People
Current Lab Members
Postdoc Scholars
Karla Jarecke
Current Program: Postdoctoral Scholar
Past Education:
Ph.D. in Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University
M.S. in Natural Resources, University of Nebraska
Description of Research: My research explores regolith structure and rooting dynamics to understand the role of roots in water and carbon storage and fluxes in a changing climate.
Fun Facts: I enjoying cooking, gardening, and rafting Oregon’s rivers.
Co-mentor: Kamini Singha
Bonan Li
Current Program: Postdoctoral Scholar
Past Education:
Ph.D. in Water Resources Science, Oregon State University
M.S. in Geology, Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis
Description of Research:My research focuses on identifying the occurrence of soil preferential flow by leveraging high-frequency multi-depth soil moisture observations via machine learning and deep learning algorithms.
Fun Facts: Badminton and CrossFit Lover
Co-mentor: Matthais Springer
Sindey Bush
Current Program: Postdoctoral Scholar
Past Education:
- Ph.D. in Geography, University of Colorado Boulder
- M.A. in Geography, University of Colorado Boulder
- B.S. in Environmental Science, University of Virginia
Description of Research Project: My research broadly focuses on better understanding catchment scale rainfall-runoff response, and the influence climate induced shifts in temperature, precipitation, and land-use will have on stream dynamics.
Fun Facts: I enjoy hiking and backpacking, especially with my dog, and I have hiked the Colorado Trail.
Graduate Students
Victoria Moreno
Current Program: MS Student in Geology
Past Education:
B.S. in Environmental Science, University of Texas at El Paso
Description of Research: My research involves studying the effects of climatic drivers, hillslope position, and land cover on soil structure and aggregate stability.
Fun Facts: I enjoy photography, developing film at home, and collecting houseplants!
Keira Johnson
Current Program: PhD Candidate in Water Resources Science
Past Education:
B.S. Environmental Science (OSU, June 2020)
Description of Research: My research focuses on understanding the relationship between summer low flows and snowpacks using stream chemistry data to identify various sources and proportion of sources in summer streamflows. I am examining these relationships in three watersheds in the western US that span climate and lithological gradients to understand how snow dominance and bedrock permeability influence summer flow response to variability in snowpacks. I use historical data and simple modeling and machine learning techniques to answer these questions.
Fun Facts: In my free time, I enjoy hiking and backpacking, making bread, gardening, and taking care of my many, many houseplants.
Alex Takver
Current Program: PhD Candidate in Water Resources Science
Past Education:
M.A. in Political Science, CUNY Graduate Center
B.S. in Economics, Portland State University
Description of Research Project: My research explores the relationship between various soil properties and hydraulically redistributed water under coniferous forests of the western United States.
Fun Facts: I cultivate a range of both temperate and tropical carnivorous plants. I enjoy macrophotography, and love to document any of the flowers and insects I find while outside.
Undergraduate Researcher Fellows
Jessica Specht
Current Program: BS in Physics, BS in Earth Sciences Geology
Past Education: High School Graduate
Description of Research: Focus on supporting various research projects, including in the laboratory and via analytical methods.
Fun Facts: I have two children, and am a member of the Cavalry Order of Joan of Arc.
Former Lab Members
Xi Zhang
Former: Postdoctoral scholar
Current Employment: Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University
Past Education:
Ph.D. in Soil Science, The University of Kentucky
M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University
Description of Research: My research focuses on how the functions of the Earth's critical zone interact with environmental changes and disturbances in the Anthropocene, and how this interaction influences the terrestrial water cycle, soil genesis, biogeochemical fluxes, and soil-climate feedbacks.
Fun Facts: Cat lover, Outdoors enthusiast
Grace Goldrich-Middaugh
Graduated: Spring of 2022
Current Employment: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Basin Specialist
Program: MS in Water Resources Science
Past education: BS in environmental earth and soil science, concentration - hydrology, minor - geology
Description of Research: Examining the influence of land use, lithology, and climate on patterns of stream water chemical behavior across several large rivers in Texas
Fun facts: My favorite rock is chert and I enjoy mushroom hunting
Lena Wang
Graduated: Summer of 2023
Program: MS in Water Resources Science
Past education: B.A. in Geology and Chinese Language/Literature, Lawrence University
Description of Research: I am looking at how plant roots, soil, and water interact in the critical zone.
Fun facts: I enjoy playing music, dancing, and growing food.
Kari Lanphier
Graduated: Spring of 2023
Program: MS Water Resources Science
Past Education: BS Geology, Colorado State University
Description of Research: My research strives to better understand the rainfall runoff relationship in small rain and snow dominated watersheds in southeast Alaska, particularly within important subsistence systems. I am Native Hawaiian and have been working with Alaska Native Tribes in Southeast Alaska for the last five years. A primary motivation for my research is to perpetuate sovereignty through science with native people on their ancestral land.
Fun Facts: I love biking and spending time outside with my dog. While in Oregon I'm hoping to bike pack portions of the Oregon Timber Trail.
Haskell White
Graduated: Summer of 2023
Current Employment: PhD Student at the University of Washington
Program: Earth Sciences Geology Undergraduate.
Past Education: High School Diploma
Description of Research Project: Analyze environmental data in the Pacific Northwest and how it affects the soil formation process. Laboratory work will be used to determine how the land topography influences terrestrial water processes and the physical properties of soil. Characteristics of land, such as vegetation, will also be used to determine underground soil and water transport.
Fun Facts: I'm a certified preschool teacher!