WaTER Lab Graduate Students
Mairead Brogan, Forestry Ph.D. Student - Northern Arizona University
Research Interests: I received a B.A. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado in 2022. I'm interested in studying the ways that trees use water and adapt to stressors like drought and fire, and how forests fit into larger hydrologic systems. I am also passionate about science education, outreach and communication.
Hobbies: Climbing, Backpacking, Backcountry Skiing and Baking
Favorite Water Body: East River in Gothic, Colorado
Hometown: I'm originally from Wayne, PA
Research Interests: I received a B.A. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado in 2022. I'm interested in studying the ways that trees use water and adapt to stressors like drought and fire, and how forests fit into larger hydrologic systems. I am also passionate about science education, outreach and communication.
Hobbies: Climbing, Backpacking, Backcountry Skiing and Baking
Favorite Water Body: East River in Gothic, Colorado
Hometown: I'm originally from Wayne, PA
Emory Ellis, Forestry Ph.D. Student - Northern Arizona University
Research Interests: I received a BA from Hampshire College with a focus in Forest Hydrology and an MS from the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, in Earth and Environmental Sciences, where my thesis focused on the effect of juvenile thinning on the depth to water uptake of lodgepole pines. My current work focuses on modeling vadose zone fluxes with a focus in soil water storage, subsurface flow paths, and vegetation water use in the Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest.
Hobbies: Biking, fishing, reading, embroidering, nature walks, & cooking
Favorite Water Body: Athabasca river
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Haley Farwell, Forestry M.S. Student - Northern Arizona University
Research Interests: Before starting graduate school, I worked for a non-profit supporting ongoing hydrology and ecology studies in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. This experience fostered a deep curiosity about mountain systems, especially forest health and water availability. With decreased water quantity and increased wildfire in the Southwest, I am particularly interested in ways to create climate resilient forest and water supplies in forested, snow-dominated mountain watersheds.
Hobbies: I enjoy just about anything that gets me out exploring wild places, that involves snow, wildflowers, or my dog. I love skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, and long walks in the mountains (or the desert). When I'm not out and about, you might find me engulfed in a good book or baking a gluten-free sourdough.
Favorite Water Body: Vallecito Lake or the Animas River watershed
Hometown: I grew up in Brookline, New Hampshire, but I consider Silverton, Colorado my home!
Connor Garrod, Biology M.S. Student - Northern Arizona University
Research Interests: I received a B.S. Environmental Science with an emphasis in Freshwater and Terrestrial Ecology from Western Washington University in 2023. After graduation, I served as an AmeriCorps member at Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group in Mount Vernon, Washington doing salmon habitat restoration, which included fieldwork, native plant nursery management, environmental education, and outreach events. This experience has made my passion for restoration stronger and something I want to pursue career-wise. I am interested in studying the relationships between Ponderosa pine trees and their environments, from soil to water to other native plants, and how that is impacted by climate change. I am interested in seeing how this information can be compiled together to provide stakeholders with the best management plans to ensure longevity of these amazing Southwest mountain ecosystems.
Hobbies: reading, hiking, crocheting, tennis, and paddle boarding
Favorite Water Body: Skagit Watershed in Washington State
Hometown: I was born and raised in Flagstaff, AZ, but also consider Bellingham, WA a second home!
Research Interests: I received a B.S. Environmental Science with an emphasis in Freshwater and Terrestrial Ecology from Western Washington University in 2023. After graduation, I served as an AmeriCorps member at Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group in Mount Vernon, Washington doing salmon habitat restoration, which included fieldwork, native plant nursery management, environmental education, and outreach events. This experience has made my passion for restoration stronger and something I want to pursue career-wise. I am interested in studying the relationships between Ponderosa pine trees and their environments, from soil to water to other native plants, and how that is impacted by climate change. I am interested in seeing how this information can be compiled together to provide stakeholders with the best management plans to ensure longevity of these amazing Southwest mountain ecosystems.
Hobbies: reading, hiking, crocheting, tennis, and paddle boarding
Favorite Water Body: Skagit Watershed in Washington State
Hometown: I was born and raised in Flagstaff, AZ, but also consider Bellingham, WA a second home!
