Education
University of Florida
Ph.D. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2023
Certificate: Biological Systems Modeling
Virginia Tech
M.S. Biological Systems Engineering, 2014
B.S. Biological Systems Engineering, 2013
Concentration: Land and Water Resources Engineering
Professional Record
2024-2025 Postdoctoral Research Associate, USDA-ARS CMAVE, Gainesville, FL
2018-2023 Graduate Research Assistant, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
2017-2018 Senior Engineer (Water Quality), Stormwater Management Division, City of Raleigh, NC
2016-2017 Project Engineer 1 (Water Quality), Stormwater Management Division, City of Raleigh, NC
2014-2016 Water Resources Engineer, Coastal Resources, Inc., Annapolis, MD
2013-2014 Graduate Research Assistant, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Certifications*
2025 PE, Professional Engineer, NC, Licensure package submitted and under review
2013 EIT, Engineer in Training, Granted by Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Research Experience
2024-2025 Development and evaluation of a machine learning model to predict Rift Valley fever virus transmission risk for livestock throughout Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
USDA-ARS CMAVE, Gainesville, FL
Post-doctoral Advisors: Drs. Seth Gibson and Assaf Anyamba
2018-2023 Quantifying the effects of agricultural intensification practices on streamflow and wildlife: A case study in Laikipia Kenya
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
PhD Advisors: Drs. Rafael Muñoz-Carpena and Cheryl Palm
Committee Member: Drs. Greg Kiker, Gabriel Maltais-Landry, Kelly Caylor, Michael Annable, Young Gu Her
2013-2014 Assessing the hydrologic performance and pollutant removal capacity of a mature bioretention cell
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
MS Advisors: Drs. Tess Wynn Thompson and Leigh-Anne Krometis
Committee Members: Drs. Brian Badgley and Gregory Evanylo
Teaching Experience
*Denotes laboratory or field component to course
Undergraduate Course Teaching Assistant
2021-2022 ABE 3212C* Land and Water Resources Engineering, Dr. Rafael Muñoz-Carpena, University of Florida (UF)
2014 NSF-REU* Dynamics of Water and Societal Systems at StREAM Lab, Drs. Leigh-Anne Krometis and Cully Hession, Virginia Tech (VT)
2014 BSE 4004* Instrumentation and Experimental Mechanics, Dr. Kumar Mallikarjunan, VT
2013 BSE 3305* Land and Water Resources Engineering, Dr. Tess Thompson, VT
Graduate Course Teaching Assistant
2019 ABE 6932* Tropical Agriculture, Environment, and Livelihoods Field Course,
Drs. Cheryl Palm and Gabriel Maltais-Landry, UF at Mpala Research Centre, Kenya
2013 BSE 5224G* Advanced Field Methods in Hydrology, Dr. Durelle Scott, VT
Seminars & workshops
2020 Biocomplexity Engineering Group, Seminar Coordinator, UF
2016-2018 Green Stormwater Infrastructure Policies and Funding Opportunities, City of Raleigh Stormwater, North Carolina
2016-2018 Rain Garden and Rain Barrels Workshop*, City of Raleigh Stormwater, North Carolina
2016-2018 Volunteer Stream Monitoring Workshop*, City of Raleigh Stormwater, North Carolina
Guest Lecturer
2023-2025 ABE 3212C* Land and Water Resources Engineering: GIS Applications Lab, Infiltration Measurements Lab; Dr. Rafael Muñoz-Carpena, UF
2022 Tropical Biology and Sustainability in Kenya: Laikipia Hydrology, Agriculture, and Savanna; Dr. Kevin Uno, Princeton-Columbia Abroad at Mpala Research Centre, Kenya
Private Tutoring
2023- Freelance private tutor for undergraduate and graduate engineering and environmental courses (calculus, physics, hydrology, hydraulics, GIS, remote sensing) and PE Civil: Water Resources and Environmental Exam preparation
Teaching Certifications
2021 Great Teaching Certificate: TA Edition, Passport to Great Teaching, Center for Teaching Excellence, UF
2013 Graduate Teaching Assistant Workshop Certificate, Virginia Tech Graduate School
Research Journal Publications
Published
1. Willard, L.L., T. Wynn-Thompson, L.H. Krometis, T.P. Neher, and B.D. Badgley. 2017. “Does it pay to be mature? Evaluation of bioretention cell performance seven years postconstruction.” J. Environ. Eng.10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001232.
