainable water use for crop production.

Teddy is an undergraduate research assistant working with Noah Krasner on the PV solar and soil carbon project. His goal is to work as an environmental engineering consultant in California, so working with soil and renewable energy aligns with his future career aspirations. He also finds water and wastewater systems fascinating, and hopes to continue to work on innovating and maintaining them throughout the years.

Aemilia is an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science and Management at UC Davis, with a focus on ecology, conservation, and biodiversity. She works as a research assistant under Noah Krasner on the PV solar and soil carbon project.

Sean is from Orange County, California, and studies Environmental Science and Management at UC Davis. He is an undergraduate research assistant working with Dr. Elliott Steele on the photovoltaic solar project. His interests lie in environmental policy and justice. He wishes to pursue a career where he can facilitate and assist in an ethical transition to a more sustainable society.

Michael is an undergraduate student studying Environmental Engineering. He works as a research assistant under Noah Krasner on the PV solar and soil carbon project to study the interactions between soil and energy systems. Michael is also passionate about water resources and sustainable practices, aiming to address real-world environmental issues.