ABOUT

I (she/her) am a fifth-year PhD. candidate in atmospheric chemistry working with Dr. Loretta Mickley at the Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group in Harvard University. I graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Engineering and worked for two years in a remediation consulting company before starting graduate school. For my research, I model atmospheric chemistry and transport of fire emissions to better understand the fate of pollutants affecting air quality and climate change across South America. Also at Harvard, I started the Graduate School of Arts Sciences Society of Underrepresented Students in STEM (GSUSS) . Through social and networking events, the group promotes long-term retention in STEM graduate programs. Currently, I also serve as a Community Science Fellow for the AGU Thriving Earth Exchange. While not working on my research I spend my time playing with my dog, Oreo, and knitting.

RESEARCH

I study changes in air quality throughout South America, focusing on the effects of agricultural fires in the Amazon Basin on surrounding communities, public health, and local and regional climate. In particular, I examine the implications of the increasing magnitude and changing spatial patterns of fire activity over the 2014-2019 timeframe.

Quantifying the role of biomass burning in black carbon deposition on Andean glaciers and its potential climate implications.

We quantify the impact of smoke from fires on snow and ice albedo in the Andes. We use GEOS-Chem driven by MERRA-2 to simulate BC deposition in the Andes and validate the results with Peruvian ice-core and snow-pit BC observations from 2014-2019. We also calculate the radiative forcing due to changing atmospheric BC, and quantify BC deposition on Andean snow.

Estimating smoke exposure across the Amazon Basin.

We use models and observations to assess the impact of smoke from Amazon fires on regional air quality and smoke exposure, especially in Indigenous territories. Preliminary results for the 2015 dry season show that the Indigenous territories in Brazil, Bolivia, Paragugay, and Peru are exposed to especially high levels of smoke.

How do Brazilian fires affect air pollution and public health?

Abstract. Fires burning across the Amazon in the summer of 2019 attracted global attention for the widespread destruction of natural ecosystems and regional smoke production. Using a combination of satellite fire observations and atmospheric modeling, Nawaz and Henze (2020, doi:10.1029/2020GH000268 provide new evidence for the widespread regional public health consequences attributed to these fires. They find that approximately 10% of premature deaths in Brazil due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are attributable to smoke pollution and highlight how fire locations play a critical role in determining downwind health impacts.

CV

EDUCATION

HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA |
Ph. D. Candidate in Environmental Science & Engineering   Expected May 2022
Harvard Graduate Fellowship

Honorable mentions: Ford Fellowship & NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

TUFTS UNIVERSITY | MEDFORD, MA |
B.S. Environmental Engineering, cum laude   May 2015
Earle F. Littleton Award, John A. Cataldo Scholar, Tufts Summer Scholar, Altman Family Term Scholar

Senior Thesis: "Comparison of contaminant partitioning short-chain fatty acids versus lactate as electron donor sources to support dechlorinating bacteria," high honors

EXPERIENCE

HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA |
Research Assisstant | Advisor: Dr. Loretta Mickley|
 I use atmospheric chemistry models to study anthropogenic pollution in
 South America (2017 - Present).
Resident Tutor | Harvard College Quincy House |
  Academic advisor for ~10 sophomores and students interested in engineering
 career paths. I oversee part of the House and help create a safe & liveable
 environment. (2019 - Present)

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
Community Science Fellow | Thriving Earth Exchange|
 As a liaison between scientists and community-based groups, I facilitate
 communication towards creating equitable environmental investigations. (2021)

GEOSYNTEC CONSULTANTS | ACTON, MA |
Environmental Engineer Technician |
 Conducted site investigations of air, soil, and groundwater contamination
  pathways through sub-slab, ambient air monitoring and low-flow groundwater
  sampling fieldwork. (2015 - 2017)

TUFTS UNIVERSITY | MEDFORD, MA |
Senior Honors Thesis | Advisor: Dr. Natalie Capiro |
 Performed environmental engineering research examining the use of
 partitioning electron donors to enhance bioremediation of chlorinated solvents.
  (2014-2015)
Research Assisstant | Advisor: Andrew Ramsburg |
 Researched strategies to control the delivery and release of chemicals used
 during the cleanup of contaminated groundwater. (2013)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA |
Teaching Fellow for Intro. to Environmental Science & Engineering |
 Taught weekly section and office hours, including material preparation.
  Developed and taught midterm and final review sessions.(2019)

SOMERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | SOMERVILLE, MA |
Substitute Teacher, Interpreter |
 Taught English, Spanish, science, and special education classes with 15 students.
 Translated for parents and community members for Somerville Schools' events.   (2011 - 2015)

OUTREACH

HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA |
Co-organizer, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging subgroup, Atmospheric Chemistry   Journal Club for Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group. (2017- Present)
Member of , Graduate Student Recruitment & Retention Subgroup of the
  Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Department of Earth and
  Planetary Sciences/ Environmental Sciences and Engineering. (2020- Present)
Outreach volunteer for School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Society for
  Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science
  (SACNAS) Conference. (2018 - 2020)
President, GSAS Society of Underrepresented Students in STEM. (2017-2019)
Member of School of Eng. & Applied Sciences Graduate Council. (2017-2019)

TUFTS UNIVERSITY | MEDFORD, MA |
Member of Program Review Board of Bachelor of Science in Environmental
  Engineering. (2013-2015)
Member of Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists, and the
 Association of Latin American Students. (2012-2015)

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Marlier, M.E.; Bonilla, E.X. and Mickley, L.J., 2020. How do Brazilian
 fires affect air pollution and public health? GeoHealth, 4(12), p.e2020GH000331.
Bonilla, E. X.; Mickley, L.J.; Beaudon, E.G.; Thompson, L.; Schmitt, C. (2020).
 Quantifying the role of biomass burning in black carbon deposition on Andean
 glaciers. Fall 2020 American Geophysical Union meeting, virtual.
Bonilla, E. X. (2018). Fires in the Amazon Basin and their environmental impacts
 across South America. Year-2 Environmental Sciences and Engineering
 Department Presentation, Harvard University School of Engineering and
 Applied Sciences.
Bonilla, E. X. (2015). Comparison of contaminant partitioning short-chain fatty
 acids versus lactate as electron donor sources to support dechlorinating
 bacteria. Poster Presentation and Undergraduate Thesis at Tufts University
 School of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.
Bonilla, E. X., Capiro, N., (2014). Examining the use of partitioning electron donors
 for bioremediation of chlorinated solvents. Poster Presentation at Tufts Summer
 Scholars Research Symposium.

CONTACT ME

29 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

ebonilla [at] g [dot] harvard [dot] edu


Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group