Kristen is a project scientist whose research includes regional and global climate variability and change, weather prediction and predictability, climate and weather extremes, and impacts on human health and society. Current and recent projects focus on improving predictions of precipitation extremes in California on extended range to seasonal timescales, off-season heat waves in California and their impact on snowpack and water resources, and heat related health impacts on populations in California. Her work has contributed to recent State and Regional Climate Change Assessments, and she actively participates in multidisciplinary collaborations with government agencies and non-profit organizations motivated to mitigate health impacts of weather extremes and climate change in the San Diego region, California, and the Western US.