Qian Zhang

About Qian Zhang

I am an Associate Research Scientist (Watershed Effectiveness Data Analyst) working for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) at the USEPA Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP). Within the CBP\'s Scientific, Technical Assessment and Reporting (STAR) team, my main role is to collaborate with scientists and managers in the CBP Partnership to analyze monitoring data and explore the temporal and spatial patterns and trends of water quality in Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, which are critical to defining the success of the Bay restoration effort.I am particularly interested in applying scientific principles and statistical approaches to examine nutrient and sediment loads from watersheds and better understand their drivers and impacts along the land-river-estuary continuum. My specific research interests include:(1) quantifying riverine water-quality loads and trends;(2) improving statistical methods for riverine water-quality load and trend estimation;(3) disentangling natural and anthropogenic controls of riverine water-quality loads and trends; and (4) understanding impacts of riverine loads on receiving waters.Estuarine and watershed monitoring data have become increasingly available across a range of diverse temporal and spatial coverages. These data can provide valuable information regarding the patterns of changes in ecosystem functioning and help generate plausible hypotheses on underlying drivers. As a Monitoring Data Analyst at CBP, I am committed to developing new approaches to integrate, analyze, and visualize complex (and often noisy) environmental data toward extracting and communicating meaningful patterns.

Experience

1. Data Analyst

   Chesapeake Bay Program

   Sep 2016 — Present · Annapolis, MD, US

   As a data analyst at the USEPA Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), I am dedicated to developing innovative approaches to integrate, analyze, and visualize complex environmental data toward extracting meaningful patterns and insights to provide scientific knowledge that supports the restoration and management of Chesapeake Bay.

Education

• Nanyang Technological University Singapore

  Bachelor’s Degree, Environmental Engineering

  2005 — 2009

• The Johns Hopkins University

  M.S.E., Applied Mathematics and Statistics

  2012 — 2014

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Environmental Engineering and Science

  2011 — 2016

• The Johns Hopkins University

  M.S.E., Environmental Engineering (Process)

  2010 — 2011