Project Staff
Maíra Ometto Bezerra
Associate Scientist
Dr. Maíra Bezerra is a Freshwater Scientist working with integrated watershed management through the application of the Freshwater Health Index in basins in Latin America. Her research interests include assessing nature’s vitality and provisioning of ecosystem services. Her research is based on both empirical assessment and hydrological modeling, and she is trained in surface water modeling and terrain analysis using GIS-based software including ArcGIS and SWAT. Maíra is originally from Brazil, and her doctoral degree is in Environmental Sciences from the University of Maryland.
Sarah Hauck
Senior Program Manager
Sarah Hauck in the senior program manager for the Freshwater Health Index at Conservation International. Previously, she worked as the Editorial Director for Conservation International. She has an B.A from the University of Virginia and a M.A. in International Affairs and International Finance from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Dr. Kashif Shaad
Technical Manager
Dr. Kashif Shaad is a postdoc, based at Conservation International Singapore, who is developing the data resources and modeling approaches for the Freshwater Health Index. He completed his PhD in Environmental Engineering from ETH Zurich and holds a Masters in HyDroinformatics. His research includes developing mathematical models and informatics tools for improving water management.
Dr. Nick Souter
Mekong Manager
Dr. Nick Souter is the Mekong case study manager at Conservation International Cambodia. His areas of expertise are in conservation biology and natural resource management. Previously, he managed Fauna & Flora International’s University Capacity Building Project in partnership with the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
Dr. Derek Vollmer
Director, Freshwater Health Index
Dr. Derek Vollmer is director of the Freshwater Health Index. Prior to joining CI, he was a doctoral researcher within the Future Cities Laboratory at the Singapore-ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability. He holds a B.A. in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame, a M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and a PhD in Spatial Planning from ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Weiling Wu
Freshwater Health Index Manager
Weiling coordinates FHI assessments and promotes its application in the Dongjiang basin in China. Previously, she worked for the Foreign Economic Cooperation Office of the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection on GEF projects and biodiversity policy research; and with the Wildlife Conservation Society to combat wildlife trafficking in south China. Weiling holds a Masters of Philosophy in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge, a M.S. in Sustainable Development from Uppsala University, and a Bachelor of Environmental Science from Sun Yat-sen University.