Research Statement
I'm a food systems data scientist with an interdisciplinary background in environmental science, economics, and behavior. My strengths include quantitative analysis and modeling, with a particular emphasis on open data and reproducible workflows. I contribute to the advancement of scientific rigor and accessibility by developing and applying methods that enable data to be shared, validated, and used across disciplines. Through this work, I help generate insights that support more sustainable, transparent, and equitable social-ecological systems.
Education
M.S., Community Development and Applied Economics
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
2024
Graduate Certificate, Ecological Economics
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
2024
B.S., Environmental Science, Emphasis in Conservation Biology
Prescott College
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott College
Prescott, Arizona
2019
Work History
Food Systems Data Scientist
Food Systems Research Institute
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Food Systems Research Institute
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
September 2024 – Present
Graduate Research Assistant
Community Development and Applied Economics
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Community Development and Applied Economics
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
September 2022 - September 2024
Rare Plant Survey Crew Leader
Institute for Applied Ecology
Boise, Idaho
Institute for Applied Ecology
Boise, Idaho
April 2022 - August 2022
Precision Restoration Technician
The Nature Conservancy
Lander, Wyoming
The Nature Conservancy
Lander, Wyoming
April 2020 - April 2022
Environmental Services Intern
Ocotillo Wells SVRA
Ocotillo Wells, California
Ocotillo Wells SVRA
Ocotillo Wells, California
November 2019 - March 2020
Seed Technician
Institute for Applied Ecology
Silver City, New Mexico
Institute for Applied Ecology
Silver City, New Mexico
August 2019 - November 2019
Botanical Field Technician
Great Basin Institute
Las Vegas, Nevada
Great Basin Institute
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 2019 - August 2019
Publications
Peer-Reviewed
Donovan, C., Eshleman, M., & Riginos, C. (2024). Delayed Seeding and Nutrient Amendment Seed Enhancement Technology: Potential to Improve Sagebrush Establishment? Restoration Ecology, 32(1), e14046. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14046
Preprint
Donovan, C., Chain-Guadarrama, A., Martinez-Salinas, A., Aristizabal, N., & Ricketts, T. (2025). Bee Diversity in Costa Rica: A National Survey of Coffee Agroecosystems. OSF. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/a4uv6_v1
Donovan, C., & Shrum, T. (2025). Extreme Weather Events: Perception, Pro-Environmental Behavior, and the Tools to Measure Them. OSF. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/9zadu
Shrum, T., Donovan, C., Bloch, S., Cripps, E., & Boyson, C. (2024). The REBL Score: A Dynamic Measure of pro-Environmental Behavior. OSF. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/w92se
Conferences
Bekee, B., Donovan, C., Lawler, T., May, A., & Taylor, J. (2025). Operationalizing Economic Sustainability: A Regional Food Systems Approach [Conference Presentation: Northeast Agriculture and Resource Economics Association].
Bekee, B., Donovan, C., Ritzenthaler, C., & Taylor, J. (2025). Operationalizing Sustainability: A Regional Food Systems Approach [Conference Presentation: Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society].