Community of Graduate Scholars

The Community of Graduate Scholars (CGS) is a year-long, one-credit course that brings together the paid Research Assistants working under the supervision of investigators at the Decision Center for a Desert City. The course gives our Graduate Research Assistants the opportunity to gain skills and become leaders in transdisciplinary approaches to research, policy, and community engagement. Each CGS student works on a research team that includes faculty members as well as graduate and undergraduate students; this collaborative environment provides them with the intellectual depth necessary to contribute to DCDC’s research. The program is structured to build dialogue, thought, and action across disciplines.

Through the CGS seminar course, students become familiar with the issues, perspectives, and language of the researchers within DCDC, as well as with issues that emerge from interdisciplinary collaborations within and beyond the university. With the following goals in mind, students will:

• gain a broad understanding of DCDC research activities and how it is practiced across different academic disciplines
• develop a unique intellectual identity and voice in sharing research with scholars from diverse disciplines and backgrounds
• improve scientific communication and presentation skills, especially in interdisciplinary and professional ‘boundary’ settings that span the science and policy spheres
• contribute to DCDC as a boundary organization liaison by engaging with researchers and community partners at monthly Briefings and other events

As a part of CGS, students have the opportunity to participate in the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among other professional networking and skill-building activities.

Through this program, we apply mentoring that embodies six core competencies, as outlined by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA, 2014): 1) discipline-specific conceptual knowledge, 2) research skill development, 3) communication skills, 4) professionalism, 5) leadership and management skills, and 6) responsible conduct of research.

2020-2021

• Adenike Opejin, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
• Adora Shortridge, School of Sustainability
• Anna Bartholomew, School of Sustainability
• Elitsa Southern, School of Community Resources and Development
• Ellie Rauh, Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering
• Giselle Grigorio, School of Sustainability
• Glorynel Ojeda-Matos, School of Sustainability
• Kendra Ellner, Urban and Environmental Planning
• Krista Lawless, School of Human Evolution and Social Change
• Leah Jones, School of Sustainability
• Renee Obringer, PhD, SESYNC Postdoctoral Fellow
• Victor Ruiz-Aviles, School of Human Evolution and Social Change

2019-2020

• Adenike Opejin, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
• Adora Shortridge, School of Sustainability
• Anna Bartholomew, School of Sustainability
• Ellie Rauh, Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering
• Glorynel Ojeda-Matos, School of Sustainability
• Leah Jones, School of Sustainability
• Victor Ruiz-Aviles, School of Human Evolution and Social Change

2018-2019

• Riley Andrade, pursing her Ph.D. in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
• Josephine Godwyll, pursuing her Ph.D. in the School of Community Resources and Development
• Veronica Horvath, pursuing her M.S. in Sustainability
• Leah Jones, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainability
• Zhaocheng Wang, pursuing his Ph.D. in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment
• Megan Wheeler, pursuing her Ph.D. in the School of Life Sciences

2017-2018

• Christine DeMyers, pursuing her Ph.D. in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change
• Cyrus Hester, pursuing his Ph.D. in Sustainability
• Veronica Horvath, pursuing her M.S. in Sustainability
• Leah Jones, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainability
• Krista Lawless, pursuing her M.S. in Science and Technology Policy in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society
• Ellie Rauh, pursuing her M.S. in Sustainability
• Michael Steptoe, pursuing his M.S. in the School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
• Zhaocheng Wang, pursuing his Ph.D. in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment

2016-2017

• Danielle Chipman, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainability.
• Christine DeMyers, pursuing her Ph.D.
• Cyrus Hester, pursuing his Ph.D. in Sustainability
• Leah Jones, pursuing her Ph.D.
• Krista Lawless, pursuing her M.S.
• Brandon Ruiz, pursuing his M. S. in Urban Planning. 2017 AAAS Poster.
• Zoë Stein, pursuing her M.A.
• Michael Steptoe, pursuing his M.S. in the School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
• Ruby Upreti, pursuing her M.S. in Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering. 2017 AAAS Poster.

2015-2016

• Danielle Chipman, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainability. 2016 AAAS Poster.
• Thuy Nguyen, pursuing her M.S. in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment. 2016 AAAS Poster.
• Michael Steptoe, pursuing his M.S. in the School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
• Rhian Stotts, pursuing her Ph.D. in Anthropology. 2016 AAAS Poster winner of the 2016 AAAS Student Poster Competition in the Social Sciences category.
• Charlotte Till, pursuing her Ph.D. in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.
• Ruby Upreti, pursuing her M.S. in Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering. 2016 AAAS Poster.
• Yujia (Cindy) Zhang, pursuing her Ph.D. in Geographical Sciences. 2016 AAAS Poster.

2014-2015

• Aneesha Bhat, pursuing her M.S. in Computer Science
• Jorge Cazares, pursuing his M.S. in Hydrology
• Danielle Chipman, pursuing her M.S. in Sustainability
• Margaret (Meg) du Bray, pursuing her Ph.D. in Anthropology
• Skaidra Smith-Heisters, pursuing her Ph.D. in Environmental Social Science
• Eric Kennedy, pursuing his Ph.D. in Human and Social Dimensions in Science and Technology
• Yola Wong, pursuing her Ph.D. in Engineering
• Yujia (Cindy) Zhang, pursuing her Ph.D. in Geographical Sciences

2013-2014

• Jorge Cazares, pursuing his M.S. in Hydrology
• Eric Kennedy, pursuing his Ph.D. in Human and Social Dimensions in Science and Technology
• Rashmi Krishnamurthy, pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Affairs
• Laurel Kruke, pursuing her M.A. in Sustainability
• Jacelyn Rice, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainable Engineering
• Jose Rosales Chavez, pursuing his Ph.D. in Global Health
• Skaidra Smith-Heisters, pursuing her Ph.D. in Environmental Social Science
• Yujia Zhang, pursuing her Ph.D. in Geographical Sciences

2012-2013

• Julia (Chrissie) Bausch, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainability
• Jorge Cazares, pursuing his M.S. in Hydrology
• Jose Rosales Chavez, pursuing his Ph.D. in Global Health
• Lauren Withycombe Keeler, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainability
• Rashmi Krishnamurthy, pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Affairs
• Rebecca Neel, pursuing her Ph.D. in Psychology
• Jacelyn Rice, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainable Engineering
• Victoria (Kelly) Turner, pursuing her Ph.D. in Geography
• Manikandan Vijayakumar, pursuing his M.S. in Computer Science

2011-2012

• Julia (Chrissie) Bausch, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainability
• Geetali Dudhbhate, pursuing her M.S. in Computer Science
• Gretchen Hawkins, pursuing her M.S. in Hydrology
• Lauren Withycombe Keeler, pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainability
• Rashmi Krishnamurthy, pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Affairs
• Rebecca Neel, pursuing her Ph.D. in Psychology