HELLO THERE!
I enjoy synthesizing data and creating visualizations, maps, and tools that translate complex datasets into clear insights and stories. I also like to dabble in predictive and deterministic modeling, work with remotely sensed data, and learn about spatial statistics.
I am an interdisciplinary environmental scientist at heart, however, my research background spans natural disaster and climate resilience, risk modeling, vegetation and forest ecology, and crop and soil systems. I am broadly interested in the social/ecological/infrastructure sectors and am always looking to learn more through the datasets I work with.
Outside and inside of work, I like to volunteer on farms, bike long distances, surf knee high waves, sew bike bags, and drink coffee at the library.
Geospatial Data Scientist | 🔥 Wildfire Modeling | Vegetation Ecology | Agriculture Technology |
Combining environmental science training with geospatial engineering. Python, R, and ArcGIS are my core stack.
How I have used spatial datasets, visualization, and modeling.
Wildfire · Geospatial index
An index composed of high resolution (90m) spatiotemporal maps assessing wildfire resilience across western U.S. and Canada. We compiled over 100 unique geospatial datasets to assess socio-ecological wildfire resiliency. Data layers spanned domains such as infrastructure, health, vegetation, species, carbon, air, water and more.
PythonRQGISGeoPandasSpatial aggregation
Field-based analysis of floral hemp responses to nitrogen fertilization in the high desert, combining yield analytics, spatial context, and fertilization tracking.
Experimental designMixed dataSpatial analysisVisualization
Nationwide assessment of how cultural heritage sites in the United States intersect with wildfire risk, combining heritage inventories with hazard and exposure modeling.
Spatial joinsRisk & exposureArcGISCartography
In review at Scientific Reports.
This is a spin-off project from my work on WRI. Poor air quality has negative health outcomes and is an important dimension of public health and policy, especially in relation to wildfires. The Environmental Protection Agency has developed AQI thresholds above which there are increased health risks. AQI greater than 100 aims to represent base-level unhealthy air exposure for sensitive groups, while AQI greater than 300 aims to capture acute hazardous smoke events.
GeoPandas pipelines, spatial aggregation scripts, and map automation.
sf, terra, and tidyverse-based reproducible analyses.
Map design, symbology, and publication-ready exports.
In review
MM Farnisa, BS Halpern, CR Fong. Nationwide exposure of United States cultural heritage to wildfire. Scientific Reports (in review).
In review
CR Fong, J Dudney, WD Hansen, MH Mockrin, MA Moritz, CJ Nolan, MP North, CM Tortorelli, RA King, CW Broderick, JM DeCesaro, EE Egg, MM Farnisa, BS Halpern. An index to assess wildfire resilience across the North American West. OneEarth (in review).
Published
Farnisa MM, Miller GC, Solomon JKQ, Barrios-Masias FH (2023). Floral hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) responses to nitrogen fertilization under field conditions in the high desert. PLOS ONE, 18(5): e0284537. DOI link.
University of Nevada, Reno
Minor in Data Analysis, Statistics, GIS
Amsterdam University College, The Netherlands
Minor in Agroecology, GIS
University of Queensland, Australia
Joan M. Comanor Scholarship (2021) - $1,500
Robert E. Dickenson Scholarship (2021) - $6,495
Nevada Agricultural Foundation Grant (2022) - $2,000
University of Nevada Research Grant (2021-2022) - $8,000
Undergraduate Academic Achievement Scholarship (2014-2017) - Full ride, Amsterdam University College
Selected for a competitive undergraduate exchange semester at the University of Queensland (Fall 2016).
Field-based research and lab work across environmental science.
Brix concentrations of greenhouse tomato varieties on varying nutrient cycles.
Defense properties of coral mucus in the Great Barrier Reef against marine and human bacteria.
Determining PSII herbicide concentrations of five waterbodies in Queensland, Australia using combined chemical and bioassay analysis approach.