Meet the Project Staff
Sophia Winter
Operations Manager
sophia@swape.com
Sophia graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and minor in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Her coursework included atmospheric thermodynamics, environmental policy, air pollution, GIS, and programming. In her senior year, she served as Project Manager for the NASA JPL practicum project that investigated whether remotely sensed turbidity data could be used as a proxy for ocean water quality or detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She also participated in a joint internship with NASA JPL and UCLA where she studied interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and its ability to monitor surface kinematics to predict the collapse of slow-moving landslides along California’s coastline. At SWAPE, Sophia specializes in air dispersion modeling, data analysis, and compiling risk assessment reports for projects related to soil, water, or air contamination.
Cameron Jewett
Project Manager
cameron@swape.com
Cameron graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and minors in Environmental Systems and Society and Digital Humanities. Her coursework included environmental policy, environmental business and communications, GIS, and data visualization. While at UCLA, she worked at the UCLA Heat Lab researching thermal inequality and how heat and urban planning intersect, directed an environmental justice committee for UCLA's student government, and completed a senior capstone with the Sustainable Production Alliance to create an excel tool for film production companies to establish sustainable practices. Since joining SWAPE, Cameron has worked on projects pertaining to carcinogens and consumer health, FELA reports, and data analysis.
Lina Savage
Project Manager
lina@swape.com
Lina graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Through her coursework, she gained background on environmental engineering, policy and regulation, GIS and coding software, and water resource management. While at UCLA, she has worked as a research assistant for a paleoclimatology lab regarding the dissolution effects of carbon isotopes, written for various campus magazines, and is leading a senior capstone project consulting various production companies towards more sustainable practices. Since joining SWAPE in August 2021, Lina has worked on a variety of projects pertaining to FELA reports, air quality, and occupational exposure analyses.
Ruben Bergtraun
Environmental Analyst
ruben@swape.com
Ruben graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Conservation Biology. His coursework included restoration, ecology, environmental policy, scientific communication, and sustainable business development. During his senior year he assisted with a GIS analysis project to find potential park locations in communities along the Los Angeles River. Before starting at SWAPE, Ruben worked on a natural wine vineyard in Italy and had previously interned with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Since joining SWAPE, Ruben has focused on projects pertaining to CEQA compliance, air quality modeling, and health risk assessments.
Aidan Ryan
Environmental Analyst
aidan@swape.com
Aidan graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a minor in Spanish. His coursework included marine ecology, organic chemistry, statistics, biochemistry, atmospheric sciences, and courses in Spanish, including one about mining. While at UCLA, Aidan participated in research focused on heavy metal contamination in LA County urban gardens, studied abroad in Thailand, and interned with friends of Ballona Wetlands working to revive the wetlands. After graduation, he spent a year teaching English in Spain, and furthering his Spanish language development. Since joining SWAPE, Aidan has worked on projects involving data analysis, mapping, and environmental research.
Savannah McCarthy
Environmental Analyst
savannah@swape.com
Savannah graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Environmental Health Science. Her coursework ranged from a wide variety of disciplines including biochemistry, environmental microbiology, public health, toxicology and risk assessment. Throughout her time at UCLA she was heavily involved in expanding UCLA’s COVID wastewater epidemiology program with Dr. Vanessa Thulsiraj and worked in the Ophoff lab under Merel Bot. Throughout her senior year she worked on the NASA JPL practicum project under Dr. Jennifer Jay to analyze coastal water quality using remote sensing data and assess the efficiency of the novel bottle method to analyze antibiotic resistant bacteria in L.A. coastal waters. She has a strong passion for public health, sustainable manufacturing, and environmental conservation. Since joining SWAPE, Savannah has worked on projects pertaining to human health risk assessments and environmental remediation.
Isabella Fraser
Environmental Analyst
isabella@swape.com
Isabella graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B.A. in Human Biology and Society and a concentration in Environmental Justice. Her coursework focused on environmental justice, policy, and conservation. While at UCLA, she has worked as a research assistant for a human rights law firm where she researched climate change patterns and its effects on migration in South America. Since joining SWAPE, Isabella has focused on projects pertaining to CEQA compliance, air quality modeling, and health risk assessments.
Maddie Wilson
Environmental Analyst
maddie@swape.com
Maddie graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Her coursework focused on atmospheric dynamics, oceanography, environmental justice, and climate modeling. As the Project Manager for her Senior Practicum project, she led her team in researching the effects of climate change on the habitat suitability of plankton in the California Current System. She also served as the Co-Program Director of UCLA's Sustainability Action Research program, collaborating with UCLA staff, administrators, and students to research ways to make the UCLA campus more sustainable. At SWAPE, Maddie works on projects relating to air quality modeling and human health risk assessments.
Carolina Gomez Navarro
Environmental Analyst
carolina@swape.com
Carolina graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Environmental Systems & Society, as well as a minor in Geographic Information Systems & Technology. She obtained a background in environmental engineering, environmental policy and regulation, environmental justice, and scientific communication through coursework. At UCLA, she conducted research for the Sustainable LA Grand Challenges Undergraduate Research Scholars Program on stormwater management. Her research explored the connection between gentrification and the negative public health impacts it has on the community of Inglewood. Carolina also worked as a Project Manager and Director of Operations for Clean Consulting, a student-run sustainability consulting organization at UCLA. Since joining SWAPE, Carolina works on projects involving environmental health, occupational risk assessments, and historical liability analysis.
Aminah Mahadi
Environmental Analyst
aminah@swape.com
Aminah graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Environmental Systems and Society. Her coursework focused on environmental policy, conservation, and remote sensing. At UCLA, she worked as a research assistant in the Ordway lab, which focused on changes in tropical forest ecosystems in Central Africa. Aminah also completed the NASA JPL and UCLA JIFRESSE internship where she worked on characterizing global sites for the NISAR mission and grew her skills in coding, remote sensing, and public speaking. At SWAPE, she works on projects involving environmental research and health risk assessments.
Sarah Swinnerton
Outside Consultant
sarah@swape.com
Sarah Swinnerton graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2020 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Political Science. While at UCSB, Sarah took courses regarding environmental law and policy, environmental chemistry, toxicology, and GIS. During her senior year, she was the Carbon Neutrality Initiative (CNI) Ambassador, which aimed at engaging and educating students on greenhouse gas emission goals at a local and state level. Sarah was also a representative on the Chancellor’s Sustainability Committee, and worked on the Energy and Climate Subcommittee. Since joining SWAPE in June, Sarah has worked on a variety of projects involving CEQA compliance, air quality modeling, environmental research, and data analysis.
Alex Martin
Environmental Analyst
alex@swape.com
Alex graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and minors in Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences and Theater. His studies focused on chemical and biological oceanography, environmental health and air quality, and modeling using GIS and other coding software. While at UCLA, Alex participated in research examining the abiotic influences on kelp biomass in the Santa Barbara Channel. Combining his interest for the arts with his major area of study, Alex completed his senior capstone with the Sustainable Production Alliance, building a cost-benefit analysis tool for film studios to better understand sustainable decision-making practices. At SWAPE, Alex works on projects relating to air quality modeling, mapping, and health risk assessments.