Thushara Gunda

Complex Systems Analyst

Author profile picture

Complex Systems Analyst

tgunda@sandia.gov

(505) 845-3440

Biography

Thushara Gunda is a Principal Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories. Her research portfolio focuses on data-driven decision making in complex systems, including water resources, energy, and security domains. Leveraging insights from interdisciplinary perspective is a key distinguishing feature of Thushara’s work. Her research methods integrate techniques from data sciences, modeling and simulation, stakeholder engagement, open-source software development, and domain-specific practices.

Education

  • Ph.D. Environmental Engineering Vanderbilt University 2018
  • M.S. Environmental Engineering Vanderbilt University 2014
  • B.S. Environmental Sciences University of Virginia 2010
  • B.A. Environmental Thought & Practice University of Virginia 2010

Awards & Recognitions

Software

Media Highlights

Publications

  • Jackson, N., Gunda, T., Gayoso, N., Desai, J., Walker, A., & Walker, A. (2022). Operations, maintenance, and cost considerations for PV+Storage in the United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1899420 Publication ID: 80437
  • Doyle, C., Gunda, T., Bernard, M., & Bernard, M. (2022). Grey Zone Test Range Social Model. https://doi.org/10.2172/1898253 Publication ID: 80407
  • Hopwood, M., Patel, L., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2022). Classification of Photovoltaic Failures with Hidden Markov Modeling, an Unsupervised Statistical Approach. Energies, 15(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/en15145104 Publication ID: 80937
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., Caballero, M., Xu, P., Xu, X., Bernknopf, R., Broadbent, C., Malczynski, L., Jacobson, J., & Jacobson, J. (2022). Produced Water-Economic, Socio, Environmental Simulation Model (PW-ESEim) Model: Proof-of-Concept for Southeastern New Mexico. https://doi.org/10.2172/1868149 Publication ID: 80758
  • Caballero, M., Gunda, T., McDonald, Y., & McDonald, Y. (2022). Pollution in the Press: Employing Text Analytics to Understand Regional Water Quality Narratives. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.770812 Publication ID: 80694
  • Caballero, M., Gunda, T., McDonald, Y.J., & McDonald, Y.J. (2022). Pollution in the Press: Employing Text Analytics to Understand Regional Water Quality Narratives [Conference Presenation]. Frontiers in Environmental Science. https://doi.org/10.2172/1862777 Publication ID: 77971
  • Gunda, T., Ferencz, S., Hora, P., Kuzio, S., Wulfert, K., & Wulfert, K. (2022). What is Water’s Role in a Carbon Neutral Future? A Summary of Findings from a Webinar Series. https://doi.org/10.2172/1865260 Publication ID: 80692
  • Gunda, T., Caskey, S., Williams, A., Birch, G., & Birch, G. (2022). Revisiting Current Paradigms: Subject Matter Expert Views on High Consequence Facility Security Assessments. Journal of Nuclear Materials Management, 49(4), pp. 4-19. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1870453 Publication ID: 80567
  • Hopwood, M.W., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2022). Generation of Data-Driven Expected Energy Models for Photovoltaic Systems. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041872 Publication ID: 80488
  • Jackson, N., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2021). Evaluation of extreme weather impacts on utility-scale photovoltaic plant performance in the United States. Applied Energy, 302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117508 Publication ID: 75449
  • Fleming Lindsley, E., Staid, A., Jackson, N., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2021). Critical Infrastructure Decision-Making under Long-Term Climate Hazard Uncertainty [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1897700 Publication ID: 76758
  • Caskey, S., Gunda, T., Williams, A., Wingo, J., & Wingo, J. (2021). LEVERAGING RESILIENCE METRICS TO SUPPORT ANALYSIS OF SECURITY SYSTEMS [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1899272 Publication ID: 76599
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., Hightower, M., Xu, P., Xu, X., Bernknopf, B., Broadbent, C., Malczynski, L., Jacobson, J., & Jacobson, J. (2021). Tool for Assessing the Economic, Societal and Environmental Tradeoffs in Oil & Gas Produced Water Management and Reuse [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1896576 Publication ID: 76597
