Donya Frank-Gilchrist (SPCMSC) manages the USGS booth at the recent SCDRP annual meeting to share USGS data and tools with community resilience partners and stakeholders.
Donya P Frank-Gilchrist, Ph.D.
Donya Frank-Gilchrist is a Research Physical Scientist at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Donya studies hydrodynamics and sediment transport in the nearshore to improve predictions of coastal processes and storm impacts on shorelines and communities. Her research spans a wide range of scales from investigating incipient motion of individual sand grains up to modeling the evolution of barrier islands in response to tropical storms and sea level rise. Donya is also involved with several stakeholder engagement efforts to improve the accessibility of USGS natural hazards resources for various stakeholders.
Professional Experience
Donya conducted her post-doctoral research in the Seafloor Sciences Branch of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
Prior to joining the USGS, she also worked in private industry modeling nearshore hydrodynamics and pollutant transport in coastal regions.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire
M.S. Civil Engineering, The Ohio State University
B.S. Engineering, Harvey Mudd College
Science and Products
SENHIC Project Milestones and Meetings
Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC)
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Coastal | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Costas
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Ecosistemas y contaminantes ambientales
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Hurricanes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Huracanes
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Landslides | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Deslizamientos de tierra
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Water Resources | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Recursos de agua
Laboratory Observations of Variable Size and Shape Particles: Artificial Sand and Oil Agglomerates
![A woman stands in front of a table covered with information products, with 2 large vertical posters behind her.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20240124_090538.jpg?itok=mhFD4Jjk)
Donya Frank-Gilchrist (SPCMSC) manages the USGS booth at the recent SCDRP annual meeting to share USGS data and tools with community resilience partners and stakeholders.
![a woman in a green USGS shirt stands in front of a castle on a beach](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230405_151139.jpg?itok=FmEHPp8t)
Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist of the USGS St.
![two women sit on a beach at low tide, smiling at the camera](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230405_122018.jpg?itok=Qy25p5Ii)
Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, and Dr. Allison Penko of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Ocean Sciences Division presented research on sand transport under oscillatory flows at the Marine and River Dune Dynamics (MARID) Conference in Rennes, France.
Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, and Dr. Allison Penko of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Ocean Sciences Division presented research on sand transport under oscillatory flows at the Marine and River Dune Dynamics (MARID) Conference in Rennes, France.
![a woman stands at a podium on stage in front of a presentation about sand grain trapping over sand ripples](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/IMG_20230405_001908.jpg?itok=nyDw78h_)
Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist presents at the Marine and River Dune Dynamics Conference in Rennes, France
linkDr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist of the USGS St.
![Three young women stand behind a table in a window-lit room with brochures on a table](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/PXL_20230124_134413217.jpg?itok=pBwM1kup)
Meaghan Emory and Drs. Legna Torres-Garcia and Donya Frank-Gilchrist engage with stakeholders and explore potential partnerships across Caribbean nations and territories to further enhance USGS natural hazards research at the 2023 SCDRP annual meeting in Miami, Florida.
Meaghan Emory and Drs. Legna Torres-Garcia and Donya Frank-Gilchrist engage with stakeholders and explore potential partnerships across Caribbean nations and territories to further enhance USGS natural hazards research at the 2023 SCDRP annual meeting in Miami, Florida.
![four people stand at a table draped in a green USGS tablecloth with several resources on display](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/usgs-group2-edited.png?itok=gOegg_FS)
From left to right: Meaghan Emory, Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist, Dr.
From left to right: Meaghan Emory, Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist, Dr.
![A woman speaks at a podium on stage in front of a crowd of people with a presentation about resilience in the Caribbean](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230124_124910e.png?itok=Uyjwhyrd)
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
![A woman speaks at a podium on stage in front of a crowd of people with a presentation about resilience in the Caribbean](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230124_124946e.png?itok=ZulUw9qb)
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
![A woman speaks at a podium on stage in front of a crowd of people with a presentation about USGS natural hazards research](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230124_125112e.png?itok=ML0Y56RH)
Dr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
![Woman in a green shirt labeled USGS leans over and points at a table display of water and sand, with a child watching nearby](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Donya-GATI2022_1.png?itok=qZ8vcOl4)
Research Physical Scientist Donya Frank-Gilchrist visited three classes at Lakeview Fundamental Elementary School for the 2022 Great American Teach-In to discuss wave dynamics, extreme storms, and how these processes alter coastal ecosystems.
Research Physical Scientist Donya Frank-Gilchrist visited three classes at Lakeview Fundamental Elementary School for the 2022 Great American Teach-In to discuss wave dynamics, extreme storms, and how these processes alter coastal ecosystems.
