PassaH2O Team
Team picture October 2023
Post-Docs
Siyoon Kwon
Ph.D., Seoul National University (2022)
B.S., Pusan National University (2017)
NRF of Korea Sejong Science Fellow (2023-present)
Research Interests: Fluvial processes, River mixing, Remote sensing
Current Students
Nelson Tull
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2024)
M.S., North Carolina State University (2018)
B.S., University of Massachusetts – Amherst (2016)
Dissertation: Spatial and temporal evolution of river-floodplain connectivity within the Trinity River System (TX)
Matt Preisser
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2024)
M.S. and MPAff, The University of Texas at Austin (2021)
B.S.E., Auburn University (2018)
NASA FINESST Fellow (2022 - present)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2019 - 2022)
Brumley Next Generation Fellow (2019 - present)
Dissertation: Description, prediction, and prescription of the compounding impacts of hazards on society
Sujana Timilsina
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2026)
M.S., Colorado State University (2019)
B.S., Institute of Engineering - Nepal (2013)
Dissertation: Data assimilation for improvement of flood forecasting
Mark Wang
Ph.D, The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2025)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2022)
B.S., Columbia University in the City of New York (2016)
B.A., Franklin & Marshall College (2016)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2020 - 2023)
Research Interests: Coupled inland-coastal flood inundation mapping
Sara Karimaghaei
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2026)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2023)
B.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2017)
INFEWS Scholar (2021 - 2023)
Research Interests: Changes in coastal systems and human dynamics; flood-water-energy nexus
Elle Henson
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2027)
M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University (2022)
B.S. Biological Engineering, University of Arkansas (2020)
INFEWS Scholar (2024-)
Research Interests: Enhancing sustainable water resource management through better understanding river-floodplain connectivity, transport mechanisms, and biogeochemical cycling.
Sarah Traore
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2027) (LBJ School of Public Affairs; primary advisor: P. Bixler)
M.S., University of Massachusetts – Amherst (2022)
Diplôme d'Ingénieur - National Polytechnic Institute Houphouët-Boigny - Côte d’Ivoire (2016)
Fulbright Graduate Program Scholar (2020-2022)
Research Interests: Water policy, flood mitigation, social and institutional vulnerability to climate hazards
Azalea Norwood
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2025)
B.S.C.E., University of Texas at Austin (2022)
Research Interests: Analyzing interactions between natural systems and urban infrastructure to develop sustainable, resilient, and restorative engineering solutions. Mitigating impacts of urban stormwater flooding in natural systems on low-income/marginalized communities.
Alumni
PhD Students
Kyle Wright
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2022)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2018)
B.S.E., The University of Texas at Austin (2016)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2017 - 2020)
Dissertation: Unifying multi-source data and modeling perspectives to investigate connectivity and material transport in coastal river deltas
Position post-UT: Coastal Modeler at Texas Water Development Board
Jay Hariharan
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2022)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2019)
B.S., The University of Maryland (2014)
Dissertation: Connecting delta morphology, surface processes, and subsurface structure
Position post-UT: Physical Scientist (Data Scientist) at USGS
Tess Jarriel
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2021)
M.S., The University of Virginia (2016)
B.S., The University of Virginia (2015)
Dissertation: Characterizing the kinematics of river deltas using the automatic extraction and analysis of channel networks from remotely sensed imagery
Position post-UT: Consultant Engineer II, ERM (Water Resources, Modeling, and Climate Change group)
Xing Zheng
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2018)
(co-advised with David Maidment)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2015)
B.S.E., Wuhan University (2013)
Dissertation: Continental-scale high-resolution river geometry and real-time inundation mapping
Position post-UT: Research Scientist, AIR Worldwide, Boston, MA
Alicia Sendrowski
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2018)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2015)
B.S.E.E., University of Florida, Gainesville (2012)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2014-2017)
Dissertation: Process connectivity in river deltas: quantifying information flow from system drivers to sinks with information theory
Position post-UT: Postdoctoral Researcher, Colorado State University
Leo Isikdogan
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2017) (Electrical and Computer Engineering, co-advised with Al Bovik)
M.S., Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey (2013)
B.S., Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey (2011)
Dissertation: Automatic delta network extraction from remotely sensed data
Position post-UT: Imaging Algorithm Staff Engineer, Motorola, Chicago, IL; Algorithm Engineer, Intel Corporation; Deep Learning Algorithm Engineer at Apple (2020-)
Matt Hiatt
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2016)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2013)
B.S.C.E., The University of Kansas (2011)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2012-2015)
Dissertation: Characterizing hydrological connectivity and channel-island processes in river deltas to inform coastal restoration
Position post-UT: Postdoctoral Researcher, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands 2016-2017; Assistant Professor, Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University (2017 -)
Harish Sangireddy
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2015)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2011)
BTech, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India (2007)
Dissertation: Catchment topography: improving hydrological predictions with lidar analysis
Position post-UT: Scientific Software Engineer, Quantitative Science Team, Climate Corporation, San Francisco, CA
Post-Docs
Muriel Brückner
Ph.D., Utrecht University (2021)
MSc, Technical University of Braunschweig (2016)
BSc, Technical University of Braunschweig (2013)
Research Interests: Biogeomorphic interactions in estuaries, rivers, and deltas, their role in shaping geomorphology, their responses to climate change, anthropogenic impacts and microplastic pollution, and how to use them in the design of nature-based solutions.
