Solutions that Scale Graduate Fellows

Julianne is a PhD student in Prof. Steve Davis's research group in the Department of Earth System Science. Her broad research interest is in assessing scalable decarbonization strategies that are both economically viable and policy-relevant. More specifically, she is currently working on projects involving net-zero emissions energy systems, difficult-to-decarbonize energy services, zero carbon liquid fuels, and carbon management. Julianne will work with Prof. Davis and Prof. Jack Brouwer to model a global net-zero emissions freight system as part of the Solutions that Scale Graduate Fellowship. She is interested in modeling net-zero emissions for freight specifically because long-haul transportation relies on energy-dense liquid fuels, making it one of the most difficult industries to fully decarbonize.

I have a strong interest in environmental health studies focusing on air pollution and climate change and am particularly interested in understanding the best strategies to mitigate the exposures of pregnant women to extreme heat and air pollution so that the women can have a healthy pregnancy and an optimally-grown fetus. My dissertation project will be realted to the birth outcomes and mental health of pregnant women with the adverse exposures to ambient environment. During the StS Graduate Fellowship period, I would like to understand the impact of extreme heat exposure on pregnant women and the effectiveness of adaptation measures in racial/ethnic minorities and low SES populations.

I am interested in developing renewable energy sources via chemical methods as well as social policies to address climate change. My research focuses on the abatement of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide using transition metal catalysts and electrochemical methods. I have worked on closing the carbon cycle by reducing carbon dioxide to formate, a chemical fuel, using a metal hydride electrocatalyst under mild conditions in water. As an StS fellow, I will be working on methods to reduce nitrous oxide to dinitrogen and exploring its reactivity with transition metals. I will also focus on identifying global sources of nitrous oxide and potential recommendations to decrease emissions and direct future research.