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.