Elise W. McKeever, WRS Ph.D. Candidate - University of Minnesota Duluth
Research Interests: I received a B.A. in Biology from the College of Saint Benedict in 2020, and an M.S. in the Integrated Biosciences program at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2022. I am a part of the Caspar Creek Experimental Watersheds project, and my dissertation will focus on how forest management impacts forest ecohydrology.
Hobbies: Hiking, running, knitting, embroidering, and foraging
Favorite Water Body: Missing Link Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Hometown: Avon, MN
Sara Mohandes Samani, Civil Engineering Ph.D. Student - Univ. of Minnesota Twin Cities
Research Interests: I received a Bachelor's in civil engineering and a Master's in environmental engineering. My primary interest revolves around the investigation of hydrological and environmental processes within a watershed, employing numerical modeling techniques. I am actively involved in the snow hydrology of peatlands project, contributing to both modeling and on-site experimental aspects of the research. The outcome of this endeavor aims to advance the process understanding and representation of peatland watersheds in Earth System Models.
Hobbies: Reading and writing, exploring through trips, spending time with family and friends, swimming, and spending time outdoors.
Hometown: Bandar Abbas, Iran
Sara Mohandes Samani, Civil Engineering Ph.D. Student - Univ. of Minnesota Twin Cities
Research Interests: I received a Bachelor's in civil engineering and a Master's in environmental engineering. My primary interest revolves around the investigation of hydrological and environmental processes within a watershed, employing numerical modeling techniques. I am actively involved in the snow hydrology of peatlands project, contributing to both modeling and on-site experimental aspects of the research. The outcome of this endeavor aims to advance the process understanding and representation of peatland watersheds in Earth System Models.
Hobbies: Reading and writing, exploring through trips, spending time with family and friends, swimming, and spending time outdoors.
Hometown: Bandar Abbas, Iran
Jaime Ortega, Forestry Ph.D. Student - Northern Arizona University
Research Interests: I received a BS in Environmental Science and Watershed Management from University of Panama in 2017, and a master’s degree in Water Resources Sciences from Oregon State University in 2024. I’m interested in identifying and quantifying different water sources in a catchment throughout time, and how inherently physiographic features affect the movement of water (surface and subsurface flow) in the system, using hydrological tracers (e.g., water stable isotope and water chemistry) and hydrometric information in a catchment scale.
Hobbies: Biking, hiking, soccer, baseball, and cooking.
Favorite Water Body: Chagres River, Panama
Hometown: David, Chiriqui, Panama
Emily White, Forestry M.S. Student - Northern Arizona University
Research Interests: I got my B.S. in Forestry with a concentration in Environmental Conservation from Mississippi State University in 2024! My research background is in forest biogeochemical cycles, hydrology, and carbon storage. More specifically, my interests are in forest hydrology, wetland management, soils, and forest carbon/nitrogen. Currently I am looking at soil and fuel moisture and how it affects wildfire risk and severity in the Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest.
Hobbies: Hiking, travel, reading, sports
Favorite Water Body: Little River, Smokey Mountains National Park
Hometown: Sherman, TX/Danville, KY
Erika Winner, UMN WRS M.S. Student - University of Minnesota Duluth
Research Interests: I received Bachelors’ in Biology and Geology from Western Washington University in 2014 and a GIS Certificate from Portland State University in 2017. I am interested in watershed science, ecology, and geomorphology . I am investigating the effects of watershed properties and drought on runoff ratios in the Caspar Creek Experimental Watersheds. I am currently working as an Environmental Scientist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife while finishing my thesis.
Hobbies: Skiing, rafting, climbing, travel, gardening, and attempting to play the ukulele.
Hometown: Portland, OR
Research Interests: I received Bachelors’ in Biology and Geology from Western Washington University in 2014 and a GIS Certificate from Portland State University in 2017. I am interested in watershed science, ecology, and geomorphology . I am investigating the effects of watershed properties and drought on runoff ratios in the Caspar Creek Experimental Watersheds. I am currently working as an Environmental Scientist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife while finishing my thesis.