  • Williams, A., Adams, T., Wingo, J., Birch, G., Caskey, S., Fleming Lindsley, E., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2021). Resilience-Based Performance Measures for Next-Generation Systems Security Engineering [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1891245 Publication ID: 76148
  • Gunda, T. (2021). Solar PV Technologies ? An Overview of Current and Emerging Research [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1894565 Publication ID: 76450
  • Williams, A., Adams, T., Wingo, J., Birch, G., Caskey, S., Fleming Lindsley, E., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2021). Resilience-Based Performance Measures for Next-Generation Systems Security Engineering [Conference Paper]. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCST49569.2021.9717388 Publication ID: 76011
  • Jackson, N., Gunda, T., Staid, A., Gilletly, S., & Gilletly, S. (2021). Extreme Weather Impacts on Energy Generation [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1888642 Publication ID: 75839
  • Staid, A., Fleming Lindsley, E., Gunda, T., Jackson, N., & Jackson, N. (2021). Critical Infrastructure Decision-Making under Long-Term Climate Hazard Uncertainty: The Need for an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Approach. https://doi.org/10.2172/1820518 Publication ID: 75675
  • Hopwood, M.W., Patel, L., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2021). Probabilistic detection of high-dimension failures in complex systems: A case study of photovoltaics [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1886187 Publication ID: 75469
  • Caskey, S., Gunda, T., Wingo, J., Williams, A., & Williams, A. (2021). Leveraging Resilience Metrics to Support Security System Analysis [Conference Paper]. https://doi.org/10.1109/HST53381.2021.9619837 Publication ID: 75907
  • Williams, A., Birch, G., Caskey, S., Gunda, T., Adams, T., Wingo, J., Stverak, J., & Stverak, J. (2021). Early Results from Applying a Multilayered Network Framework to Engineer Nuclear Security Systems [Conference Paper]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1888710 Publication ID: 79638
  • Williams, A., Birch, G., Fleming Lindsley, E., Caskey, S., Gunda, T., Wingo, J., Adams, T., Stverak, J., & Stverak, J. (2021). Early Results from Applying a Multilayered Network Framework to Engineering Nuclear Security Systems [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1882473 Publication ID: 75272
  • Gunda, T. (2021). Extreme Weather Impacts on PV Performance [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1871412 Publication ID: 78705
  • Mendoza, H., Hopwood, M.W., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2021). pvOps: Improving Operational Assessments through Data Fusion [Conference Paper]. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9518439 Publication ID: 78781
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., Hightower, M., Xu, P., Bernknopf, R., Broadbent, C., Malczynski, L., Jacobson, J., & Jacobson, J. (2021). Tool for Assessing the Economic, Societal and Environmental Tradeoffs in Oil/Gas Produced Water Management and Reuse [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1876609 Publication ID: 78990
  • Mendoza, H., Hopwood, M.W., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2021). pvOps: Improving Operational Assessments through Data Fusion [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1872704 Publication ID: 78807
  • Doyle, C., Gunda, T., Naugle, A., & Naugle, A. (2021). Hierarchical effects facilitate spreading processes on synthetic and empirical multilayer networks. PLoS ONE, 16(6 June). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252266 Publication ID: 78840
  • Gunda, T., Aamir, M., Outkin, A., & Outkin, A. (2021). Increasing Integration of Data-driven Analyses in Operational Activities through Knowledge Management [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1870767 Publication ID: 78669
  • Williams, A., Birch, G., Caskey, S., Gunda, T., Fleming Lindsley, E., Adams, T., Wingo, J., & Wingo, J. (2021). Insights for Systems Security Engineering from Multilayer Network Models [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1862186 Publication ID: 77936
  • Williams, A., Birch, G., Caskey, S., Fleming Lindsley, E., Gunda, T., Adams, T., Wingo, J., & Wingo, J. (2021). Insights for Systems Security Engineering from Multilayer Network Models [Conference Paper]. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2334-5837.2021.00838.x Publication ID: 77867
  • Hansen, C., Jordan, D., Deceglie, M., Gunda, T., Hopwood, M.W., Mendoza, H., Muller, M., Vining, W., & Vining, W. (2021). Data Cleaning for Degradation Analyses [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1845618 Publication ID: 76821
