Caitlin Crossett Reflects on a Successful Dissertation

 

 
Caitlin Crossett served as a graduate research assistant with Vermont EPSCoR's BREE project. In March 2022, she completed a major step in her scientific career by presenting her dissertation defense "Hydroclimatic Variability in the Northeastern United States" on March 30, 2022. With that work now behind her and a promising career ahead, Caitlin took the time to answer some questions about her time with Vermont EPSCoR and her plans for the future.

What are the main ideas and components behind your dissertation defense?

My dissertation examined heavy precipitation events and methods for understanding soil moisture variability across the Northeastern United States. I analyzed trends in heavy precipitation events over the past 120 years and the main types of weather patterns associated with those events to further understand what drives impactful precipitation events and how those drivers have changed over time. Additionally, I performed a sensitivity analysis on the meteorological drivers of in-situ surface soil moisture in the Northeast to understand how the model we used performed both spatially and temporally.

How did your work with Vermont EPSCoR influence your dissertation?

My dissertation was mostly influenced by climatic events that I saw in real time across the Northeast. During my time at UVM the Northeast not only experienced a number of extreme precipitation events but also a significant, prolonged drought event that is still impacting locations around the Northeast. I find that current climatic events inspire my research most.

How do you think you and others will build on the research you have done so far?

A main result from my dissertation was that the variability in heavy precipitation events has increased over time in the Northeast, leading to very wet years being followed by very dry ones. Therefore, there is a vast amount of work to be done on understanding the underlying drivers of that variability as well as understanding the impacts and drivers of significant, prolonged drought events in the Northeast.

What do you see as the next step for your career?

In May I will start as a postdoctoral research associate at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in their Geoscience department where I will study lake-effect snow and teach undergraduate courses.