Meet our 2024 Summer Cohort
The Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) at the University of Maryland welcomes the 2024 Summer Cohort of undergraduate and graduate students, who will work alongside our team of multidisciplinary researchers. By supporting our research and policy engagement initiatives, the students will contribute to CGS’s overall mission, to change how governments, diverse organizations, and people around the world envision and implement new possibilities for ambitious climate action. The 2024 Summer Cohort will work under the supervision of CGS researchers and collaborators to support our growing portfolio of events, projects, and research, all with the achieving U.S. and global climate, development, and sustainability goals.
CGS is proud to welcome these exceptional individuals who bring knowledge and experience that further diversifies CGS expertise and our ability to deliver innovative and leading-edge research that informs and supports the development of policies at the national and global levels.
Owen Barnert
Owen Barnert is an undergraduate at Vanderbilt University, majoring in political science with a concentration in international relations. He is involved in several research projects at Vanderbilt that address climate change, energy efficiency, and sustainability.
His research interests include international energy policy and energy transitions. His most recent internship was with the National Bureau of Asian Research, where he specialized in Southeast Asian energy policy. Over the summer, he will assist the National Climate Strategies Project with a focus on China. Owen Barnert's Linkedin.
Emma Brashear
Emma Brashear graduated from the University of Maryland (UMD) in May 2024 with a bachelor's degree in geographical sciences, specializing in geospatial data science. During her undergraduate studies, Brashear dedicated herself to campus sustainability through various professional and volunteer opportunities, including becoming a certified habitat advisor with the Prince George's County Audubon Society. During her senior year, she served as both the Office of Sustainability's residential engagement intern and a campus GIS technician with UMD Facilities Management.
This fall, Brashear will continue her education at the University of Maryland, pursuing a master's degree in geospatial information sciences while working as a graduate assistant for UMD Facilities Management's campus GIS team. Emma Brashear's Linkedin.
Adriana Bryant
Adriana Bryant is a chemical engineer with a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park. Her research focuses on disaster resilience, examining how society copes with the impacts of natural hazards. A broader understanding of climate policies and their effects on the built environment has prompted her to begin her Ph.D. at UMD this fall.
At the Center for Global Sustainability, Bryant is working with the America Is All In project and is excited to bring her engineering background to the interdisciplinary team at CGS. Adriana Bryant's LinkedIn.
Bhavika Buddi
Bhavika Buddi is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, majoring in computer science. Buddi is currently part of the Sustainability Analytics stream in the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE)research program at UMD and has experience advocating for climate justice policies through her work at Our Climate Oregon. She is passionate about the intersection of technology and environmental science and using data analysis and modeling to solve pressing social issues.
As a research assistant at CGS this summer, Buddi will be working on a report for the Energy Industry Revitalization Working Group under the Maryland Commission on Climate Change and the National Climate Strategies project. Bhavika Buddi's Linkedin
Shiqi Chen
Shiqi Chen graduated with a master’s degree in public administration from the School of Public Policy. At CGS, she participated in projects related to methane mitigation and EV adoption, focusing on policy information collection and data analysis for global subnational climate action.
Currently, Chen remains a research assistant at CGS, focusing on policy information collection, data analysis, data visualization, and report writing for various research projects in the China Program. Shiqi Chen’s LinkedIn.
Dmitry Churlyaev
Dmitry Churlyaev is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park, specializing in international development. He earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign area studies from MGIMO University. Churlyaev’s expertise covers global governance, international sustainability commitments, and foreign aid. His professional experience includes engagements with multilateral economic organizations, foreign missions, and other international stakeholders.
Churlyaev is driven to promote climate justice and economic equity around the globe and believes in global action. He has been working with CGS’s National Climate Strategies team since Fall 2023, analyzing global pathways for 1.5°C, climate multi-level governance mechanisms, and subnational policies across the Group of Twenty countries. Dmitry Churlyaev’s LinkedIn.
Anom Ashok Dule
Anom Ashok Dule is skilled in data analysis and econometric methodologies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University in India and a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Maryland.
Dule’s interests revolve around energy and environmental economics, emphasizing equity, climate mitigation, and sustainability. Since spring 2023, he has been actively engaged as a research assistant at the Center for Global Sustainability. Dule will continue working on the China Program’s Methane Emissions Inventory and EV Adoption Analysis in the United States. Anom Ashok Dule’s LinkedIn.
Aayushi Gupta
Aayushi Gupta is a research assistant at the Center for Global Sustainability, where she contributes her expertise in economics. She earned a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Maryland. Her passion for research is reflected in her authorship of two independent research papers on sustainable development and economic development. Additionally, she enjoys studying political and industrial economics.