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., Gayoso, N., & Gayoso, N. (2021). Importance of Plant-Level Characteristics for Assessment of Water-Related Threats to Electric Power Sector [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1847224 Publication ID: 77341
  • Hansen, C., Jordan, D., Deceglie, M., Gunda, T., Mendoza, H., Muller, M., Vining, W., & Vining, W. (2021). Data Cleaning for Degradation Analyses [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1854657 Publication ID: 76820
  • Williams, A., Birch, G., Caskey, S., Gunda, T., Wingo, J., Adams, T., & Adams, T. (2021). A Complex Systems Approach to Develop a Multilayer Network Model for High Consequence Facility Security [Conference Poster]. Springer Proceedings in Complexity. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85111392525&origin=inward Publication ID: 73017
  • Jackson, N., Gunda, T., Staid, A., & Staid, A. (2020). Weather Impacts On Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Plant Performance [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1833151 Publication ID: 71928
  • Padilla, A., Timmons, S., Gunda, T., Graham, J., & Graham, J. (2020). Using Publish-Subscribe Methodology to Improve Water Data Sharing [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1832695 Publication ID: 71892
  • Hopwood, M.W., Mendoza, H., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2020). Generating actionable information through the fusion of text and timeseries data: A case study of extreme weather effects at Photovoltaic plants [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1889019 Publication ID: 71803
  • Caballero, M., Gunda, T., McDonald, Y., Gilligan, J., & Gilligan, J. (2020). Pollution in the Press: Employing Text Analytics to Understand Regional Water Quality Narratives [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1884097 Publication ID: 71786
  • Anker, B., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2020). Analyzing Newspaper Articles: Opportunities Strategies and Risks [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1830051 Publication ID: 71615
  • Gunda, T., Carbajal, A., Sanchez, D., & Sanchez, D. (2020). Extending Theory-Guided Data Science to Consider Social Science Domains [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1829562 Publication ID: 71558
  • Gunda, T. (2020). NM Technical Working Group: Balancing Standards Development with User Priorities and Platform Needs [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1831349 Publication ID: 71419
  • Gunda, T. (2020). An Interdisciplinary Approach to Tackling Water Resource Issues in the 21st Century [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1826443 Publication ID: 71275
  • Gunda, T., Klise, K., & Klise, K. (2020). A Nexus Approach to Systems Resilience [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1825982 Publication ID: 71235
  • Gunda, T. (2020). Fusing Diverse Datasets with Machine Learning to Inform System State Conditions: An Application for Photovoltaic Plants [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1825606 Publication ID: 71205
  • Hansen, C., Jordan, D., Deceglie, M., Gunda, T., Mendoza, H., Muller, M., Vining, W., & Vining, W. (2020). Data Cleaning for Degradation Analyses [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1821842 Publication ID: 74963
  • Sanchez, D., Eagleston, H., Anker, B., Jenkins, L., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2020). Not All Disasters are Created Equal: Evaluating Differences in Fire and Hurricane Media Coverage [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1830963 Publication ID: 71059
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., Gayoso, N., & Gayoso, N. (2020). Water Atlas Extension [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1818431 Publication ID: 74713
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., Gayoso, N., & Gayoso, N. (2020). Importance of Plant-Level Characteristics for Assessment of Water-Related Threats to Electric Power Sector [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1807657 Publication ID: 74015
  • Williams, A., Birch, G., Gunda, T., Caskey, S., Wingo, J., Adams, T., & Adams, T. (2020). A Complex Systems Approach to Develop a Multilayer Network Model for High Consequence Facility Security (Slides) [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1809209 Publication ID: 74152
