BRIDGES Program Graduate and Undergraduate Students
Jordan French
Jordan is a Ph.D. candidate in UT Austin’s Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering program. His research lies at the intersection of environment and energy transitions, as he leverages air quality modeling and monitoring tools to understand the impacts of energy-related infrastructure. Working with BRIDGES, he has engaged with community members to monitor and communicate the air quality impacts of gravel extraction and processing facilities in Bastrop County.
Trinity Chou
Trinity is a first-year master’s student in the Energy and Earth Resources Program under the Jackson School of Geosciences. Her research involves investigating failing infrastructure impacts on water quality in Austin watersheds through the use of emerging contaminants. As a part of BRIDGES Program, she hopes to work with community members to address potential water quality issues they face in their communities.
Sydney Libbing
Sydney is a master’s student in the Jackson School of Geosciences, where she studies the tradeoffs associated with cool pavement. She works with the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department to evaluate how this intervention influences local streams, and partners with a community fellow to understand neighborhood perspectives on heat and environmental risks. Sydney has experience in water sampling, surveying, and communicating scientific findings to diverse stakeholders. Through the BRIDGES Program, she looks forward to collaborating with Austin community members to better understand the benefits and challenges of cool pavement as a climate adaptation strategy, as well as the broader environmental issues facing the community.
Yuer Wang
Yuer Wang is a Ph.D. student in Public Policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, studying urban climate governance and resilience planning. Her research investigates how communities and key stakeholders perceive climate risks and evaluates the implementation of local climate actions, guiding and facilitating the development of evidence-based, community-centered environmental policy and planning strategies. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from UC Davis, as well as an M.S. in Environment and Sustainability and M.P.P. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. As part of BRIDGES, she expects to work closely with community members on climate resilience projects, with an emphasis on flood management as well as impacts and vulnerability of gentrification.
BRIDGES Program Undergraduate Students
Victoria Kebano
Victoria Kebano is a Sustainability Studies student at The University of Texas at Austin with interests in sustainability, environmental policy, and community-based research. She enjoys studying how policy and infrastructure shape relationships between communities and the environment.
Elina Kondap
Elina Kondap is a third-year MIS student at the McCombs School of Business currently pursuing a certificate in environment and sustainability. Through her work with the BRIDGES program, she has been able to engage in community-based research while investigating changing water quality. In the future, she is interested in learning more about the intersection between business and sustainability.
Zahra Mahmood
Zahra Mahmood is a chemistry undergraduate student pursuing certificates in Spanish and Environment & Sustainability. She is interested in environmental health, water quality, and community-based research. Zahra hopes to work with Austin community members through BRIDGES to better understand and address water quality issues.