Name: Sonja Rebarber
Pronouns: she/her
Institution: Swarthmore College
Department: Department of Mathematics and Statistics AND Department of Computer Science
Biography:
My name is Sonja Rebarber and I am from Lincoln, Nebraska. I am an undergraduate junior at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania studying Mathematics and Computer Science. I am currently employed as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Texas at Austin. At UT-Austin, my research focuses on quantifying the impacts of climate change and the Urban Heat Island effect on energy use in buildings in Austin. I plan to pursue a PhD, and I hope to continue conducting researching in computational modeling related to urban sustainability through graduate school and as a career. One of my most valuable strengths is my ability to effectively collaborate with a team. Through my previous research experiences and coursework, I have learned how to clearly and consistently communication with collaborators, as well as how to adapt to new work environments. In my personal time, I enjoy playing drum set, songwriting, singing, and playing volleyball.
Academic Status: Undergraduate Student
Year in program: 3rd
Research Area/Department: Applied Mathematics; Computer Science; Mathematics
Other, specify:
Major/Specialty: Double major: Mathematics, emphasis in Applied Math Computer Science
Degrees Earned or in Progress: In Progress: Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, 2025 Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, 2025
What courses or academic preparation have you completed to prepare for a summer internship experience?
Here are the computer science courses which I have taken or am currently taking, as well as some math courses which may help: Introduction to Computer Science Data Structures and Algorithms Introduction to Computer Systems (in progress) Algorithms (in progress) Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra Differential Equations Real Analysis (in progress) The research projects I describe in the next section are the experiences which I think have provided the best preparation for summer research with the DOE.
Have you published any research or worked on research/technical projects? Yes
Where has your research been published or where have you conducted research/technical projects? I have taken part in two research experiences: 1. Summer 2022: research at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics Subject: modeling the spread of Visceral leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease This work lead to a paper which was recently submitted to PLOS One. References/PIs: Dr. Jan Rychtar (rychtarj@vcu.edu) [writer of reference letter] Dr. Dewey Taylor (dttaylor2@vcu.edu) 2. May 2023 – present: research at University of Texas at Austin in the departments of Geological Sciences and Civil Engineering Subjects: Mapping varying urban microclimates and the urban heat island (UHI) effect in Austin. Examining the impacts of climate change and the UHI effect on building energy consumption. This work is focused on computational modeling. My work is part of a larger project which aims to predict how the Texas electrical grid would respond in the future to electrification of residential buildings. References/PIs: Dr. Sergio Castellanos (sergioc@utexas.edu) Dr. Dev Niyogi (dev.niyogi@jsg.utexas.edu)
Please describe your research/academic interests:
My main academic interest involve mathematical and computational modeling related to urban sustainability. I can envision myself conducting research in various fields within the DOE National Laboratories. Currently, the topics I am most drawn to include 1) modeling the efficacy of renewable and alternative energy sources, 2) modeling urban water systems and water treatment, 3) modeling low impact development, including green and blue infrastructure, and 4) modeling urban heat islands and techniques to mitigate extreme heat. This summer, I want to use mathematical and computational models to simulate one of these processes, or that of a related field. In the future, I hope to develop tools like this.
Computational and Data Science Areas:
Applied Mathematics; Computational Science Applications, i.e., Bioscience, Cosmology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Nanotechnology, Climate, etc.; Computer Science; Data Analytics and Visualization; High-Performance Computing; Machine Learning and AI
Research Synergy:
I am drawn to computational and mathematical modeling because I find it fascinating that we can make predictions about the future. Many technological systems implemented by humans pose a threat to the future of our environment. It is crucial for us to assess these impacts because it offers us a chance to modify these systems and minimize harm. My coursework and research experiences in coding and modeling have been truly fun for me, and applying these methods to sustainability issues is the perfect opportunity for me. I have not completed any coursework or research directly related to data science, AI/machine learning, and high performance computing, but I would be interested in exploring these areas and applying these techniques to model environmental challenges. The DOE national laboratories have projects related to nearly all of my interests. Much of the work at these laboratories is intriguing to me, especially the Berkeley lab. I would be excited to explore a variety of fields at the matching workshop, but a few divisions and projects in particular demonstrate that work at DOE labs aligns strongly with my interests. While I have not conducted research related to sustainable water systems, my Engineering course in Energy and the Environment piqued my interest in this topic. I am especially interested in the water-energy nexus, both because of the optimization aspect of this issue, but also because the bleak possibilities for the future make this an extremely pressing topic. The National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI), led by the Berkeley Lab, is conducting fascinating research in data modeling and analysis. For example, Project 3.08 about distributed desalination and water reuse, led by David Sedlak, is the kind of project that I would be thrilled to be a part of. Currently, NAWI is my top choice for where I would want to work, but I would be excited to explore many options at the workshop. As mentioned before, my main interest is modeling the efficacy of renewable energy. One project from the Argonne lab that caught my eye was a paper by Leroy Watson. This paper analyzes geospatial data to model restoration of native grassland and implementation of solar energy facilities on the same land. Projects like this make me hopeful about the future. In general, the Northeast Solar Energy Research Center at the Brookhaven Lab is very interesting to me, especially the work in integrating solar energy into the grid. My work at UT-Austin uses building energy consumption simulations to examine how the grid and greenhouse gas emissions would be influenced by electrifying appliances in residential buildings. However, the biggest reduction in carbon emissions can only be achieved if electricity is produced using carbon-free energy sources, such as solar energy. I think that modeling research at NERSC would be an interesting complement to my current work. My research this summer examined the urban heat islands. Through my work, as well as the experience of living in Texas during summer months, it’s clear to me that mitigating and preventing extreme heat is a worthwhile area of research, and I think that the Heat Island Group at the Berkeley lab might be a good place for me to continue exploring this subject. While my limited research experience has centered around using existing modeling tools, in the future I hope to contribute to developing these tools. Although I do not yet understand most of it, the research at the Computing Sciences section of Berkeley Lab seems very engaging. For example, one paper about Hybrid Global Deflated Local Optimization by Marcus Noack explained an algorithm which finds multiple optima using high-performance computing. I would love to eventually be able to design algorithms and modeling techniques like this. The DOE national laboratories have a huge number of divisions and projects that would be an exceptional fit for me. I can’t imagine a better place than this matching workshop to find opportunities to use computational modeling to address challenges related to urban sustainability.
Motivation:
Clearly, my goal in attending the matching workshop is to secure a spot to conduct research at a DOE national laboratory this summer. First, however, I want to further explore the DOE projects in which I am interested and potentially learn about new fields of research that I have not yet heard of. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak with scientists conducting these kinds of research. I have conducted research only in a university setting and I am curious about what research looks like in a national laboratory. By exploring a variety of labs and projects, I can better determine which computational skills are most relevant to the work I want to do, and which are most important for me to develop during my graduate coursework. I have never attended an event with DOE staff, so the only sources of information I have are the websites for the national laboratories. At the matching workshop, I hope to get a clearer sense of what distinguishes each laboratory and project, both in terms of topic and working environment. All of the projects that I described in the Research Synergy section, and others, are fascinating to me, and I would be so grateful for the opportunity to work at one of these labs. Furthermore, I wonder if this experience could potentially lead me to a career in a national laboratories. My research experiences have given me confidence that conducting research like this would be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
Lightning Talk Title: Rebarber, Sonja