Students
As a research organization, the Center is fortunate to work with motivated and well-qualified students. The graduate students have high levels of responsibility and carry out large portions of the effort, under supervision of PhD researchers. This brings creative new minds to the research and development effort.
At the same time, we are training the next generation of professionals — they study the theory, work with industry, are involved in writing law and implementing policy, teach, give demonstrations and lectures about new clean technologies, and sometimes write draft law or advance new policies. They are learning the science, engineering and policy–and working within the economy and the political process–to build a carbon-free society for the future.
Current students
Katie Diaz (matriculated into M.S., Geological Sciences, 2018). Katie obtained a B.S. in Geology from the University of Delaware and worked for two years in the Geoscience Research and Support section of the New Jersey Geological Survey focusing on offshore sand resource allocation and near surface geophysical projects. Her master’s work is on the geotechnical aspects of offshore wind turbine foundations with particular focus on the applicability of suction caisson base installations off the coast of Delaware and Maryland.
Safoura Faghi (matriculated into Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2024). Safoura is studying renewable and distributed energy systems, including EVs, and how they interact with electric power grids. Safoura obtained a M.S. in Electrical Power Engineering, from Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tahran and a B.S. in Electrical Power Engineering from Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University. Safoura’s professional employment experience includes power systems studies at Mandiro Chabahar Company and electric power system analysis at the Shiraz University of Technology
Catherine Gilman (matriculated into M.S. Energy and Environmental Policy, 2024). Catherine obtained a B.S. from the University of Delaware in May 2024. She is studying policies to enable EVs to qualify for and enter both retail and wholesale power markets.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-gilman-9477b818b/
Maryam Golbazi (matriculated into Ph.D., Ocean Engineering, 2017). Mayam completed a B.S. in Architectural Engineering and a M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering. As a bachelor’s student, she worked on sustainable and green architectural designs. In her Master’s, she continued her research on modeling energy consumption in buildings using the BIM method in order to reach the maximum energy efficiency and comfort in buildings. She has published three papers about the LEED healthcare facilities, and factors on energy efficiency of residential buildings in the U.S. Maryam is now working towards a Ph.D in Ocean Engineering. As a member of the AERG, she is working with Dr. Cristina Archer on pollution transport in East Coast U.S. She is modeling the transport of pollutants, specifically ozone, with natural processes by utilizing WRF and CAMx.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/golbazimarya
Zoē Ketola (matriculated into Ph.D. in Energy & Environmental Policy in Fall 2023, Unidel Distinguished Graduate Scholar). Zoē holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental & Energy Policy. She has professional experience in the US power sector, where she oversaw the manufacturing of substation control houses for electric utilities and separately assessed microgrid potential, interconnection, and incentives for private businesses. Her research experience includes work on energy service security in rural communities, sense of place in international industrial landscapes, and acceptance among technology implementing populations. Zoē is currently involved with multiple research projects, each of which centers around just development and community perceptions. Two of her current projects utilize mixed-methods approaches to assess community perceptions of energy justice along the US East Coast. Zoē’s other work focuses on community engagement as it relates to changes in the built environment.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-ketola
Emma Korein (matriculated into Ph.D. in Marine Policy, 2022). Emma came to UD CReW with an interdisciplinary background in the social and natural sciences (BA Psychology, MSc Conservation and Biodiversity), as well as 3 years of professional experience in applied research and marine conservation management. She most recently served as a National Coral Reef Management Fellow in Puerto Rico. Emma is currently working on several research projects that examine issues of energy justice with respect to offshore wind development. Two of these projects use mixed methodologies to understand community perceptions of recognition, procedural and distributive justice in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic US. She is also working on a project that examines diverse perspectives on the negotiation of local benefit agreements and includes interviews with developers and community groups.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-korein-6a353583/
Sara Parkison (matriculated into Ph.D., Marine Policy, 2017). As Senior Policy Analyst with the Electric Vehicle Research & Development Group within the University of Delaware’s Center for Research in Wind, Sara’s policy work emphasizes the integration of renewable energy coupled with enhanced grid flexibility through the deployment of distributed energy resources in the form of storage, including grid-integrated vehicle systems. Her doctoral research focuses on multi-scalar regulatory policy development in energy system transitions. Sara took intern and professional time away from her dissertation from 2022-2024 to work at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as a Knauss Fellow, and to work at Turn Forward as Policy and Research Manager. She received her BA in Political Science and Public Policy at St. Mary’s Public Honors College of Maryland.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-parkison/
Lorren Ruscetta (matriculated into M.S., Policy, 2023). Lorren comes to UD with a strong social and behavioral studies background, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and dual Master’s degrees in Psychology and International Peace & Conflict Resolution. Lorren has extensive professional experience in psychotherapy and conflict resolution, including supporting survivors of violent conflict abroad through restorative justice practices and providing psychotherapy to teenagers and young adults struggling with climate anxiety as well as the ramifications of traumatic experiences. Lorren is currently working on two research projects, one examining energy justice in the Mid-Atlantic region in the context of offshore wind development through a mixed methods approach. Another is looking to understand the role and motivations of negotiating local benefit agreements in the context of offshore wind from diverse perspectives through utilizing semi-structured interviews with offshore wind developers and rural communities that will be hosting floating offshore wind.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorren-ruscetta/
Winston Sichen Wu (matriculated into Ph.D., Ocean Engineering, 2016)
