At the University of New Hampshire (UNH) SMSOE, I am working on laboratory experiments in the Environmental Flows Water Tunnel to develop advanced empirical formulations for predicting sediment transport and bed formations in nearshore environments and translate them to field observations. This work is funded by a USCRP grant.

I previously worked at the Center for Ecohydraulics Research, where we used state of the art laboratory techniques to investigate the relationship between physical environmental factors, such as geomorphology, and ecosystem health. For example, we quantified the impact of vegetation and boulders on hyporheic flux and thus oxygen availability and greenhouse gas production.

Results from my PhD research with Prof. Cowen in the DeFrees Hydraulics Lab at Cornell University improved our understanding of fluid mechanics in the environment and promoted the development of sustainable technology inspired by natural phenomena. In particular, I studied the physical mechanisms of interfacial scalar transport. Clearer understanding of these mechanisms can help us improve the sustainability of aquatic biological industrial processes, for example.

I also enjoy teaching. I was a teaching assistant at Cornell for the following courses: Intro to Fluids, Coastal Engineering, Transport, Mix, & Transform in the environment, Experimental Methods in Fluid Dynamics,  and Hydropower. I was also a TA Development Consultant and TA Fellow for the Engineering Learning Initiatives. (See Teaching Portfolio for more details) 

Email: Katherine.Adler@unh.edu

Office: 24 Colovos Rd., Durham, NH 03820

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-adler/

AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship recipient (2021-2022).