Samantha (Sam) is an Associate for the Water Program. She researches, develops, and applies water-related data for a diverse set of projects. She is part of the Water, Peace, and Security (WPS) project, which aims to enable timely and effective responses to water-related challenges in hopes of mitigating conflict. Her work on this project includes building a machine learning model to forecast violent conflict around the world. Besides WPS, Sam also works on the Aqueduct Project. Her primary responsibility is to co-manage the update of Aqueduct Floods, a tool designed to identify coastal and riverine flood risks and analyze the costs and benefits of investing in flood protection. She also performs water risk assessments for corporate clients.

Her ongoing research includes exploring the connection between water and conflict, promoting adaptation measures to combat future flood risk, and helping partners prioritize investments in watershed stewardship.

Prior to joining WRI in 2017, Sam worked as a data specialist in the private and public sectors. She holds a Master’s of Environmental Management in Water Resources from Duke University. Sam received a B.S. in Geology from the College of Charleston.

Sam loves being a responsible dog owner who is in no way is trying to win over her pet with treats.