Vortex trapping of sand grains over ripples under oscillatory flow
Hindcast of Hurricane Sally impacts on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Drs. Donya Frank-Gilchrist and Legna Torres-García were funded to assess the feasibility for international collaborations on natural hazards investigations in the Caribbean
Drs. Donya Frank-Gilchrist and Legna Torres-García of the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) are co-leading the project entitled “Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC),” jointly funded by the USGS Risk Community of Practice and the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
Science and Products
SENHIC Project Milestones and Meetings
Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC)
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Coastal | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Costas
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Ecosistemas y contaminantes ambientales
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Hurricanes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Huracanes
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Landslides | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Deslizamientos de tierra
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Water Resources | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Recursos de agua
Laboratory Observations of Variable Size and Shape Particles: Artificial Sand and Oil Agglomerates
![A woman stands in front of a table covered with information products, with 2 large vertical posters behind her.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20240124_090538.jpg?itok=mhFD4Jjk)
Donya Frank-Gilchrist (SPCMSC) manages the USGS booth at the recent SCDRP annual meeting to share USGS data and tools with community resilience partners and stakeholders.
Donya Frank-Gilchrist (SPCMSC) manages the USGS booth at the recent SCDRP annual meeting to share USGS data and tools with community resilience partners and stakeholders.
![a woman in a green USGS shirt stands in front of a castle on a beach](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230405_151139.jpg?itok=FmEHPp8t)
Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist of the USGS St.
![two women sit on a beach at low tide, smiling at the camera](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230405_122018.jpg?itok=Qy25p5Ii)
Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, and Dr. Allison Penko of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Ocean Sciences Division presented research on sand transport under oscillatory flows at the Marine and River Dune Dynamics (MARID) Conference in Rennes, France.
Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, and Dr. Allison Penko of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Ocean Sciences Division presented research on sand transport under oscillatory flows at the Marine and River Dune Dynamics (MARID) Conference in Rennes, France.
![a woman stands at a podium on stage in front of a presentation about sand grain trapping over sand ripples](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/IMG_20230405_001908.jpg?itok=nyDw78h_)
Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist presents at the Marine and River Dune Dynamics Conference in Rennes, France
linkDr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist of the USGS St.
![Three young women stand behind a table in a window-lit room with brochures on a table](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/PXL_20230124_134413217.jpg?itok=pBwM1kup)
Meaghan Emory and Drs. Legna Torres-Garcia and Donya Frank-Gilchrist engage with stakeholders and explore potential partnerships across Caribbean nations and territories to further enhance USGS natural hazards research at the 2023 SCDRP annual meeting in Miami, Florida.
Meaghan Emory and Drs. Legna Torres-Garcia and Donya Frank-Gilchrist engage with stakeholders and explore potential partnerships across Caribbean nations and territories to further enhance USGS natural hazards research at the 2023 SCDRP annual meeting in Miami, Florida.
![four people stand at a table draped in a green USGS tablecloth with several resources on display](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/usgs-group2-edited.png?itok=gOegg_FS)
From left to right: Meaghan Emory, Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist, Dr.
From left to right: Meaghan Emory, Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist, Dr.
![A woman speaks at a podium on stage in front of a crowd of people with a presentation about resilience in the Caribbean](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230124_124910e.png?itok=Uyjwhyrd)
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
![A woman speaks at a podium on stage in front of a crowd of people with a presentation about resilience in the Caribbean](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230124_124946e.png?itok=ZulUw9qb)
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
![A woman speaks at a podium on stage in front of a crowd of people with a presentation about USGS natural hazards research](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/20230124_125112e.png?itok=ML0Y56RH)
Dr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
![Woman in a green shirt labeled USGS leans over and points at a table display of water and sand, with a child watching nearby](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Donya-GATI2022_1.png?itok=qZ8vcOl4)
Research Physical Scientist Donya Frank-Gilchrist visited three classes at Lakeview Fundamental Elementary School for the 2022 Great American Teach-In to discuss wave dynamics, extreme storms, and how these processes alter coastal ecosystems.
Research Physical Scientist Donya Frank-Gilchrist visited three classes at Lakeview Fundamental Elementary School for the 2022 Great American Teach-In to discuss wave dynamics, extreme storms, and how these processes alter coastal ecosystems.
Vortex trapping of sand grains over ripples under oscillatory flow
Hindcast of Hurricane Sally impacts on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Drs. Donya Frank-Gilchrist and Legna Torres-García were funded to assess the feasibility for international collaborations on natural hazards investigations in the Caribbean
Drs. Donya Frank-Gilchrist and Legna Torres-García of the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) are co-leading the project entitled “Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC),” jointly funded by the USGS Risk Community of Practice and the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.