Our Students

I am looking at the effects of various intensities of wildfire on soils. I am doing this by burning multiple square meter plots using a ceramic heater and measuring how the soil responds. This information will be used to fortify a commonly used land management model known as the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) to help understand the effects of wildfires on forested watersheds.

• Major professor: Erin Brooks, Ph.D.
• B.S. Environmental Science, University of Idaho
• Hometown: Meridian

Currently a research associate with the forest hydrology project, ENREP (Eastside Type N Riparian Effectiveness Project). Interested in hydrometeorology, snow hydrology and climate impacts on water resources. Extensive previous work in polar atmospheric research and meteorological instrumentation.

• Major professor: Robert Heinse, Ph.D.
• Website: www.vortexsci.com
• B.A., M.S., Ph.D. Prior Major: Geology, Atmospheric Science, Geophysics, University of Montana, University of Colorado Boulder, Victoria University Wellington
• Hometown: Moscow

My research is focused on the study of the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA; biodegradable biological thermoplastics) from dairy manure using mixed microbial consortia (MMC).

• Major professor: Erik R. Coats, Ph.D.
• B.S. Environmental Engineering, The Technological University of Panama
• Hometown: Panama
• Publications in Spanish:
  • Study of the hydrodynamic behavior of an up-flow biological filter, using corn cobs as support material. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330456746_Estudio_del_comportamiento_hidrodinamico_de_un_filtro_biologico_de_flujo_ascendente_utilizando_mazorcas_de_maiz_como_material_de_soporte;
  • Determination of a Risk and Vulnerability Index in Coastal Populations: Case Study Portobelo, Province of Colón. http://portal.amelica.org/ameli/journal/339/3391369003/html/
• Favorite river: Caldera River located in Boquete, Panama.
• Hobbies: One of my hobbies that I enjoy the most is reading books about history and fiction.

My research has quantitatively established positive relationships between increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil available water capacity. However, these relationships do not adequately inform our understanding, particularly of how improved available water capacity impacts hydrological balances and crop water stress. This research addresses these knowledge gaps by using standardized crop water requirement and stress estimation procedures to determine SOC impacts on agrohydrological outcomes, including crop evapotranspiration, crop water stress, irrigation requirements and hydrological losses.

• Major professor: Meetpal S. Kukal, Ph.D.
• M.Tech, Soil and Water Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, India
• B.Tech, Agricultural Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, India
• Hometown: Ferozepur, Punjab, India

My research is focused on a hydraulic model for an upstream section of the Hangman Creek close to the U.S. 95. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has been actively restoring Hangman Creek for several years. The main goal is to assess if and how stream restoration efforts have affected infrastructure in the surrounding area, including culverts, bridges and roads.

• Major professor: Fritz Fielder, Ph.D.
• B.S. Environmental Engineering, Universidad Technológica de Panamá
• Hometown: Panamá City, Panamá

Research topic is in progress. General interests include river restoration for aquatic habitat, specifically anadromous fish species and river geomorphological processes.

• Major professor: Andy Tranmer, Ph.D.
• B.S., AA Geosciences Hydrology, Liberal Arts, Boise State University, College of Western Idaho
• Hometown: Boise
• Favorite river: south Fork of the Payette, Arkansas River
• Hobbies: Kayaking, rafting, skiing and camping

Research Topic and/or general interests: Evaluating geomorphic and riparian response to restoration of aquatic ecosystems using Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) with implications for fish habitat improvements.

• Major professor: Melinda Ellison, Ph.D.
• B.Sc. Recreation Management, University of Vermont
• Hometown: Salisbury, Vermont

My research is dedicated to evaluating the ability of unmanned aerial systems (sUAS, aka drones) to improve streamflow simulation and forecasting, particularly at small watersheds in the northwest. I hope to improve water resource management and better mitigate impacts from growing climate variability. Additionally, I am surveying major Idaho water users to evaluate community benefit from more accurate prediction of hydrologic changes.

• Major professor: Jae Ryu, Ph.D.
• B.S. Geosciences with emphasis in Hydrology, Boise State University
• Hometown: Boise
• Awards and publications:
  • Map of the Month – January 2018, Idaho Geospatial Office
  • McSherry, L., Narducci, J., Sprague, C., Costa, A., Brandt, J., Fragkias, M., Schneider, J., Benner, S. 2017. Urban Growth in Treasure Valley Idaho. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/ModelingUrbanGrowth.

I’m broadly interested in understanding how water is changing in the west, the ecological impacts of these changes and identifying hydrologic refugia across a landscape. My current research investigates how spring ecosystems in Idaho are responding ecologically and hydrologically to shifts in snowmelt dynamics.

• Major professor: Mary Engels, Ph.D.
• B.A. Geography, minor in GIS, Western Washington University
• Hometown: Wenatchee, Washington
• Awards: Avista Waters of the West Scholarship
• Personal website: www.linkedin.com/in/gracepeven
• Favorite river: Wenatchee River, Salmon River
• Hobbies: Exploring various forms of water through rafting, skiing, backpacking and watercolor painting.

Modeling water and nutrient transport in the Magic Valley region of south-central Idaho with a focus on assessing the long-term impacts of increased dairy agriculture. The SWAT model is being used to simulate irrigation schedules, canal withdrawals, land use changes and fertilizer application rates. The overall goal of the research is to assist in ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of agriculture in the Magic Valley.

• Major Professor: Erin S. Brooks, Ph.D.
• M.S., Natural Resource Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• B.S., Environmental Science, Western Washington University
• Hometown: Seattle, Washington

Specific research project is in progress but will be partnering with TIFO to address drinking water contamination in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan.

• Major Professor: Gregory Moller, Ph.D.
• B.S., Environmental Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Hometown St. Paul, Minnesota