Tracy Fanara

Environmental Engineer & Research Scientist

Tracy Fanara is an environmental engineer and research scientist with expertise spanning hydrologic and hydrodynamic design, flood analysis, coastal microbiology, physical oceanography, pollutant transport, and science communication. She holds BS, ME, and PhD degrees in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida and has worked across private, academic, nonprofit, and government sectors. Until March, Fanara served as the Coastal and Ocean Modeling Portfolio Manager at NOAA, where she identified critical hydrology gaps that now guide her current work.

Outside of research, Fanara is an active storm chaser and environmental advocate, assisting with wildlife rescue efforts in the Everglades and leading STEM camps for middle school girls. She also writes a comic book series and contributes to The Weather Channel and FOX Weather, using media and storytelling to make science accessible and engaging.