Charles ‘CJ’ Knoble, PhD

LinkedIn | cjknoble@gmail.com | Google Scholar | Medium

Presentations

GIS Portfolio

Coding Portfolio

Testimonials

Can internet search data inform our response to environmental injustice? How do we ensure big data is efficient, effective, and equitable? What role does environmental data justice play in disaster resilience?

About Me

Hi, I’m CJ, the EJ Guy. I’m a geospatial data scientist with a PhD in Environmental Science and Management, specializing in the intersection of environmental justice (EJ), spatial analysis, and technology.

My work integrates open data, GIS, and statistical modeling to support equity-centered decision-making across sectors. I’ve led geospatial and data science projects for nonprofits, consulting firms, and research institutions—building scalable data pipelines, creating interactive visualizations, and conducting impact assessments that inform sustainability, mobility, and reintegration policy. I bring a systems-oriented approach to spatial data, grounded in community needs and committed to advancing environmental justice through technical rigor and collaborative design.

Technical Skills: ArcGIS Pro [Advanced], R [Advanced], Python [Advanced], Machine Learning [Advanced], QGIS [Advanced], Stella Architect [Advanced], SQL [Intermediate], Salesforce [Intermediate]
Research Interests: Environmental Justice (EJ), Simultative Modeling, Data Justice, Big Data, Environmental Policy, Urban Sustainability, Systems Thinking, Critical GIS
Certifications: Remote Pilot of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems [FAA Part 107], GIS Specialization [UC Davis: Coursera], Certificate of Competency in SQL [LearnSQL.com]

Education

Ph.D., Environmental Science and Management (Spring 2025)
Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
B.A., International Relations (Fall 2019)
Minors, Political Science, Italian, and International Studies
California State University, Chico, CA
Visiting Semester (Spring 2019)
Political Science Sacramento Semester Program
California State University, Sacramento, CA
Study Abroad (Spring 2018)
Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Publications

1. Fabolude G., Knoble, C., Vu A., Yu D. (2025). Beyond Mining: A Comprehensive Approach to Assessing Lead Exposure Risks in Nigeria. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 114, 107923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107923
2. Knoble, C., Fabolude, G., Vu, A., Yu, D. (2024). From crisis to prevention: mining big data for public health insights during the Flint Water Crisis. Discover Sustainability, 5, 289. https://doi:10.1007/s43621-024-00514-w
3. Chien, S. -C., & Knoble, C. (2024). Uneven Burdens: The Intersection of Brownfields, Pollution, and Socioeconomic Disparities in New Jersey, USA. Sustainability, 16(23), 10535. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310535
4. Fabolude, G., Knoble, C., Vu, A., Yu, D. (2024). Comprehensive lead exposure vulnerability for New Jersey: Insights from a Multi-Criteria risk assessment and community impact analysis framework. Ecological Indicators, 167, 112585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112585
5. Chien, S.-C., & Knoble, C. (2024). Research of Education for Sustainable Development: Understanding New Emerging Trends and Issues after SDG 4. Journal of Sustainability Research, 6(1), e240006. https://doi.org/10.20900/jsr20240006
6. Chien, S.-C., Knoble, C., Krumins, J. (2024). Human Population Density and Blue Carbon Stocks in Mangrove Soils. Environmental Research Letters, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad13b6
7. Fabolude, G., Knoble, C., Vu, A., & Yu, D. (2024). Smart cities, smart systems: A comprehensive review of system dynamics model applications in urban studies in the big data era. Geography and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2024.10.002
8. Knoble, C. & Yu, D. (2023). Bridging the Gap: Analyzing the Relationship between Environmental Justice Awareness on Twitter and Socio-Environmental Factors Using Remote Sensing and Big Data. Remote Sensing, 15(23), 5510. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15235510
9. Knoble, C. & Yu, D. (2023). Environmental justice: An evolving concept in a dynamic era. Sustainable Development, 31(4), 2091-2108. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2519

Manuscripts Under Review

1. Knoble, C., Fabolude, G., Vu, A., Yu, D. (n.d.). Data Justice and Fast-Food Mobile Apps: Analyzing Targeted Marketing and Health Implications in Marginalized Communities. Social Science and Medicine.
2. Knoble, C., Fabolude, G., Vu, A., Yu, D. (n.d.). Don’t Let Lead Lead on Environmental Justice: A Simulative System Dynamics Analysis of Lead Exposure in the Big Data Era. Science of the Total Environment.
3. Amenyo, A., Knoble, C., Lal, P. (n.d.). Green Finance in the United States: Distribution of Accessibility and Interest and Implications for Environmental Justice. Journal of Climate Finance.
4. Ahmed, A., Knoble, C., Schuler, M. (n.d.). Effects of Multiple Stressors on Freshwater Quality and Nutrient Dynamics: A Review. Environmental Pollution.
5. Yu, D., Knoble, C., Fabolude G., Vu. A. (n.d.). Understanding Lead Exposure Through Data and Domain Expertise: Insights from New Jersey with a Geographically Weighted Regression Analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
6. Fabolude, G., Knoble, C., Vu, A., Yu, D. (n.d.). The Battle Against Lead Exposure: Unveiling Urban Lead Exposure Dynamics Through System Modeling. Environmental Health Perspectives.
7. Vu, A., Knoble, C., Fabolude, G., Yu, D (n.d.). Micromobility in New York City: Historical Development, Current Trends, and Future Directions for Sustainable Urban Transportation. Transport Policy.
8. Cade, R., Yu, D., Knoble, C., Whyte, K., Lal, P., Borgerson, C. (n.d.). Environmental Justice in Indigenous Communities: The Disproportionate Effects of Environmental Contamination. Sustainable Futures.
   
