William Dean

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Santa Barbara, California, United States

About

Experience

  • Teaching Assistant at University of California
    Aug 2025 - Present · 11 mos

    Lead weekly discussion sections, hold weekly office hours, occasionally provide lectures, and provide assignment feedback (MCDB, MUSIC, EARTH departments).

  • Environmental Services Intern at California Coastal Commission
    Jun 2025 - Oct 2025 · 5 mos

    Supported the agency’s climate and resilience initiatives through policy research and spatial data analysis. Contributing to planning efforts related to sea-level rise, coastal access, and managed retreat. As part of my graduate capstone project, I'm developing a financial model to assess the long-term feasibility of coastal property buyouts and leasebacks under sea-level rise, wave run-up, and storm surge scenarios.

  • Associate Researcher at Earth Research Institute
    Nov 2024 - Jun 2025 · 8 mos

    Conducted species distribution modeling for eight native California plant species under the guidance of Dr. Ashley Larsen to assess current and future habitat suitability. The project aimed to inform ecological restoration opportunities on fallowed agricultural lands in California’s San Joaquin Valley in response to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

  • Research Assistant at Tague Lab
    Dec 2024 - Feb 2025 · 3 mos

    Designed and analyzed audience surveys to evaluate public engagement with Wildland, an integrated art and science exhibit on wildfire and water by Ethan Turpin and Naomi Tague. Synthesized findings to inform the ongoing development and direction of the science communication project.

  • Physical Scientist at the Geology, Mineral, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center at U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
    Mar 2023 - Feb 2024 · 1 yr