Environmental scientist with expertise in geospatial satellite data and modeling to support research in hydrology. More than five years of experience with several scientific computing languages (C, FORTRAN, Matlab, Python, R); competent user of high performance computing infrastructure. Proven written and communication skills; published in academic journals related to environmental research.
Research experience
2018 - present
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Water Desalination and Reuse Center
Postdoctoral fellow
Combined high-resolution remote sensing retrievals, numerical weather prediction data and a land surface model to estimate total farm-scale groundwater abstractions
Scaled and automated the methodology for groundwater abstraction estimation on a national scale
Presented key water accounting information to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture
2013 - 2018
PhD candidate
Evaluated large-scale and long-term depletion of groundwater in the Middle East using satellite gravimetry data
Developed a methodology to combine satellite data and a land surface model to estimate groundwater abstraction
The results showed potential for automated groundwater use monitoring
2011 - 2013
Master reseach
Hydrologic characterization of a dunefield; analysis of the relation between grain size, porosity and hydraulic conductivity of over 50 samples of dune sand
Conceptual design of an aquifer storage and recovery system for strategic water management
2009 - 2010
École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
Solid Mechanics Laboratory
Research intern
Applied a digital image correlation technique to cortical bone samples under compression stress
Improved the efficacy of the strain measurements by introducing micro-beads as a random pattern in the bone surface
The study results formed part of the development and validation of a novel non-invasive medical imaging technique
Administrative experience
2008 - 2009
Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, México
Physics Department
Laboratory instructor
Trained to demonstrate and supervise undergraduate physics laboratory experiments
Managed and evaluated groups of 15 students to conduct physics experiments
Education
PhD, Environmental Science and Engineering; February 2018; GPA: 3.67
Thesis: "Monitoring arid-land groundwater abstraction through optimization of a land surface model with remote sensing-based evaporation"
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Advisor: Prof. Matthew McCabe
M. Sc., Environmental Science and Engineering; May 2013; GPA: 3.79
Thesis: "Evaluation and preliminary design of a stormwater aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system at the Wadi Khulays dunefield in Saudi Arabia"
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Advisor: Prof. Thomas Missimer
B. Sc., Engineering Physics; December 2010; GPA: 94/100
Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, México
International Exchange, Mechanical Engineering; Fall 2009
École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
Technical skills
Expertise on GRACE, MODIS, Landsat, Meteosat, and Planet CubeSats data
More than 5 years of experience with high-level languages for scientific computing (C, FORTRAN, Matlab, Python, R)
Strong familiarity with Linux systems and bash shell scripting
Intermediate knowledge of Markdown, HTML and Tex-based markup languages
Familiarity with version control software (git and svn)
Basic experience using parallel computing technologies (openMP and MPI)
Familiarity with SLURM workload manager in a high performance computing (HPC) infrastructure
Six months of experience using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Selected peer-reviewed publications
López, O., Houborg, R., and McCabe, M. F.: Evaluating the hydrological consistency of evaporation products using satellite-based gravity and rainfall data, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 323-343, doi:10.5194/hess-21-323-2017, 2017
O López, K Jadoon and T M Missimer: Method of relating grain size distribution to hydraulic conductivity in dune sands to assist in assessing managed aquifer recharge projects: Wadi Khulays dune field, western Saudi Arabia, Water, 7(11), 6411-6426, 2015
O López, G Stenchikov and T M Missimer: Water management during climate change using aquifer storage and recovery of stormwater in a dunefield in western Saudi Arabia, Environmental Research Letters, 9, 075008, 2014
Awards and recognition
Provost award from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, 2011
Graduated with honors from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, México