Meet Our Newest Ph.D. Students

In August 2025, the Center for Geospatial Analytics welcomed its seventh cohort of Geospatial Analytics Ph.D. students. Geospatial analytics is a branch of data science that spans myriad disciplines, and our students’ research interests and backgrounds are just as varied! They are advised by Faculty Fellows across four departments in three different colleges here at N.C. State.

Meet our newest Ph.D. students as they join our other cohorts of students on their academic journeys.

Kailee Berge

Research: Developing integrated species distribution models at multiple spatial scales for a range of federally listed aquatic species to inform recovery
Advisors: Krishna Pacifici
Education: M.S. Marine Biology (University of Maine), B.S. Zoology & B.S. Conservation Biology (University of Wisconsin)

Adam Bloom

Research: Leveraging atmospheric chemistry models, satellite observations, and machine learning to understand air pollutants and greenhouse gases
Advisors: Zhen Qu
Education: B.A. in Chemistry (UNC Chapel Hill)

Sara Boburka

Research: Designing tools for professionals within ecological conservation and environmental justice
Advisor: Bethany Cutts
Education: B.S Biology & B.S. Environmental Science (UNC Chapel Hill)

Jillian Greene

Research: Using satellite remote sensing to examine aquatic systems on a large scale to better understand their role in global biogeochemical processes
Advisor: Natalie Nelson
Education: M.S. in Biology, B.S. Environmental & Sustainability Studies (Grand Valley State University)

Jing Hu

Research: Engaging with the computational side of geospatial science, particularly using data fusion of various Earth-observation data to study forest phenology and advance understanding of human–nature interactions
Advisor: Josh Gray
Education: B.S. Geography & B.S. Statistics & Operations Research (UNC Chapel Hill)

Abby Wiese

Research: Creating actionable science by using spatio-temporal methods to predict community-based climate change risks
Advisor: Jelena Vukomanovic
Education: Master of Geospatial Information Science & Technology (NC State University), BS Earth & Environmental Science (UNC Charlotte)