Hobbies: Skiing, rafting, climbing, travel, gardening, and attempting to play the ukulele.
Hometown: Portland, OR
Undergraduate Students
Marc Gomez, NAU School of Forestry BS
CJ Hyatt, NAU School of Forestry BS
Taite Stotts, NAU Geology BS
CJ Hyatt, NAU School of Forestry BS
Taite Stotts, NAU Geology BS
Lab Alumni
Charles Hasler, 2024, NAU Forestry BS
Colin Whitehead, 2024, NAU Forestry BS
Erin Bergen, 2024, UMD Integrated Biosciences MS
Elda Silva, 2023, NAU Environmental Engineering BS
Milina Valdez, 2023, SIPI REU Student
David J. Adams, 2023, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a Hydrogeologist at INTERA Inc.
Anna Mayou, 2022, UMD Geology BS - Currently a GIS Specialist at Barr Engineering Co.
Eric Alvarez, 2021, UMD Environmental Science BS
Emma Burgeson, 2021, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently an Ecosystem Restoration Project Manager at Stantec
Mitch Ihlang, 2021, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a Geologist at Barr Engineering Co.
Julia Petreshen, 2021, UMD Earth Science MS - Currently a Hydrologist with the Yurok Tribe
Sam Neshiem, 2021, UMD Environmental Science BS - Currently a Lab Technician at Michigan State University
Faith Breeden, 2021, UMD Environmental Science BS - Currently a Water Resources Intern at Young Environmental Consulting Group
Micaela Buda, 2021, UMD Environmental Science BS
Shelby Kassuelke (née) Hammerschmidt, 2020, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a Hydrologist with the Minnesota Dept. of Health
Hannah Behar, 2020, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a J.D. Candidate at Emory Law School
Peter Bouchard, 2019, UMD Environmental Science & Biology BS - Check out some of Peter's research here!
Kinzey Schneider (née) Stoll, 2019, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a Geologist with Barr Engineering Co.
Alex Peichel, 2019, UMD Environmental Science & Biology BS - Currently a Field Technician with the B4Warmed Project
Lucas Fossum, 2018, UMD Environmental Science BS - Currently an Environmental Scientist at Stantec
Colin Whitehead, 2024, NAU Forestry BS
Erin Bergen, 2024, UMD Integrated Biosciences MS
Elda Silva, 2023, NAU Environmental Engineering BS
Milina Valdez, 2023, SIPI REU Student
David J. Adams, 2023, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a Hydrogeologist at INTERA Inc.
Anna Mayou, 2022, UMD Geology BS - Currently a GIS Specialist at Barr Engineering Co.
Eric Alvarez, 2021, UMD Environmental Science BS
Emma Burgeson, 2021, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently an Ecosystem Restoration Project Manager at Stantec
Mitch Ihlang, 2021, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a Geologist at Barr Engineering Co.
Julia Petreshen, 2021, UMD Earth Science MS - Currently a Hydrologist with the Yurok Tribe
Sam Neshiem, 2021, UMD Environmental Science BS - Currently a Lab Technician at Michigan State University
Faith Breeden, 2021, UMD Environmental Science BS - Currently a Water Resources Intern at Young Environmental Consulting Group
Micaela Buda, 2021, UMD Environmental Science BS
Shelby Kassuelke (née) Hammerschmidt, 2020, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a Hydrologist with the Minnesota Dept. of Health
Hannah Behar, 2020, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a J.D. Candidate at Emory Law School
Peter Bouchard, 2019, UMD Environmental Science & Biology BS - Check out some of Peter's research here!
Kinzey Schneider (née) Stoll, 2019, UMN Water Resources Science MS - Currently a Geologist with Barr Engineering Co.
Alex Peichel, 2019, UMD Environmental Science & Biology BS - Currently a Field Technician with the B4Warmed Project
Lucas Fossum, 2018, UMD Environmental Science BS - Currently an Environmental Scientist at Stantec