Position post-UT: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
Andrew Moodie
Ph.D., Rice University (2020)
B.S., Lehigh University (2014)
NSF EAR Postdoctoral Fellow 2020-2022
Research Interests: The complex time- and space-scale interactions of river-delta processes, and conversion to the stratigraphic record. Forward-looking approaches to sustainable management of highly anthropic landscapes.
Position post-UT: Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
John Swartz
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin (2019)
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2014)
B.S., University of Pittsburgh (2012)
Research Interests: Topography of floodplains and lowland rivers; High-resolution seismic characterization of shallow stratigraphy; Linking high-resolution topography to numerical models
Position post-UT: Research Scientist, The Water Institute of the Gulf, Baton Rouge, LA
Mariela Perignon
Ph.D., University of Colorado Boulder (2014)
M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2008)
B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007)
Research Interests: Complex response of landscapes to extreme events; Open-source modeling of coupled geomorphic systems
Position post-UT: Data Scientist, Strong Analytics LLC, Chicago, IL
Man Liang
Ph.D., University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (2013)
B.S., Peking University, China
Postdoctoral Researcher (2013-2016)
Research Interests: Linking surface patterns to the stratigraphic record; Reduced-Complexity Models (RCMs) for geomorphological systems
Position post-UT: Research Scientist, The Water Institute of the Gulf, Baton Rouge, LA
Nathanael Geleynse
Postdoctoral Researcher (2012-2013)
Position post-UT: Engineer at Arcadis, Water and Environment Division, Zwolle, the Netherlands
MS Students
Sara Esther Davila
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2022); co-advised with Lina Sela
B.S., The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley (2020)
INFEWS Scholar (2020-present)
South Texas Fellow (2020-2021)
Thesis: Quantifying river-floodplain connectivity of the Lower Rio Grande
Position post-UT: Engineer I, Water Resources, Atkins, Austin, TX
Robert Schomp
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2021)
B.S., Portland State University (2019)
Thesis: Flood inundation mapping on lidar data
Position post-UT: Water Resources Engineer, Kleinschmidt Associates, Portland, OR
Alec Carruthers
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2020)
B.S., University of California Irvine (2018)
Thesis: The assessment, improvement, and application of the GeoFlood flood inundation mapping framework
Shazzadur Rahman
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2020)
B.Sc., Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (2017)
Thesis: Quantifying channel-floodplain connectivity in the Trinity River, TX using numerical modeling and field observations
Position post-UT: Graduate Engineer - Water Resources, Walter P Moore, Houston, TX
Leah Huling
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2020)
B.S., Civil Engineering, Oklahoma State University (2018)
Thesis: Sensor flow data assimilation into National Water Model forecast
Position post-UT: Graduate Civil Engineer, Halff Associates, Dallas, TX
Isha Deo
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2019)
B.S.E., The University of Texas at Austin (2017)
Thesis: River network and transportation network interdependencies during floods
Position post-UT: Water Resources Engineer, Kleinschmidt Associates, Portland, OR
Andrew Austin-Petersen
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2018)
B.A., Chemistry, Grinnel College (2006)
Thesis: Uncertainty quantification in National Water Model predictions
Position post-UT: Water Resources Engineer, Barr Engineering, Minneapolis, MN
Jeff Zheng
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2018)
B.S.E., The University of Texas at Austin (2015)
Thesis: Hurricane Harvey: A quantitative approach to assessing the accuracy of National Water Model forecasted inundation
Position post-UT: Water Resources Engineer, AECOM, Houston, TX
Lukas Godbout
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2018)
(co-advised with David Maidment)
B.S.E., University of New South Wales (2015)
