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Liam Schopf

Washington, DC, USA

Liam Schopf

Washington, DC, USA

Education:

American University, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (Expected May 2026) Current GPA: 3.69
Minor: Spanish Language
Study Abroad: Universidad de Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile (Spring 2025)

Career Summary:

~American University | Washington, DC
August 2025 – December 2025
Independent Researcher (Senior Capstone)

-Conducted a GIS-based spatial analysis of E. coli concentrations (2022–2024) to evaluate water-quality responses to combined sewer overflows (CSOs), the completion of the Anacostia River Tunnel, and freshwater mussel restoration efforts.
-Integrated and harmonized multi-source water-quality datasets from governmental and nonprofit databases (National Water Quality Monitoring Council, Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative) for spatial and temporal analysis.
-Performed hydrologically constrained distance analyses in ArcGIS Pro using rasterization and cost-distance modeling to calculate water-based proximity between sampling sites and mussel restoration areas.
-Compared pre-, transitional-, and post-infrastructure conditions to identify spatial patterns in CSO-driven contamination and downstream water-quality improvement.
-Produced a technical research report and developed an interactive ArcGIS StoryMap to communicate spatial findings to peers, faculty, and stakeholders.

~Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) | Edgewater, MD
August 2023; June 2024 – August 2024
Research Assistant

-Supported National Science Foundation–funded environmental research as part of the TEMPEST experiment at the Global Change Research Wetland.
-Collected, organized, and analyzed environmental monitoring data using standardized field and laboratory protocols.
-Assisted with data management and statistical analysis supporting spatial interpretation and visualization for a research poster presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting.

GIS Projects:

Environmental GIS Final Project – Watershed Delineation & Urban Land Cover Analysis
American University

-Delineated urban and sub-watersheds using digital elevation models (DEMs) and hydrologic tools in ArcGIS Pro, including flow direction, flow accumulation, and watershed modeling.
-Analyzed impervious surface cover within watershed boundaries to assess relationships between urbanization and hydrologic response.
-Integrated raster and vector datasets (hydrology, land cover, administrative boundaries) and performed spatial overlays and zonal statistics.
-Produced publication-quality maps and figures illustrating watershed structure, impervious surface distribution, and potential water-quality implications.

Presentations:

-American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, Washington, DC (December 2024)
Poster presentation: Effects of Experimental Flooding Events on Radon Gas Emissions from Tree Stems

Skills and Proficiencies:

-GIS & Spatial Analysis: ArcGIS Pro (intermediate), watershed delineation, raster analysis, cost-distance modeling, spatial joins, zonal statistics, cartographic design
-Environmental Data Analysis: Data cleaning and harmonization, Excel, introductory R/RStudio
-Geospatial Data Types: DEMs, hydrologic networks, land cover/impervious surface datasets, point and polygon feature classes

Visualization & Communication: Map production, figures, ArcGIS StoryMaps, technical and stakeholder-oriented writing

Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Field Experience:

Conducted environmental field measurements using RAD8 and RAD7 radon monitors, LI-COR instruments, HydraGO soil moisture probe, and LI-600 porometer as part of the TEMPEST experiment.

Volunteer Experience:

Sustainable Roanoke | Roanoke, VA
August 2021 – May 2022
Recycling Volunteer / Event Coordinator

-Organized community recycling initiatives and coordinated student volunteers to support local sustainability efforts.

Languages:Spanish – Fluent

Liam Schopf

Posted 2026-01-04 under Student