   

Experience

Geospatial Data Science Contractor, Recidiviz (April 2025 - Present)

• Lead the acquisition, cleaning, and integration of national- and state-level datasets on mobility, housing, and employment to contextualize the reentry experiences of formerly incarcerated individuals
• Develop reproducible, open-source Python pipelines for geospatial and tabular data ingestion, transformation, and visualization, enabling scalable workflows across U.S. states
• Build foundational GIS infrastructure for an organization previously without in-house geospatial capacity, including automated data pipelines, spatial databases, and mapping tools
• Design and implement interactive geospatial visualizations to support evidence-based advocacy, enabling Recidiviz’s stakeholders to identify structural barriers to reentry and communicate findings to policymakers
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prepare state-specific data packets, incorporating external datasets with internal case-level data to deliver actionable, contextual insights
• Structure and categorize data processing codebases by geography, topic, and source to improve internal usability and support future replication across program years

GIS Contractor, Rooted Futures Lab (January 2025 - Present)

• Collaborated on the design and delivery of the MYLE Project, an initiative that trains advocates, community organizers, and local journalists in critical GIS and data storytelling skills
• Facilitated and co-developed place-based, 2-hour workshops in Atlanta and Detroit, providing live GIS training and fostering civic dialogue among journalists and community organizers
• Contributed to a pilot program with plans for expansion into additional cities, emphasizing scalable and adaptable curriculum design
• Participated in organization-wide strategic planning for Rooted Futures Lab, contributing to the defining of core values, development of long-term goals, and visioning of the nonprofit’s impact over the next three years

Senior GIS Analyst, Starcrest LLC [500+ Hours] (July 2022 - Present)

• Lead all geospatial efforts within the firm, managing end-to-end GIS workflows in support of environmental consulting projects focused on marine vessel emissions, AFV infrastructure, and air quality
• Build scalable geospatial data pipelines for port emissions inventories using Python and Esri ModelBuilder, improving the resolution and accuracy of environmental assessments
• Author technical reports with clearly documented methods, geospatial analysis, data visualizations, and interpretive narratives highlighting environmental justice implications
• Design maps, charts, and spatial statistics for inclusion in regulatory and planning documents, enabling data-driven decision-making for port authorities and policy stakeholders
• Collaborate with database engineers to ensure seamless data integration across geospatial and SQL-based systems, improving data integrity and performance

GIS & Data Science Consultant, Independent Contractor [500+ Hours] (November 2020 - May 2025)

• Provide end-to-end consulting services for over 10 clients across sustainability, urban planning, transportation, and real estate sectors, with a focus on environmental justice and geospatial data strategy
• Lead project scoping, client engagement, and technical execution from initial needs assessment to final deliverables, translating complex client goals into actionable data science and GIS solutions
• Build custom geospatial data pipelines and infrastructure using Python, R, and Esri tools, including automated ModelBuilder workflows and reproducible spatial analysis scripts
• Design and deploy interactive visualizations (dashboards, web maps, custom tools) to support stakeholder engagement and decision-making on topics such as EV infrastructure, land use suitability, and social equity
• Support clients with statistical analysis workflows, machine learning implementation, and data optimization strategies, enhancing their internal analytics capabilities
• Contributed to proposals securing over $35M in federal funding by producing compelling visualizations, data-backed narratives, and impact metrics aligned with policy frameworks

PhD Candidate & Research Assistant; Dept. of Earth and Environmental Science, Montclair State University (August 2021 - May 2025)

• Published 10 peer-reviewed studies, including three as first author, advancing research in environmental justice, big data, and remote sensing
• Developed R and Python scripts to automate analysis of temporal covariation patterns across datasets, improving research accuracy and scalability for system dynamics simulations
• Led doctoral researchers in developing simulative models, establishing best practices for data collection and analysis in compliance with federal grant requirements
• Synthesized findings from 50+ peer-reviewed publications (2015 onwards) in an in-depth literature review, identifying emerging trends and research gaps in environmental justice
• Developed custom R scripts to collect, standardize, and aggregate over 20 environmental, social, health, economic, big data, and remote sensing datasets for quantitative and Machine Learning analysis

