Yoichi S
- Research Program Mentor

PhD at Stanford University

Expertise

Carbon Cycle, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Climate, Ecosystems

Bio

I am an Earth Scientist primarily interested in improving our understanding of the carbon cycle using a variety of earth and atmospheric models, in-situ and satellite-based observations, and statistics. Some of the questions I think about are: How will ecosystems respond to changes in climate? What can atmospheric observations and models tell us about greenhouse gas emissions? When, where, and why do carbon cycle models match atmospheric observations? I think of my research as a combination of engineering and ecology. I did my undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering before making the to move into Environmental Engineering for graduate school so I enjoy exploring all sorts of topics related to space, math, physics, along with the environment and climate.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Exploring the drivers of regional carbon fluxes in North American forests

Using a variety of model output and observations this project will aim to explore the main drivers of regional carbon exchange in North American forests.

Using machine learning to identify patterns in carbon sources and sink

This project will focus on exploring the output from a set of carbon cycle models or terrestrial biosphere models. The project will apply machine learning algorithms to classify regions of the world based on their carbon cycle dynamics.

Coding skills

MatLab, Python, R

Teaching experience

I have a passion for teaching and have taught various age groups from elementary aged children to grandparents. Most recently I taught Sustainability Challenges and Transitions for first year undergraduates and Solving Climate Change, a continuing studies course open to the general public.

Credentials

Work experience

Universities Space Research Association (2019 - Current)

Visiting Associate Scientist, Earth Science

Carnegie Institution for Science Deptartment of Global Ecology (2018 - 2019)

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

University of California San Diego (UCSD)

BS Bachelor of Science (2008)

Aerospace Engineering

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

MS Master of Science (2011)

Environmental Engineering

Stanford University

PhD Doctor of Philosophy (2018)