Thesis: Error assessment for Height Above Nearest Drainage Inundation Mapping
Position post-UT: Engineer I, Water Resources, Atkins, Austin, TX
Emily Poston
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2017)
B.S.E., The University of Texas at Austin (2015)
Project: Effect of terrain data resolution on predicted watershed hydrologic response
Position post-UT: Planning Engineer at Coffey Construction, Co. Galway, Ireland
Juhn-Yuan Su
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2016)
B.S.E., The University of Texas at Austin (2014)
Project: Inundation mapping and hydrodynamic modeling of the Guadalupe Estuary bayou
Position post-UT: PhD student, University of Utah
Richard Carothers
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2015)
B.S.E., The University of Texas at Austin (2013)
B.A., The University of The South (2006)
Thesis: Analysis of the Guadalupe Estuary bayou flow
Position post-UT: Water Resources Engineer, Atkins, Atlanta GA
Anna Kladzyk
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2015)
Thesis: Using high-resolution topography for advancing the understanding of mass and energy transfer across landscapes
Position post-UT: Engineer, FlowWest, Oakland CA
Corey Van Dyk
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2015)
Thesis: Validation of a reduced-complexity numerical model for resolving deltaic dynamics: internal consistency and morphodynamics
Position post-UT: Engineer, Baxter & Woodman, Chicago IL
Visiting Students
Gabriele Barile
Ph.D., University of Trento (expected 2025) - Advisor: Prof. Marco Tubino
M.S., University of Trento (2021)
B.S., University of Trento (2018)
Research Interests: Modeling the evolutionary trajectories of river bifurcations in different fluvial environments
Claudia D'Angelo
Ph.D., Università di Roma Tre (2021) - Advisors: Profs. Elena Volpi, Aldo Fiori
M.S., Università di Roma Tre University (2017)
B.S., Università di Roma Tre (2014)
Dissertation: Flood risk assessment
Juan Carlos Aguilera Núñez
Ph.D., Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2019) - Advisor: Jorge Gironas
B.S., Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2015)
Thesis: A spatially distributed geo-morphoclimatic model for natural watersheds based on diffusive wave theory
Andrés Antonio Pereira Claren
M.Sc.Eng, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2017) - Advisor: Jorge Gironas
B.S., Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2015)
Thesis: Geomorphologic Charactarization of Chilean Basins based on Drainage Network Patterns Self-Similarity
Undergraduate Students
Bailley Hardage
B.S., Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin (2024)
Research Interests: Flood inundation mapping, open-channel hydraulics
Position: Graduate student at UT Austin
Julia Ho
B.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2022)
Research Interests: River hydraulics; flood inundation mapping
Position post-UT: Graduate student at Penn State University
Jide Odobulu
B.S., The University of Texas at Austin (2022)
Research Interests: Delta morphology; environmental justice
Position post-UT: Engineer, Turner Construction Company
Ella Pettichord
B.S. Civil Engineering and B.A. Plan II Honors, The University of Texas at Austin (2021)
Honors Thesis: Climate change in South Asia, focusing on policy decisions and gender issues
Position post-UT: Stormwater Engineer, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Emily Hannon
B.S. (Chemistry), The University of Texas at Austin (Dec. 2017)
B.S.E. (Civil Engineering), The University of Texas at Austin (May 2017)
Project: Analysis of the Guadalupe Estuary bayou with information theory
Position post-UT: Graduate Engineer, City of Arlington
Andrew Powell
B.S.E., The University of Texas at Austin, 2014
Project: An analysis of the evolution of the Wax Lake Delta network based on remote sensing
Position post-UT: Graduate Engineer, City of Austin - Austin Water
Janelle Wong
B.S.E., The University of Texas at Austin, 2014
Project: The evolution of the Wax Lake Delta morphology through time
Position post-UT: MS student, Texas A&M University; Graduate civil engineering, HALFF ASSOCIATES, INC.
Maria Figueroa
(Visiting REU Student - Summer 2013)
B.S., University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Project: A remote sensing analysis of delta network evolution