Adjunct Professor & Graduate Assistant; Dept. of Earth and Environmental Science, Montclair State University (August 2021 - May 2025) Adjunct Professor: Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing (EAES 210/506) Graduate Assistant: Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing (EAES 210/506), Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing (EAES 310/510), Planet Earth (EAES 101), Research Methods in Sustainability Science (EAES 390)

• Facilitated lab activities for courses in Statistical Research Methods, Introductory and Advanced GIS, and Planet Earth, fostering practical application of geographic principles and statistical analysis tools
• Developed novel curricula and lab exercises for an Introductory GIS course, incorporating tools such as R, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, and Google Earth Pro
• Increased GIS program engagement by 200%, organizing professional panel sessions, company tabling events, and software open-houses
• Awarded “Outstanding Teaching Assistant” in the first year and promoted to adjunct professor position

Project Manager & Clean Cities Coordinator; Center for Sustainable Energy (April 2020 - August 2021)

• For US Department of Energy’s regional Federal Clean Cities Coalition, developed annual project management plan, facilitated charter renewal, and submitted quarterly sustainability reports to federal program managers
• Strengthened partnerships with 60+ government entities and NGOs, providing resources, training, and newsletters to advance sustainability goals
• Organized and implemented outreach strategies by hosting webinars with industry leaders, managing email campaigns, and conducting one-on-one consultations, advancing fleet electrification efforts
• Led a team of 12 in evaluating outreach effectiveness, developing strategies to improve stakeholder engagement

Research Intern; California Department of Conservation (January 2019 - May 2019)

• Synthesized U.S. land conservation trends into actionable insights, informing the Chief Scientist’s long-term program goals through academic and policy research
• Presented policy recommendations and summaries of California’s conservation initiatives to executive stakeholders at quarterly science briefings
• Coordinated community science outreach in neighborhoods affected by oil wells, collaborating with the Director of Outreach and Engagement to equip community members to report health concerns
• Assisted in processing and vetting development grant proposals’ environmental impact as defined by CEQA regulations
  
  

Additional Teaching and Research Experience

Student Teacher, Model United Nations; California State University, Chico (August 2016 - April 2019)

• Leadership in Model United Nations (EAES 340A/B)
• Developed lesson plans, assignments, exams, and lecture slides each semester
• Independent of course professor, lectured 30+ person class on debate rhetoric and research methods once a week
• Assessed and guided students on research methods, policy brief writing techniques, and public speaking in a debate environment

California’s Sea Level Rise Policies Internship, California Department of Conservation (January 2019 – May 2019)

• Assisted Chief Science Advisor by collecting and analyzing emerging academic research and policy initiatives addressing sea level rise in the United States
• Synthesized trends and findings in recent research and presented to internal and external stakeholders at quarterly science briefing

International Policy Papers, Model United Nations, California State University, Chico (August 2016 – April 2019)

• Analyzed various UN member states’ policies to infer their response to international crises and submitted written policy briefs to international conferences, winning 3 awards for writing excellence
• Led 20+ undergraduate students in researching and writing policy briefs to international conferences, winning 15 awards for writing excellence

“Foreign Aid – Bridges and Barriers” Capstone Paper, California State University, Chico (August 2018 – December 2018)

• Conducted case studies on the American Red Cross and USAID response to 2010 Haitian earthquake
• Reviewed literature assessing the overall effectiveness of international humanitarian aid
• Analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data published by aid organizations and academic journals, identifying significant gaps in intended and manifested recovery efforts

“Assessing Impacts at the Alcohol Drug and Education Center” Research Methods, California State University, Chico (December 2016)

• Developed in-depth literature review on ethnographic research techniques, particularly in community outreach settings
• Collected ethnographic field data through small group sessions and semi-structured interviews
  
  

Awards

Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Academic Year 2021-2022 (May 2022)
Montclair State University

Graduation with Highest Distinction in the Major (May 2019)
California State University, Chico

Dean’s List, Academic Years 2015-2019 (August 2015 – May 2019)
California State University, Chico

Policy Position Paper Award, National Model United Nations Conference (April 2017, April 2019)
New York, NY

Outstanding Delegate Award, National Model United Nations Conference (October 2018)
Washington D.C.

Policy Position Paper Award, National Model United Nations Conference (October 2017, October 2018)
Washington D.C.

“Rookie” of the Year Award, University Housing (May 2017)
California State University, Chico

Community Development Award, University Housing (May 2017)
California State University, Chico

Outstanding Delegate Award, Northwestern Model United Nations Conference (November 2016)
Seattle, WA

Policy Position Paper Award, Northwestern Model United Nations Conference (November 2016)
Seattle, WA

For more information, please visit my LinkedIn and ORCID profiles, or download my Professional Resume and Academic CV.