Our Students

Spatial and temporal contribution of fecal contamination (cow versus human), and the effects of stream hydrology on bacterial communities and nutrient dynamics, within the Lindsay Creek watershed, in Lewiston.

• Major professor: Laurel Lynch, Ph.D.
• B.S. Environmental and Ecosystem Sciences, Washington State University
• Hometown: Coeur d’ Alene
• Awards: 2022 Joe Jordan Scholarship Recipient
• Favorite river: Blackfoot River in Montana
• Hobbies: trail running, hiking, cross country skiing, fishing

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

I study the spatiotemporal variation in biogeochemical regimes in streams and how they influence aquatic food web production. My dissertation research explores variation in a rapidly changing glacial meltwater landscape in coastal southeast Alaska. I’m also interested in spatial subsidies, river and stream restoration, and modeling.

• Major professor: Chris Caudill & Ryan Bellmore, Ph.D.
• M.S., B.S., and BA: Fisheries Science, Restoration Ecology and Environmental Studies, University of Montana, Aarhus University
• Hometown: Blair, Nebraska
• Awards:
  • 2022 Water Resources Program Outstanding Graduate Student Award, University of Idaho
  • 2022 Outstanding Graduate Research and Creative Activity Award, University of Idaho
  • 2022 Outstanding Graduate Student Award, University of Idaho Graduate and Professional Student Association
  • 2022 Best Student Presentation, Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
  • 2019-Present Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center – The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on River Food Webs and Salmon Productivity in Southeast Alaska
  • 2017-2019 NSF Integrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship
• Publication: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=oF97LNEAAAAJ&hl=en

I am interested in learning about tools to help natural resources managers mitigate environmental damage and avoid lawsuits. I am specifically interested in how salvage logging practices can be better managed to avoid sediment pollution yet preserve economic recovery.

• Major professor: Erin Brooks, Ph.D.
• B.S. Hydrology, Salish Kootenai College
• Hometown: St. Ignatius, Montana
• Personal website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-durglo-425510127/
• My favorite rivers are the Flathead River, Payette River and the Blackfoot River. I enjoy mountain biking, snowboarding, board games, swimming in cold water and traveling to new places.

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 explores the utility of soil moisture sensors in agricultural applications. The goal is to optimize available water resources while maximizing crop yield and quality through more precise irrigation techniques.

• Major professor: Linda Schott, Ph.D.
• B.S. Environmental Geochemical Science, State University of New York at New Paltz
• Hometown: Syracuse, New York

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

I am interested in water resources, especially as to watershed governance in the western United States. I have a key interest also in water law and how the science behind it has evolved and how it should evolve given greater scarcity of water in this part of the country.

• Major professor: Tim Link, Robert Heinse, Richard Seamon, Ph.D.
• B.S. Conservation Biology, Colorado State University
• Hometown: Houston, Texas
• Favorite river: Pend Orielle
• Hobbies: My husband and I enjoy camping around Washington and Idaho with our two dogs. I also enjoy gardening, skiing and foraging for berries and mushrooms in the summer months.

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 am researching water and soil quality response to beaver dam analogs on rangeland in southern Idaho. The stream of interest is intermittent with incised channels that are disconnected from the floodplain. The goal of the BDAs is too restore floodplain connection and increase water storage year-round for cattle and wildlife. The study will follow nutrients and carbon cycle response to the fluvial changes.

• Major professor is Laurel Lynch, Ph.D.
• B.S., Geoscience with an emphasis in Hydrology, Boise State University, December 2018
• Hometown is Boise

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

My research is on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) for novel water treatment technology that can remove phosphorus to ultralow levels, to address harmful algal blooms (HABs). I analyzed the operations and performance, technology design upgrade potential and carbon footprint. Latest publication: CO2e footprint and eco‐impact of ultralow phosphorus removal by hydrous ferric oxide reactive filtration: A municipal wastewater LCA case study.

• Major professor: Gregory Möller, Ph.D.
• M.Sc., Biology and Ecology, Armenian State Pedagogical University, Armenia
• M.Sc., Environmental Science, University of Idaho
• M.Sc., Water Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford, UK
• Hometown: Yerevan, Armenia

Optimizing biochar for the removal of phosphorus from wastewater. The biochar is being designed to be reused as a soil amendment after its use in treatment.

• Major professor is Daniel Strawn, Ph.D.
• B.S., Environmental Geology, Colorado State University
• Associate of Science, Front Range Community College
• Hometown is Fort Collins, Colorado