Gupta’s diverse internship experiences encompass finance, economics, research, policymaking, and data analysis, showcasing her versatility and adaptability. Her enthusiasm for exploring new areas of knowledge serves as a solid foundation for her ultimate ambition of pursuing a Ph.D. Notably, she has a profound interest in econometrics, inspiring her to delve deeper into this field. Gupta will be working on CGS’s U.S. Electric Vehicle Adoption Analysis. Aayushi Gupta’s LinkedIn.
Yingtong Li
Yingtong Li graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master’s in Public Administration. As a research assistant for CGS, she helped organize three workshops, conducted data and policy analysis for the China program and helped develop policy briefs, reports, and research papers.
During the summer, Yingtong will be working on the Independent Global Stocktake (iGST) project, global subnational climate action, methane mitigation project, and CDR policy analysis. Yingtong Li’s LinkedIn.
Kyle Parker
Kyle Parker is a Master of Public Policy student at the University of Maryland and holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and environmental science and policy from William & Mary, which he earned in 2019. Since then, Parker has worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an environmental biologist, for the Maryland General Assembly as a legislative aide, and is currently a New Futures Fellow for Planet Reimagined, conducting research on clean energy and environmental justice. He believes that an intersectional and justice-centered approach to research and policymaking is necessary to develop effective solutions for our most intractable climate and sustainability issues and is eager to apply his expertise to contribute to research in this field.
Parker has been engaged with the Center for Global Sustainability as a research assistant since July 2023, working on assessing deforestation and land use changes in Indonesia. He is excited to continue working with the Indonesia Program this summer. Kyle Parker's Linkedin.
Jordan Snarski
Jordan Snarski is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, majoring in government and politics with minors in international development and conflict management, as well as sustainability studies. She is a previous UMD Global Fellow in the global health challenges and water security concentration. Snarski is a candidate in the dual bachelor’s/MPP program with the School of Public Policy, pursuing a master’s degree in environmental policy.
At CGS, Snarski will be working on the America All-In project and the National Climate Strategies project, enhancing her understanding of climate policy research. Jordan Snarski's Linkedin.
Reem Saleh
Reem Saleh is a rising senior majoring in information science. Her professional interests include public interest technology and using data to create positive impacts and enhance policymaking. She was a student in the Global Fellows program's Global Health Challenges and Water Security concentration. In the spring of 2024, she was a data analyst intern at the Maryland Center for School Safety.
Previously, Saleh was an undergraduate research assistant in the Genome Computing Lab within the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program. She is excited to delve into the areas of environmental data and sustainability. During the summer, she will be working on CGS's Digital Infrastructure project. Reem Saleh's Linkedin.
Kasey Vangelov
Kasey Vangelov is entering her fourth year as a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on deindustrialization in the United States, ranging from automation to unemployment. She also conducts research regarding depressed economies and the corresponding rise in "deaths of despair" such as suicides, overdoses, and alcohol-related deaths.
During her time at the Center for Global Sustainability, Vangelov will be working on the State of Maryland Program and the Maryland General Assembly's Energy Revitalization Working Group. Her focus will be on public housing, civic engagement and equitable representation, and social connectedness. Kasey Vangelov's Linkedin.
Cam Wejnert-Depue
Cam Wejnert-Depue is a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, part of the Fall 2023 cohort, and a summer research associate with CGS. He received his undergraduate and master's degrees from American University. Before joining CGS as a Ph.D. student, he worked as a post-master's research associate with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Joint Global Change Research Initiative (JGCRI) based out of College Park, MD. His work at the lab focused on modeling domestic and international climate and decarbonization policies and pathways in multiple sectors, including agriculture and energy, using GCAM (Global Change Assessment Model) and other integrated assessment models such as COMET-Farm and DayCent.
Regionally, Wejnert-Depue's focus is widespread, including research on environmental decarbonization and sustainability policies in the United States, Europe, and other global regions. He is also involved in subnational climate policy research. His current dissertation research interest is developing a conceptual framework for sustainability and decarbonization policy and pathways that can connect these pathways more to dimensions of energy security and human well-being at the local (town and county), state, national, and global levels of policymaking. At CGS, he will be conducting research on the Minnesota state pathway, Maryland state pathway, and the global coal project. Cam Wejnert-Depue's Linkedin.
Annie Zhuang
Annie Zhang graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a master's degree in information systems. She also holds a bachelor's degree in finance and information systems from the University of Maryland.
At CGS, she is focused on data cleaning and visualization, allowing her to develop strong analytical skills and effectively present complex data insights. Zhang is passionate about leveraging data to drive informed decision-making and contribute to sustainable solutions. She will also be researching China's EV development policies. Annie Zhaung's Linkedin.
