Jenny Skerker
PhD candidate (she/her)
I use systems-level modeling to address equity challenges in water supply planning. I am currently building a decision-support tool to understand how optimizing explicitly for household water affordability impacts utility-level, long-term water supply planning. Prior to coming to Stanford, I worked at AECOM as a Water Resources Engineer. In my free time, I enjoy running, cooking, listening to podcasts, and finding new hikes in the Bay Area.
email: jskerker@stanford.edu
Keani Willebrand
PhD candidate (she/her)
My research interests include the development of decision support tools to guide the planning, adaptation, and optimization of water infrastructures and water management policies to support long-term resilience. My current project aims to develop a decision framework for the integrated flexible design, planning, and operations of a proposed reservoir in Kenya. In my free time, I enjoy baking, hiking, skiing, and painting.
email: keaniw@stanford.edu
Mofan Zhang
PhD candidate (she/her)
My research focuses on system-level simulation and optimization that utilize statistics and economics for adaptive water resources planning under uncertainty. My current project focuses on understanding different types of hydroclimate uncertainties and aims to develop robust adaptive strategies to manage uncertainties. In my free time, I enjoy reading science fiction novels, playing the piano, and travelling with family and friends. I am also passionate about small animal protection.
email: mofanz@stanford.edu
Aniket Verma
PhD student (he/him)
My research interests involve investigating supply and demand uncertainty in the context of designing adaptive management solutions in water resources planning. This includes developing a holistic, multi-sectoral understanding of how supply and demand dynamics co-evolve with climate, human behavioral, socioeconomic, and demographic dynamics. My hobbies include playing the guitar, bouldering, boxing, and collecting vintage vinyl records.
email: aniketv@stanford.edu
Clara Medina
Rotational PhD student (she/her)
My research is focused on developing equitable and sustainable water infrastructure solutions for agricultural and rural communities through a lens in water reuse. I am interested in learning about the social and economic dynamics of water resources management in California, as well. My current project is focused on water affordability in the California Bay Area. I love to travel, bake, and paint in my free time.
email: cymedina@stanford.edu
Ben Rachunok, PhD
Former postdoc
I work on problems related to designing and managing infrastructure to reduce the impacts of climate change on marginalized groups using methods from data science and optimization. I have a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and previously worked in R&D at the Center for Computing Research at Sandia National Labs. I am now an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University.
email: barachun@ncsu.edu
Marta Zaniolo, PhD
Former postdoc (she/her)
My research fuses environmental, climate, and hydrologic disciplines, with machine learning, multi-objective optimal control, and evolutionary computation. My current research interests include addressing the challenges of providing sustainable and reliable water to drought-prone cities in California by focusing on innovative drought-resilient solutions such as water recycling, conservation, and desalination.
email: mzaniolo@stanford.edu
Cindy Weng, PhD
Former postdoc consultant (she/her)
My research models pathways for drought impacts on household water affordability in California. I am motivated to provide access to water, education, and to address socioeconomic inequities. I have an MS and PhD in environmental engineering from Stanford, where I developed decentralized treatment technologies for water and greenhouse gases. In my spare time, I enjoy skiing/nature, cooking, and ice skating. I am now an Associate at McKinsey & Co.
Adam Nayak
Former MS student (they/he/any)
I am currently working on a thesis focused on modeling the effects of California policy on water affordability and resiliency through California droughts. With a passion for both engineering and community engagement, I am particularly interested in the equitable practice of sustainable development and social justice within environmental systems. I am now a PhD student at Columbia University.
email: adam.nayak@columbia.edu
Bryana Gastelum
Former undergraduate (she/they)
I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental systems engineering and a master’s degree in atmosphere/energy. My academic journey is fueled by a deep passion for environmental justice, sustainable energy development, and Just Transitions strategies. Through my research, I aim to incorporate the principle of equity into modeling scenarios of drought and water management. I find joy in playing soccer, photography, and volunteering at local community gardens.
email: bryana6@stanford.edu
Aliyah Hamilton
Former undergraduate (she/her)
As I pursue my undergraduate degree in civil and environmental engineering, I have developed a fusion of research interests in both developing efficient water and wastewater treatment systems as well as water management policies. My current project is focused on the impact of optimizing for household affordability on water infrastructure decisions. In my free time, I enjoy painting, traveling and learning to cook different cuisines.
email: aliyah36@stanford.edu