Team

I am a Research Director at the Water Institute, leading a team of scientists with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please visit the Water Institute website for more information (https://thewaterinstitute.org/our-team).   Below are previous students I advised and some remaining students graduating soon. 

CURRENT  STUDENTS

MD Mohiuddin Sakib (PhD Student)

M.S., University of New Orleans (2022)

B.S., Islamic University of Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh (2017)

Thesis: Mechanisms of sand bypassing along Inlet Interrupted Coasts: the role of storms

ALUMNI

Post-Doctoral and Research Scientists

Tara Yocum (Research Associate; 2017-2021)

M.S., The University of New Orleans (2017)

B.S., The University of New Orleans (2014)

Post-UNO: Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC)

Dr. Madeline Foster-Martinez (Post-doctoral associate; 2018-2019)

PhD, University of California Berkeley (2017)

M.S., University of California Berkeley (2013)

B.E., The Cooper Union (2012)

Research Interests: Coastal fluid mechanics, Vegetation-flow interaction, Integration of natural processes and built infrastructure, Climate change impacts and mitigation, Equity and access in STEM 

Present: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New Orleans

https://www.coastal-interactions.org/ 

Dr. Ahmed Gaweesh (post-doctoral associate; 2014-2016)

Ph.D., University of Louisiana Lafayette (2014)

Research Interests: River Hydrodynamics and Morphology, Sediment Transport in Fluvial and Delta Systems, Coastal Sediment Transport

Post-UNO: Hydraulic Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt

Doctoral Students

Dr. Kevin Hanegan PE

PhD, University of New Orleans (2020)

M.S., Technical University Delft (2011)

B.S., Louisiana State University (2009)

Thesis:  Morphodynamics of Transgressive Coastal Systems - Modeling allogenic and autogenic response to sea level rise and changes in sediment supply (download)

Post-UNO:  Coastal Engineer at Moffatt and Nichol, New Orleans

Dr. Pricilla Souza

PhD, University of New Orleans (2019)

M.S., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2011)

B.S., Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2008)

Thesis: Evolution and stratigraphic architecture of tidal point bars with and without fluvial input: Influence of variable flow regimes on sediment and facies distribution, and lateral accretion (download)

Dr. Michael Eller

PhD, University of New Orleans (2013)

M.S. Drexel University (2008)

B.S. University of Michigan (2006)

Thesis: Utilizing economic and environmental data from the desalination Industry as a progressive approach to ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) commercialization (download)

MS Students

MD Mohiuddin Sakib (MS Student)

M.S., University of New Orleans (2022)

B.S., Islamic University of Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh (2017)

Thesis: Storm Intensity and Forward Speed controls on back-barrier and Shoreface Sediment Dynamics along the Louisiana Coast

Jessica Villers (MS Student)

M.S., University of New Orleans (2022)

B.S., Louisiana State University, 2017

Thesis: Water and Sediment Exchange at Marsh Edge Boundaries in restored and natural shorelines (download

Post-UNO:  United States Geological Survey (USGS), Baton Rouge, LA

Joshua Hansen (MS Student)

M.S., University of New Orleans (2020)

B.S., University of Maryland (2016)

Thesis: Channel Evolution and Distributary Network Stability of a Recent Levee Breach (download)

Joshua Thomas

M.S., University of New Orleans (2019)

B.S., Louisiana State University (2011)

Thesis: Evolution of Water and Sediment Flux at Mardi Gras Pass, Louisiana

Brittany L. Kime

M.S., University of New Orleans (2019)

B.S., University of Indiana - Purdue (2015)

Thesis: The Effects of Sediment Properties on Barrier Island Morphology and Processes: A Numerical Modeling Experiment (download)

Post-UNO:  Research Scientist at the Naval Oceanographic Office, Stennis Space Center, MS 

Benjamin Beasley

M.S., University of New Orleans (2018)

B.S., University of New Orleans (2016)

Thesis: Coupled Barrier Island Shoreline and Shoreface Dynamics: Observations and Modeling in Coastal Louisiana (download)

Post-UNO:  Coastal Scientist at Applied Coastal Science and Engineering, New Orleans, LA;Mashpee, MA

Joshua Flathers

M.S., University of New Orleans (2018)

B.S., University of New Orleans (2014)

Thesis: The Role of Basin Configuration and Allogenic Controls on the Stratigraphic Evolution of River Mouth Bars (download)

Post-UNO:  Research Scientist at US Navy, Stennis Space Center, MS, Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC)

Timothy Nelson

M.S., University of New Orleans (2017)

B.S., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2015)

Thesis: Hydrodynamic Controls on the Morphodynamic evolution of subaqueous landforms (download)

Post UNO: Coastal Scientist at ARCADIS, New Orleans, 

Presently: Coastal Scientist/Modeler, Moffatt and Nichol Engineers, New Orleans, LA

Joshua Alarcon

M.S., University of New Orleans (2017)

B.S., Tulane University (2013)

Thesis: Overwash controls on barrier island morphodynamics during storms (download)

Tara Yocum

M.S., University of New Orleans (2017)

B.S., University of New Orleans (2014)

Thesis: Growth laws for sub-delta crevasses in the Mississippi River Delta: observations and modeling (download)

Post UNO: Research Associate, Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences

Presently: Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC)

Kevin Trosclair

M.S., University of New Orleans (2013)

B.S., Lousiana State University (1995)

Thesis:  Wave transformation at a saltmarsh edge and resulting marsh edge erosion: observations and modeling (download)

Post-UNO:  Stone Energy, New Orleans, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Robin Schroeder

M.S., University of New Orleans (2011)

B.S. Texas A&M University in Galveston (2005)

Thesis: Exchange flows in an urban water body: Bayou St. John response to the removal of flood control structures, future water elevation control and water quality (download)

Christopher Esposito, PhD

M.S., University of New Orleans (2011)

B.S., Rutgers University (2003)

Thesis: Differential sedimentation in a Mississippi River crevasse splay (download)

Post-UNO:  Tulane University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (Graduated 2016)

Presently: Research Scientist at The Water Institute

Jenny Schindler

M.S., University of New Orleans (2010)

B.S., University of New Orleans (2008)

Thesis:  Estuarine Dynamics as a function of barrier Island transgression and wetland loss: understanding transport and exchange processes (download)

Undergraduate Students

Leah Tevis

University of New Orleans (2020)

Project Title:  Shoreface grain size distribution along deltaic headlands

Post UNO: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Scholar, New Mexico Tech

Nelsy Osorio

University of New Orleans (2019)

Project Title:  Stream lateral bank migration and stability

Ernesto Hernandez

University of New Orleans (2019)

Project Title:  Distribution and variation of grain size in tidal systems and ice raft deposits

Scott Romain

B.S. University of New Orleans (2017)

Project Title: Does floodplain width control meander intensity? Physical experiments of sedimentation and meandering dynamics in fluvially dominated systems

Camryn Martin

B.S. University of New Orleans (2016)

Project Title:  Controls of tidal point bar evolution and sedimentary architecture using physical modeling

Jeremy Henley

B.S. University of New Orleans (2014)

Project Title:  The occurrence of stratification induced hypoxia in the Chandeleur Sound; Insights into physical controls


Emily Harper

B.S. University of New Orleans (2014)

Project Title:  Settling properties and particle size distribution of natural sand/mud mixtures 

Angela Scheuer

While at University of New Orleans in 2011 as sophomore

Project Title:  Wave and storm surge transformation during storms in nearshore environments, along Barrier Islands and the shoreface in the Gulf of Mexico 

Post-UNO:  B.S. Louisiana State University (2013)