Emma L. Kuster
South Central Climate Science Center, 301 David L. Boren Blvd, Suite 3030, Norman, OK 73072
Email: emmakuster@ou.edu Phone: (501) 860-0197
Education
M. A. in Geography, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
(planned) August 2015
Thesis: “Abiotic Impacts on Timberline Migration in Northeast Oklahoma”
Advisor: Dr. Renee McPherson (University of Oklahoma)
B. S. in Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
With Special Distinction
Minor: Mathematics
May 2013
Research/Professional Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
August 2013 – Present
South Central Climate Science Center
Advisor: Dr. Renee McPherson
Project: Investigating climatic and land-use change effects on a transitional boundary across
Oklahoma using remote sensing and temperature/precipitation observations.
Student Academic Assistant
February 2013 – August 2013
South Central Climate Science Center
Advisor: Aparna Bamzai
Project: Worked as an office assistant and performed a long-term project on drought histories for
the region.
Student Academic Assistant
July 2011–January 2013
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
Advisor: Dr. Renee McPherson
Project: Compared North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program climate
model output with Oklahoma Mesonet observations.
Student Academic Assistant
December 2010–October 2011
Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies
Advisor: Dr. Michael Biggerstaff
Project: Edited and analyzed VORTEX2 and Post-VORTEX2 radar data. Obtained field
research experience on a 2-week late spring campaign.
Honors 
OK South Central Arc User Group Collaborative Scholarship
Robberson Conference Presentation & Creative Exhibition Travel Grant
Student Ambassador for the Oklahoma EPSCoR Women in Science

April 2014
January 2014
October 2012 
Professional Society Memberships 
Association of American Geographers – Student Member
American Geophysical Union – Student Member
American Meteorological Society – Student Member

June 2013 – present
June 2013 – present
June 2012 – present
Leadership Positions / Activities
Fellow – Climate Boot Camp, Northwest Climate Science
Center
Participant – Early Career Workshop, South Central Climate
Science Center
Student Liaison – Commission of the Weather and Climate
Enterprise Steering Committee, American Meteorological Society 
Senior Representative – Student Chapter of the American
 Meteorological Society, University of Oklahoma
Director of Operations – Oklahoma Weather Lab,
University of Oklahoma
Student Organizer – 2012 AMS Summer Meeting Organizing
Committee, American Meteorological Society
Forecasting Shift Leader – Oklahoma Weather Lab,
University of Oklahoma
Sophomore Representative – Undergraduate Studies Committee,
 University of Oklahoma
August2014
June 2014
January 2013 - present
August 2012 – May 2013
June 2012 – May 2013
May 2012– August 2012
August 2011 – present
August 2010 – May 2011
Oral Presentations
E. L. Kuster, K. J. Thiem, J. Voveris, J. B. Basara, H. G. Basara, V. G. Silvis, 2014:
Determining Risk Zones for Human Health During Heatwaves. 94th Annual Amer. Metr. Soc.
Conf., Atlanta, GA
Poster Presentations
E. L. Kuster, K. J. Thiem, J. Voveris, J. B. Basara, H. G. Basara, V. G. Silvis, 2014:
Determining Risk Zones for Human Health During Heatwaves. Student Research and
Performance Day, Norman, OK
M. Garcia-Llorente, A. J. Castro, C. C. Vaughn, J. P. Julian, C. Mikle, N. Berg-Mattson, E.
Kuster, L. Zhou, K. Williams, and A. Ryan, 2014: Ecosystem Services Across US
Watersheds: A Systematic Review. Annual Soc. for Freshwater Sci. Conf., Portland, OR
E. L. Kuster, 2013: Exploring Vulnerabilities in the September 2013 Colorado Front Range
Flood. GIS Day, Norman, OK
E. L. Fagan, C. E. Lunday, and R. A. McPherson, 2013: Brief Comparison Between North
American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) Output and
Oklahoma Mesonet Observations: Temperature Comparisons. 93rd Annual Amer. Metr. Soc.
Conf., Austin, TX