Lovely to e-meet you, my name is
Samantha Hordyk
I'm a Computational Environmental Scientist, specializing in process-based modeling, geospatial analysis, and community-engaged climate solutions. In all of my work, whether through science, policy, or action, my aim is to help build a safer and more sustainable world.
About Me
I’ve worked on computational projects ranging from geospatial habitat analysis, physical modeling of natural hazards, and ecosystem services modeling. I recently earned my Master’s in Geophysics from Stanford, where my research advanced our understanding of multiphase flow instabilities in earth systems (like methane release from melting permafrost) and basal dynamics of ice streams (how glaciers move over the ground) using direct numerical simulations and scientific programming. Other projects I’ve led include developing a spatial connectivity model of bee habitats in Seattle and predicting debris flow events in California with machine learning.
Fundamental scientific knowledge is rarely the bottleneck to large-scale climate progress – instead, the barriers lie within policy, infrastructure, and the trade-offs that communities face while navigating limited resources and capacity. Alongside my technical work, I have consistently pursued roles that bridge science and action, reaching beyond the scope of a traditional academic researcher while working in environmental policy, community engagement, and climate action. With MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative, I worked in the Rapid Response Group to identify and address urgent or overlooked environmental challenges with high potential for impact, such as a white paper analysis on water access and ethical engagement in the Navajo Nation, analyzing the costs and benefits of extending Virginia’s fossil fuel moratorium to state electrical cooperatives and municipal boards, and assisting the NRDC in sorting public comments on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. As a Public Service Fellow at the Stanford Haas Center, I co-led an investigation of institutional barriers to equitable community-engaged scholarship, coordinating with university leadership, faculty, and environmental justice nonprofits to push for open data and acknowledgement standards when collaborating with community partners. Each of these roles reinforced a core conviction: that meaningful environmental progress requires not just better science, but better translation between research, policy, and the communities most affected.