Under Review
1. Ash, L.V.*, L.L. Willard*, K.K. Harrod, C.J. Tucker, K.J. Linthicum, A. Anyamba, S. Gibson, B.A. Han, A.M. Kramer. “Remote sensing for enhanced surveillance of mosquito-borne diseases.” Submission: October 2025. *Co-first author submission
2. Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, J. Gitonga, K. Caylor, C. Palm. 2025. “A spatiotemporal biophysical database to evaluate agricultural impacts at the edge of savanna in Laikipia, Kenya.” Submission: November 2025.
In Preparation
3. Willard, L.L., H. Tubbs, K.K. Harrod, B. Bishnoi, S. Schollaert Uz, C. Pittiglio, S. Gibson, A. Anyamba. “A revised model to predict Rift Valley fever virus transmission for livestock.” Expected submission: December 2025.
4. Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena. “Development of a parsimonious link-and-node hydrologic model for evaluation of sustainable agricultural intensification practices.” Expected submission: December 2025.
Book Chapters (In Press)
1. Willard, L.L., J. Small, A. Anyamba, S. Gibson, E. Pak. (expected 2025) Visualizing and Implementing Earth Observation Data for Animal Health. In: Naletoski, I (editor). “Application of Geo-Information Systems and Remote Sensing in Animal Production and Health.” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria.
Oral and Poster Presentations
2025 Willard, L.L., A. Anyamba*, H. Tubbs, K.K. Harrod, B. Bishnoi, S. Schollaert Uz, C. Pittiglio, S. Gibson. 2025. “A revised model to predict Rift Valley fever virus transmission risk for livestock.” Presentation, American Mosquito Control Association, Mar 2025, San Juan, PR.
Willard, L.L., H. Tubbs, K.K. Harrod, B. Bishnoi, S. Schollaert Uz, C. Pittiglio, W. Thiaw, K. Taylor, A. Anyamba, S. Gibson. “A revised model to predict Rift Valley fever virus transmission risk for livestock.” Presentation, GeoHealth Special Edition: Focus on AfriGEO, Mar 2025, Virtual.
2024 Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, S. Zubelzu-Minguez, J. Gitonga. “Linking sustainable agricultural intensification practices to hydrologic ecosystem services in savanna landscapes.” Presentation, American Geophysical Union, Dec 2024, Washington, DC.
Willard, L.L., H. Tubbs, K. Harrod, B. Bishnoi, S.S. Uz, C. Pittiglio, A. Anyamba, S. Gibson. 2024. “Development and evaluation of a machine learning model to predict Rift Valley fever virus transmission risk for livestock.” Presentation, Forum on AI Applications in USDA Science, Nov 2024, College Station, TX.
Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, J. Gitonga, C. Palm. “Development of a parsimonious link-and-node hydrologic model for evaluation of sustainable agricultural intensification practices.” Invited talk, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Jul 2024, Oak Ridge, TN.
Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, J. Gitonga, T. Venort, C. Palm. “Quantifying the effects of agricultural intensification practices on streamflow and wildlife: A case study in Laikipia Kenya.” Invited talk, USDA-ARS CMAVE, Apr 2024, Gainesville, FL.
2023 Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, J. Gitonga, T. Venort, C. Palm. “Quantifying the effects of agricultural intensification practices on streamflow and wildlife: A case study in Laikipia Kenya.” UF ABE Biocomplexity Seminar, Apr 2023, Gainesville, FL.
