Cory Phillips

Interdisciplinary climate and environmental scientist with university teaching experience across climate science, physical geography, GIS, quantitative geographic analysis, and environmental modeling. Experienced teaching both in-person and online undergraduate courses and developing curricula, laboratory exercises, assignments, and assessments using Blackboard, Canvas, and Zoom. Research experience includes climate modeling, climate variability, environmental modeling, remote sensing, GIS, quantitative analysis, water resources, and ecological systems.

Academic background combines climate science, geography, environmental studies, geospatial analysis, and applied quantitative methods.

Teaching Areas: Climate & Climate Change • Physical Geography • GIS • Geographic Data Analysis • Cartography & Geovisualization • Environmental Science • Climate Modeling • Environmental Modeling • Remote Sensing • Quantitative Methods • Ecological Sciences

Instructor / Graduate Teaching Assistant — Climate and Climate Change — Lecture/Lab at UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS (2018 – 2020)

• Taught a junior/senior-level introduction to Earth’s physical climate in online and in-person formats.
• Designed curricula using Blackboard, Canvas, Zoom, lectures, videos, laboratories, and assignments.
• Covered the physical climate system, energy and water balances, climate impacts, past climate, future climate change, and implications for human and natural systems.
• Developed laboratory exercises incorporating modeling, laboratory, and research methods.
• Managed grading and student mentoring.

Instructor / Graduate Teaching Assistant — Introduction to Physical Geography — Lab at UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS (2020 – 2021)

• Taught undergraduate laboratory course online, complementing the physical geography lecture course.
• Designed online laboratories using Blackboard, Canvas, and Zoom.
• Worked with atmospheric, hydrospheric, biospheric, and lithospheric datasets.
• Created assignments, managed assessment, and mentored students.

Instructor / Graduate Teaching Assistant — Methods of Analyzing Geographic Data — Lab at UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS (2017 – 2021)

• Taught quantitative geographic analysis using R.
• Covered descriptive and inferential statistics, spatial analysis, shape and point-pattern analysis, and spatial autocorrelation.
• Guided students in applying quantitative methods to geographic and environmental problems.

Instructor / Graduate Teaching Assistant — Introduction to Cartography and Geovisualization — Lab at UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS (2017 – 2021)

• Taught spatial analysis and digital cartography using ArcGIS and web-based mapping platforms.
• Covered spatial data handling, cartographic principles, symbolization, map design, and thematic mapping.
• Designed curriculum, assignments, and assessments and mentored undergraduate students.

Researcher — Precipitation Variability & Woody Encroachment in Grasslands at UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS (2017 – 2022)

• Modeled climate-change effects on vegetation competition within grassland/woody-species ecotones.
• Analyzed historical meteorological and vegetation data to investigate relationships among precipitation, temperature, and productivity.
• Investigated grassland productivity across ecotones within the Long Term Ecological Research network.
• Applied seasonal IPCC projections to future climatology and modeled biomass and productivity under projected conditions.
• Produced statistical analyses, maps, and visualizations using R.

Master’s Research Project — Climate Modeling & ENSO Teleconnections at COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (2017 – 2017)

• Evaluated 47 CMIP5 climate models for their representation of ENSO teleconnections.
• Conducted correlation analyses of Niño 3-region sea-surface temperature and global precipitation across 100-year and 30-year periods.
• Managed climate datasets from NCDC, CPC, and the IRI/Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Climate Data Library.
• Conducted statistical modeling and graphical analysis using MATLAB.
• Mapped model confidence in precipitation regime shifts associated with ENSO phases.

Climate, Water Resources & Environmental Research at COLUMBIA WATER CENTER / THE EARTH INSTITUTE (2016 – 2017)

• Investigated relationships among climate, water storage and supply, demand, reservoir release timing, water quality, and ecological impacts.
• Conducted time-series statistical modeling using R.
• Examined ecological and engineering resilience and the role of dams in mitigating climate-related risks.
• Conducted literature review and comparative cost-benefit analysis of major Western U.S. dam projects.
• Assessed potential needs for dam decommissioning or modernization.

Independent Earth Science Research — Satellite Remote Sensing & GIS at SANTA MONICA COLLEGE (2013 – 2014)

• Used ENVI, ArcGIS, Landsat, MODIS, NBR/dNBR, NDVI, and DEM-derived terrain analysis to investigate post-fire vegetation recovery and mass-wasting susceptibility.
• Conducted pre- and post-fire vegetation and terrain analysis.
• Produced maps and visualizations for stakeholders and managed large spatial datasets.

Research & Technical Project — Population Dynamics, Place Identity & Survey Data Analysis; Research for Dr. Alexander C. Diener at UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

• Contributed research and quantitative data-analysis support to research on population dynamics and place identities in Kazakhstan.
• Organized, compared, and analyzed survey data using R.
• Applied quantitative methods to identify and compare patterns across survey responses and population data.
• Contributed to research supporting published scholarly work on population, territorial belonging, and identity in Kazakhstan.

Manager / Agent for Musical Artist (2007 – Present)

Manage touring, performance booking, travel logistics, administration, promotion, production, distribution, finances, payroll, and related operations for a nationally touring musician/band. Experience includes long-term project management, client communication, scheduling, logistics, budgeting, and coordination of complex multi-party projects.

Ph.D. Studies in Geography – UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS (2017 – Present)

Master of Arts in Climate & Society – COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (2016 – 2017)

Bachelor of Arts in Geography / Environmental Studies; Minor: Geospatial Information Systems & Technology – UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (2014 – 2016)

Associate of Arts in Environmental Studies – SANTA MONICA COLLEGE (2012 – 2014)

Associate of Science in Solar Photovoltaics – SANTA MONICA COLLEGE (2012 – 2014)