  • Hopwood, M.W., Mendoza, H., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2020). Generating actionable information through the fusion of text and timeseries data: A case study of extreme weather effects at Photovoltaic plants [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1811807 Publication ID: 74283
  • Hopwood, M.W., Gunda, T., Seigneur, H., Walters, J., & Walters, J. (2020). An assessment of the value of principal component analysis for photovoltaic IV trace classification of physically-induced failures [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1807364 Publication ID: 73709
  • Caskey, S., Williams, A., Abbott, S.N., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2020). Malicious Threat Anticipation using an Adaptive Complex Systems Approach [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1807444 Publication ID: 73802
  • Williams, A., Birch, G., Caskey, S., Gunda, T., Adams, T., Wingo, J., Stverak, J., & Stverak, J. (2020). Empirical Insights for a Multi-Layered Network Complex Systems Model for Engineering Nuclear Security Systems [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1798420 Publication ID: 73831
  • Williams, A., Birch, G., Gunda, T., Caskey, S., Wingo, J., Adams, T., Stverak, J., & Stverak, J. (2020). Empirical Insights for a Multi-Layered Network Complex Systems Model for Engineering Nuclear Security Systems-Slides [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1804854 Publication ID: 73914
  • Caskey, S., Gunda, T., Williams, A., & Williams, A. (2020). Malicious Threat Anticipation using an Adaptive Complex Systems Approach [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1805034 Publication ID: 73937
  • Hansen, C., Jordan, D., Deceglie, M., Muller, M., Gunda, T., Vining, W., & Vining, W. (2020). Data Cleaning for Degradation Analyses [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1767884 Publication ID: 72746
  • Gunda, T. (2020). Inverter Faults & Failures: Common modes & patterns [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1767382 Publication ID: 72735
  • Hopwood, M.W., Gunda, T., Seigneur, H., Walters, J., & Walters, J. (2020). Neural Network-Based Classification of String-Level IV Curves from Physically-Induced Failures of Photovoltaic Modules. IEEE Access, 8, pp. 161480-161487. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3021577 Publication ID: 70980
  • Jackson, N., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2020). Multi-site assessment of extreme weather impacts on PV plant performance and reliability [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1761296 Publication ID: 70742
  • Gunda, T., Tidwell, V., Fernald, S., Bai, Y., & Bai, Y. (2019). Reduced and Earlier Snowmelt Runoff Impacts Traditional Irrigation Systems. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, 168(1), pp. 10-28. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2019.03318.x Publication ID: 70868
  • Jackson, N., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2019). Reusing Operations & Maintenance Records: Moving from Reactive to Proactive Management of Solar Photovoltaic Sites [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1643576 Publication ID: 66551
  • Gunda, T., Cai, M., & Cai, M. (2019). Foresee the Future: Using Machine Learning Climate and Site Characteristics to Predict Solar Plant Generation [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1643055 Publication ID: 66020
  • Ding, K.J., Gunda, T., Hornberger, G.M., & Hornberger, G.M. (2019). Prominent Influence of Socioeconomic and Governance Factors on the Food-Energy-Water Nexus in sub-Saharan Africa. Earth’s Future, 7(9), pp. 1071-1087. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EF001184 Publication ID: 66233
  • Gunda, T. (2019). Leveraging Empirical Data to Characterize PV O&M Issues [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1645991 Publication ID: 65032
  • Gunda, T. (2019). Leveraging Date Science & Machine Learning to Characterize PV O&M Issues [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1645929 Publication ID: 64845
  • Gunda, T. (2019). MORE THAN A TICKETING SYSTEM: O&M DATABASES AS AN ANALYTICAL TOOL [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1641525 Publication ID: 70325
  • Naugle, A., Gunda, T., Doyle, C., & Doyle, C. (2019). Barriers to Adoption of Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1641413 Publication ID: 70155
  • Gunda, T., Jones, C., & Jones, C. (2019). Data-Driven Analysis of PV Failures from O&M Records [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1645685 Publication ID: 70162
