Kristen Davis in the Philippines

Kristen Davis, MS ’04, PhD ’09, joined the Stanford faculty in 2024. She is an engineer and oceanographer who is interested in studying how physical processes shape coastal waters—combining principles of fluid mechanics, oceanography, and ecology. She directs the Coastal Dynamics Lab in the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford. There, Professor Davis and her team use both field observations and numerical tools to examine circulation in the ocean, its natural variability, and influence on marine ecosystems and human-nature interactions. Their work addresses some of society’s biggest challenges relating to ocean health, mitigation of climate impacts, and energy resources.

On this trip, Professor Davis will lecture on ocean sustainability, ocean processes and how they are important for shaping marine eco systems. She will also discuss the impacts of climate change on the ocean and share proposed solutions.

• Associate Professor, Stanford University, 2024–present

• Associate Professor, University of California, Irvine, 2019–2024

• Assistant Professor, University of California, Irvine, 2012–2019

• PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 2009

• MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 2004

• BS, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, 2000