PEOPLE

Working Group Co-Chairs

Ana Dyreson, Co-Chair
Michigan Technological University

Research interests: Drought and heat impacts on power systems; Grid modeling for high penetration renewable futures; Solar and hybrid power plant energy analysis.

Tom Wild, Co-Chair
University of Maryland
Joint Global Change Research Institute (PNNL)

Dr. Wild’s research focuses on identifying holistic solutions to complex systems challenges that occur at the intersection of disciplines. He seeks to craft methodological advances capable of improving the way we characterize, visualize, and manage coupled human-natural systems confronting uncertainty and change, and the infrastructure that drives their interactions. Specifically, his research has spanned planning and management challenges in water resources and environmental systems, energy-water-land systems, and deep decarbonization.

Communication Officer

Mengqi Zhao, Communications Officer
University of Maryland

Dr. Mengqi Zhao is a postdoctoral associate at the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on regional-scale integrated water resource management at the Food-Energy-Water Nexus. She is interested in studying the connections and feedbacks among environmental, ecological, social, and economic systems. Her work involves developing system dynamics modeling as an interactive tool for stakeholders to gain insights on adaptative management under future climate change. Her interests also extend to understand the impact of land-use change on hydrologic patterns, physically based and gridded hydrologic modeling, and sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. 

Working Group Active Core Members

Ryna Cui
University of Maryland

Dr. Ryna Cui is an Assistant Research Professor and Co-Director for the China Program at the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS), University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Dr. Cui is an expert in global coal transition and climate and energy policies in China. She leads the Global Coal Transition Project at CGS. As the China Program co-lead, Dr. Cui also manages the development and implementation of CGS’s China program portfolio. Her research focuses on climate change mitigation, sustainable energy transition, and global and national integrated assessment modeling of China, India and the United States.

Naresh Devineni
The City College of New York – CUNY

Dr. Devineni is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in The City University of New York’s City College. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University. He did his post-doctoral studies at Columbia University. He also worked as a Consultant for the World Bank for a brief period in 2009. He has diverse interests in hydro-climate modeling and extremes analysis, statistical methods, water sustainability and risk assessment, and water systems analysis. He is motivated by challenging problems interfacing human needs, engineering innovation, and scientific advancement.

Stuart Cohen
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Dr. Cohen co-chairs the MSD working group on Multisector Impacts of Energy Transitions, having participated in MSD research that links energy models with climate, water, and economy-wide modeling and analysis. He sees great importance in cultivating education and professional development in the rapidly-evolving MSD field so that researchers can work effectively to solve the grand multisector challenges faced by society.

Leon Clarke
University of Maryland

Dr. Clarke is the Research Director for the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS) and a Research Professor in the School of Public Policy. Dr. Clarke is an expert in energy and environmental issues, with a focus on climate change, climate change mitigation strategies, energy technology options, and integrated assessment modeling. At CGS, Dr. Clarke focuses on the use of quantitative methods and modeling in support of policy and other decisions. Current activities include low-emissions development strategies in China, India, and Latin America, energy-water-land planning in Latin America, and climate mitigation by U.S. cities, states, and businesses. As Research Director, Dr. Clarke oversees the development and execution of CGS’s research portfolio.

Casey Burleyson
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Dr. Burleyson is a researcher in the Integrated Multisector Multiscale Modeling project led by PNNL and he also co-leads the FAIR data working group within the MSD Community of Practice. Dr. Burleyson is interested in developing a community of MSD researchers who share tools and experiences in order to reduce barriers to entry and duplication of effort across MSD projects.

Erwan Monier
University of California, Davis

Research interests: climate change and extreme weather, terrestrial ecosystem health, wildfires, energy-water-land system dynamics, climate-health interactions