  • Jones, C.B., Hobbs, W.B., Libby, C., Gunda, T., Hamzavy, B., & Hamzavy, B. (2019). Predicting Photovoltaic Module Series Resistance based on Indoor-Aging Tests and Thermal Cycling Cumulative Exposure Estimates [Conference Poster]. Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC40753.2019.8981189 Publication ID: 69137
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2019). Satisfying Thirsty Power: The Energy-Water Nexus [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1640624 Publication ID: 68863
  • Gunda, T., Tidwell, V.C., & Tidwell, V.C. (2019). A Uniform Practice for Conceptualizing and Communicating Food-Energy-Water Nexus Studies. Earth’s Future, 7(5), pp. 504-515. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EF001150 Publication ID: 68455
  • Gunda, T. (2019). Leveraging Data Science and Machine Learning to Characterize and Improve PV O&M [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1644949 Publication ID: 68210
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., Jeffers, R., & Jeffers, R. (2019). Water Atlas Extension [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1639757 Publication ID: 68056
  • Gunda, T. (2019). Water Management for Unconventional Oil and Gas Development in the Permian Basin: Methods for understanding the links between stakeholder behavior and public perception [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1601545 Publication ID: 67023
  • Gunda, T. (2019). Sociocultural Feedbacks Influence Community Resilience During Water-Scarce Periods [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1592337 Publication ID: 64313
  • Gunda, T. (2019). More than a Ticketing System: O&M Databases as an Analytical Tool [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1581877 Publication ID: 64161
  • Gunda, T. (2018). Leveraging Data Science and Machine Learning to Characterize PV O&M Issues [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1573558 Publication ID: 60020
  • Kuether, R., Allensworth, B., Backer, A., Chen, E., Dingreville, R., Forrest, E.C., Knepper, R., Tappan, A., Marquez, M., Vasiliauskas, J.G., Rupper, S., Grant, M., Atencio, L., Hipple, T., Maes, D., Timlin, J., Ma, T., Garcia, R., Danford, F., … Swiler, L. (2018). Posters for AA/CE Reception [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1592652 Publication ID: 59884
  • Gunda, T. (2018). Distributions: A Tool for Characterizing Failures [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1592681 Publication ID: 59776
  • Gunda, T., Tidwell, V., & Tidwell, V. (2018). Dynamic Sociocultural Feedbacks Influence Acequia Response During Water Scarcity [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1593574 Publication ID: 59582
  • Gunda, T. (2018). Modeling (Resilient) Communities [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1562352 Publication ID: 58832
  • Villa, D., New, J., Peplinski, W., Gunda, T., Gallegos, G., Adams, M., Garrett, A., & Garrett, A. (2018). Reducing Building Energy Modeling Workloads Through Automated Calibration [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1582548 Publication ID: 63947
  • Gunda, T. (2018). Evolution of Water Narratives in Local US Newspapers: A Case Study of Utah and Georgia. https://doi.org/10.2172/1467781 Publication ID: 63822
  • Gunda, T. (2018). Characterization of Water-Related Narratives in Local US Newspapers [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1532830 Publication ID: 62964
  • Gunda, T., Turner, B.L., Tidwell, V., & Tidwell, V. (2018). The Influential Role of Sociocultural Feedbacks on Community-Managed Irrigation System Behaviors During Times of Water Stress. Water Resources Research, 54(4), pp. 2697-2714. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR021223 Publication ID: 61189
  • Gunda, T. (2018). Using Qualitative Analyses in Socio-Hydrological Research [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1501970 Publication ID: 61121
  • Gunda, T., Tidwell, V., & Tidwell, V. (2018). Partner Capabilities [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1882111 Publication ID: 60963
  • Gunda, T., Tidwell, V., & Tidwell, V. (2016). Waste Not Want Not: Role of Waste Generation Management and Treatment in Food-Energy-Water Nexus Interactions [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1413400 Publication ID: 48096
  • Tidwell, V., Gunda, T., & Gunda, T. (2016). Critical role of waste in governing nexus interactions [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1420795 Publication ID: 47736
Showing 10 of 89 publications.