Condensed version of the formal record. The fuller context for the work itself lives on the research page.
Current project context
Current work is spread across the WaVeS Lab, the LOC Lab, and a MEDS capstone with the Wildfire Resilience Index team at NCEAS. The project-level narratives live on the research page.
Education
Master of Environmental Data Science
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara
Expected June 2026
GPA: 4.00
Highlighted coursework: Machine Learning in Environmental Science, Geospatial Analysis and Remote Sensing, Environmental Systems Modeling, Environmental Datasets and Data Engineering, Databases and Data Management, Statistics for Environmental Data Science
Leadership: MEDS Student Faculty Representative
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
University of California, Santa Barbara
June 2025
GPA: 3.67
Highlighted coursework: Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, Computer Science and Problem Solving, Probability and Statistics
Leadership: Undergraduate Outreach Officer for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE)
Research and Data Analysis Experience
Research Data Analyst
Landscapes of Change (LOC) Lab, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB
January 2026 - Present
- Built reproducible data pipelines in R and Python integrating five federal datasets including USDA Forest Service aerial surveys, TerraClimate, PRISM, WorldClim, and FIA into analysis-ready formats using centralized YAML configuration and
renv.
- Developed pixel decomposition architecture to spatially link forest disturbance observations to gridded climate data via area-weighted joins, extracting pixel-level values through Google Earth Engine with roughly 300 GB of processed output.
- Produced plot-level forest inventory summaries including tree metrics, diversity indices, disturbance history, and site-level climate records from 1958 to present for thermophilization analysis across roughly 7,000 FIA sites.
Research Assistant
Water Vegetation and Society (WaVeS) Lab, University of California, Santa Barbara
June 2024 - Present
- Applied statistical and numerical methods to analyze and validate agricultural water and land-use datasets across multiple spatial scales.
- Built Python pipelines using Rasterio, GeoPandas, and Shapely to process multiband raster and vector datasets, applying CRS transformations, spatial joins, raster clipping, and reprojection across heterogeneous sources at continental scale.
- Created statistical frameworks and visualization methods for examining complex spatial relationships in agricultural systems.
BEL Fellow
Bren Environmental Leadership Program, University of California, Santa Barbara
June 2024 - December 2024
- Built a multi-source R and Python pipeline integrating five federal forest datasets across 4.47 million records and roughly 300 GB of output.
- Extracted pixel-level climate data at IDS polygon locations via Google Earth Engine using a pixel decomposition approach with area-weighted coverage fractions across all climate datasets.
- Engineered reproducible workflows with
renv, config-driven architecture, and a Streamlit dashboard for data exploration and schema documentation.
Leadership and Community Engagement
Undergraduate Outreach Officer
Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE), University of California, Santa Barbara
September 2024 - June 2025
- Coordinated a mentorship program supporting more than 130 undergraduate students pursuing STEM degrees.
- Focused outreach efforts on increasing diversity and representation in quantitative sciences through targeted programming.
- Developed and implemented engagement strategies to support retention of underrepresented students in STEM fields.
Founder and Lead Organizer
IV Recovery Community Initiative, Goleta
2023 - Present
- Founded and led a bi-weekly coastal cleanup initiative engaging university students and community members.
- Developed community engagement strategies to increase environmental stewardship and normalize university participation in local conservation.
Teaching Experience
Mathematics Tutor
Davis, California
2020 - 2023
- Taught mathematics from elementary through college level, including comprehensive GED preparation, adapting instruction to diverse learning needs and resulting in student success on examinations.
- Developed individualized learning plans to accommodate different learning styles and optimize student comprehension.
Presentations
- Miller E, Boser A, Caylor K. "Satellite Data Reveal Emerging Decentralized Irrigation Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa." Summer@Bren 2024 Flash Talks, UCSB, CA. August 29, 2024.
- Miller E, Boser A, Caylor K. "Water Source Attribution for Center Pivot Irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa." Mantell Symposium in Environmental Justice and Conservation Innovation, UCSB, CA. October 24, 2024.
- Boser A, Miller E, Perez J, Caylor K. "Analyzing the sustainability and climate resilience of rapidly expanding center pivot irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa using remote sensing." American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C. December 9-13, 2024.
Skills
Programming and Data Analysis
Python (Rasterio, GeoPandas, Shapely, scikit-learn, NumPy), R (tidyverse, renv, terra), SQL/PostgreSQL, C++
Technical Skills
Statistical analysis, numerical methods, multiband raster processing, spatial joins and CRS transformations, Google Earth Engine, remote sensing, data visualization, reproducible pipeline development
Mathematical Expertise
Real analysis, linear algebra, probability and statistics, numerical analysis, matrix operations, eigenvalue calculations
Software and Tools
GitHub Actions, AWS S3, Streamlit, config-driven reproducible workflows