Hannah Fitzpatrick

My Story

Growing up on California’s Central Coast during a prolonged drought, I developed an early awareness of water scarcity and its impact on communities. As a self-supporting student, I began my academic journey at Orange Coast Community College before transferring to California State University, Long Beach, where I earned my undergraduate degree in geology. Now, as a graduate student, my research focuses on hydrostratigraphic heterogeneity in coastal aquifers impacted by saltwater intrusion. I use Fiber Optic Distributed Sensing to identify flow paths and refine remediation strategies for brackish aquifer systems. I am excited to work with our undergraduate GEMS and learn from their unique perspectives. My goal is to contribute to sustainable water management through research and practical applications like Managed Aquifer Recharge. When I’m not working, I enjoy outdoor adventures, which continue to fuel my love for the earth sciences.