Kira Shonkwiler

Research Scientist II

About Kira

Kira is a Research Scientist II for the Zimmerle Group. Her research focuses on O&G (Oil & Gas) Offshore (wind characterization, emissions quantification), Autonomous Mobile Methane Measurement Units, testing CSU’s Methane Air Emissions Simulator (MAES) for top-down/bottom-up reconciliation via Measurement-Informed Inventories (MII), near-field dispersion modeling of complex systems, and advising graduate students.

Kira is from Ames, Iowa but has been a Coloradoan since 2011. A field researcher from 2002-2018, her university research career spanned Iowa State (B.S.), Kansas State (M.S.), and CSU (Ph.D.). She has used an array of micrometeorological flux methods and dispersion models for various gases (often year-round) with design experience (both sensors & their stations; quick-deploy, trailer-mounted, telescoping masts, and trams). Research domains are agriculture (crops, soils, hog/beef/dairy operations, prescribed fires), native (prairie, wetlands), urban (turf/lawns), and O&G (drilling, fracking, flowback, production).

After her Ph.D., Kira joined Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division’s Regional Modeling & Emission Inventory (EI) Unit for 7 years. She collaborated with agency partners and developed datasets for Transportation Conformity, Colorado’s Ozone State Implementation Plans, EPA’s NEI (Nat’l EI) & Modeling Platforms, Photochemical Grid Modeling inputs, O&G/Industry Outreach, creation of ONGAEIR (Colorado’s Oil & Natural Gas Annual EI Report), and Nonroad Engine regulatory dispersion modeling emission factors, amongst others.

Kira’s personal interests outside of work are being an artist, pet momma, nature lover, weather geek, veggie gardener, conversationalist, foodie/wine afficionado, and documentary nerd.