2022 Willard, L.L. “Lessons on hydrologic field work and stakeholder engagement in an international context.” Invited talk, City of Raleigh Stormwater, Mar 2022, Virtual.
2021 Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, Frank González. “New hydrological monitoring network in Laikipia, Kenya. Accessing and exploiting data using the Restful API over Hydrobase from R or python.” UF ABE Biocomplexity Seminar, Nov 2021, Gainesville, FL.
2020 Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, C. Palm. “Linking sustainable agricultural intensification practices to hydrologic ecosystem services in savanna landscapes.” UF ABE Biocomplexity Seminar, Nov 2020, Gainesville, FL.
Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, and C. Palm. “Evaluation of pedotransfer functions with small-scale simple field measurements of hydraulic conductivity in Laikipia, Kenya.” Poster, UF Water Symposium, Feb 2020, Gainesville, FL.
Willard, L.L., R. Muñoz-Carpena, and C. Palm. “Development of a hydrological monitoring network to test a parsimonious hydrologic model.” Invited talk, UPNA, Jan 2020. Pamplona, Spain.
2014 Willard, L.L., T. Wynn-Thompson, and L.H. Krometis. 2014. “Does It Pay to be Mature? Evaluation of Bioretention Cell Performance Seven Years Postconstruction.” Presentation, American Ecological Engineering Society, Jun 2014, Charleston, SC.
*Denotes speaker if different from first author
Panel Presentations
2022 Global Engagement through the Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium (ASMC). American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International Meeting. Jul 2022, Houston, TX.
Professional Service and Membership
Conference and Forums
2026 Session Convener, 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Mosquito and Vector Control (AMV), Pattaya, Thailand
2024 Session Moderator, Forum on AI Applications in USDA Science: Modelling II session, College Station, TX
2020 Session Moderator, 4th International Conference on Global Food Security, Virtual
2020 Co-organizer and Moderator, UF Water Institute Career Panel, Gainesville, Fl
Scientific Journal Activities
2020- Reviewer for Journal of Hydrology, Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, IEEE Access
2020-2021 Editor’s Executive Assistant for Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies, Impact Factor: 5, https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-hydrology-regional-studies
Scientific and Professional Societies
2024 – GEO Health Community of Practice, Member
2021 – American Geophysical Union, Member
2018-2023 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Member
2018-2023 UF ABE Graduate Student Organization, Vice President ’19-‘20
2018-2021 American Water Resources Association Student Chapter, Treasurer ’19-‘20, President ’20-‘21
2016-2018 North Carolina Watershed Stewardship Network, Steering Committee Member
2016-2018 American Public Works Association
2014-2016 Maryland Stream Restoration Association
Outreach and Mentorship Activities
2022 Presentation to St. John Paul II Catholic School elementary students and discussion on “A Long Walk to Water,” Southern Pines, NC (Virtual Presentation)
2021 Presentation to Ravenscroft High School Honors Engineering Class, Raleigh, NC (Virtual Presentation)
2019-2020 Mentorship of undergraduate student at UF (Junior)
2016-2018 Ongoing public outreach (public information sessions, Earth Day events, Partners for Environmental Justice, tours of green stormwater infrastructure projects, NC State outreach) as part of City of Raleigh Stormwater, Raleigh, NC
2016 Mentorship of undergraduate intern at City of Raleigh: Senior
2013-2014 Mentorship of undergraduate students at VT: 2 senior students
Awards and Honors
2024 USDA-ARS Headquarters Postdoctoral Fellowship
2023 UF ABE Poster Symposium – First Prize
2022 UF Research Abroad for Doctoral Students Award
2019 Ken and Cindy Campbell Graduate Fellowship
2019 Wesley W. Horner Award, ASCE, Does It Pay to be Mature? Evaluation of Bioretention Cell Performance Seven Years Postconstruction.
2018 UF ABE Graduate Fellowship