| Barbara
A. Beckingham PhD, Civil Engineering IGERT Mentor: Upal Ghosh Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with High Honors, May 2001 Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 2007 |
Research Interests Bioaccumulation and remediation of contaminated environments I am interested in conducting research that uses or improves analytical methods for environmental detection to study the fate and transport of legacy pollutants and emerging contaminants of concern, particularly in aquatic food chains, and then to apply this knowledge to develop assessments of exposure risk and to contribute to policy work. I would like to better understand the anthropogenic influences on ecosystem functions and specifically the methods at our disposal for both correcting past abuses and proactively averting future harm in the spirit of environmental stewardship. New remediation technologies, as well as watershed-scale management of environmental issues, will play important roles in this objective. One geographic area with increased human impact and chance for exposure is the urban environment. This work can blossom under the IGERT umbrella of research partnerships and multi-disciplinary perspectives. |
| Aditi
Bhaskar PhD, Civil Engineering IGERT Mentor: Claire Welty Bachelor of Science, Geology-Physics/ Math, May 2008 Brown University, Providence RI 2008 | Research
Interests Quantifying urban groundwater systems I am interested in quantitative urban hydrology and groundwater modeling. In general, I would like to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of urban groundwater systems. This can be applied to water resource management and problems such as those focusing on how human- produced or naturally-occurring solutes are transported in the urban subsurface, where they end up and how long they take to get there. I will be working on a project which aims to dynamically couple a hydrologic model and an urban growth model of a Baltimore watershed. I also hope to learn about urban water systems much more broadly and from different perspectives through the IGERT program. |
| Aaron Churchill PhD, Mathematics IGERT Mentor: Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 2006 Master of Science, Mathematics, University of Delaware, 2008 2009 | Research Interests Mathematical Modeling of Environmental Phenomena I am interested in studying fluid flow in the environment, as well as modeling human interactions with these phenomena. I am also interested in the mathematical modeling of water pricing, and the effects this has on water consumption and human habits of water use. |
| Jonathan
P. Dandois PhD, Geography and Environmental Systems IGERT Mentor: Erle Ellis Bachelor of Science, Geography, and GIS Certificate, December 2003 UMBC 2008 |
Research
Interests Developing an ecological approach to urban development through GIS modeling It is my goal to research an ecosystem-model approach to urban development through the use of GIS technologies. Some of the questions I would like to explore are: How can a GIS be implemented to automate or at least facilitate the urban decision-making process? How can GIS be used to model the ebb and flow of resources, natural and human-made, in an urban environment? How can modern remote sensed data, like high-resolution, multi-spectral imagery or LIDAR surface data, be utilized to improve an urban ecosystem model? Or: What is the suitability of municipal GIS programs as a data resource for scientific research? |
Melanie D. Harrison | Research Interests Studying "hotspots" of denitrification in urban restored watersheds I am interested in nutrient cycling in urban restored watersheds, focusing on "hotspots" of denitrification and a host of microbial variables that play a key role in this process. The IGERT program at UMBC focuses on water quality in the urban environment. My interest lies in monitoring and management of urban stream ecosystems, on a biogeochemical level, looking at environmentally efficient ways of improving denitrification processes that would in turn improve water quality in cities. Nitrate is a pollutant that can enter urban streams from runoff from impervious surfaces, denitrification is a process that removes nitrates from the streams and releases it as nitrogen back into the atmosphere. Monitoring and management of urban restored streams ecosystem is crucial for sustainaing a balanced stream ecosystem, bioterrorist treats, and human health. |
Tracy
Kerchkof | Research Interests Quantifying the effect of urbanization on the hydrologic cycle My broad interest is contributing knowledge to water resources policy, to identify and develop tools that can be used better predict water resources issues in metropolitan areas. I intend to intensively study and quantify the effect urbanization has on surface water and groundwater processes at a watershed scale, using this information to develop more accurate design and planning tools for urban water resources managers. The IGERT offers me a chance to combine my interests in hydrological modeling and decision making, as well as provides a plethora of resources not available in many places, i.e. being a WATERS Test Bed site and the availability of a U.S. Geological Survey office on campus. |
Anna L. Johnson | Research Interests Effects of urbanization on dynamics of riparian communities I would like to explore through my research the connection between urban vegetative population dynamics and changes in ecosystem function. I am particularly interested in working in urban riparian borders, and using molecular tools to explore plant population dynamics. Can small-scale changes in a dominant riparian plant species ultimately have large-scale effects on a region by impacting such things as food web relations, biogeochemical cycling, soil and sediment microbial communities, and water quality? By getting a clearer picture of specific interactions in an urban riparian community, I hope to improve our understanding of what makes a sustainable urban ecosystem and increase our predictive abilities. |
| Garth
A. Lindner PhD, Geography and Environmental Systems IGERT Mentor: Andrew Miller MS Geography, August 2008 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN Mentor: Kelly Caylor BA Environmental Studies, May 2006 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 2008 |
Research
Interests Broadly put, my research interests lie in the runoff dynamics of
small urbanizing watersheds. More specifically, I specialize in the
installation and maintenance of hydrologic equipment and the modeling
of storm runoff processes. Observed hydrologic data is used in tandem
with hydrologic models to model storm runoff and to validate and
calibrate hydrologic models. I also work with landcover data in a
GIS to link runoff processes to landcover uses and land change practices.
Future development of my research interests includes the geomorphologic
changes to stream form and structure and the hydrometeorology of
storm events. |
Nicholas R. Magliocca 2009 | Research Interests Coupled human-natural systems and agent-based modeling My research focuses on how coupled human and natural systems influence and are influenced by one another over various temporal and spatial scales. To better understand these interactions, I use agent-based computer simulation to represent the systems structures and feedbacks that drive system change. I intend to study how human development alters the form and function of natural landscapes, and how these changes feed-back onto human systems. Specifically, I will be applying an agent-based model of urban growth to explore coupled interactions with the natural landscape. The IGERT program offers me the opportunity to work with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines, and thus bring the most integrated perspective possible to my future research endeavors. |
Laura Merner 2009 | Research
Interests My research interests include human-environment interactions, fluvial geomorphology, and extreme flooding events. I am most interested in landscape to regional scale projects, with an emphasis on urban environments. |
| Daniel
Miles PhD, Public Policy/ Economics Concentration, expected May 2009 IGERT Mentors: Virginia McConnell and Scott Farrow Master of Public Policy, Environmental Policy
and Graduate Certificate in Ecological Economics, May 2006, University
of Maryland School of Public Policy, College Park, MD |
Research
Interests My fields of interest include environmental and natural resource economics. I am specifically interested in researching applications of market-based incentives (pollution credit trading, TDR, etc) that can be utilized to remedy urban water pollution. My research goals for the IGERT Program include studying the way that different land uses impact water quality and developing trading ratios based on these differing effects to develop an efficient and effective trading program. I am also interested in looking at the effect that different development patterns and zoning regulations have on water quality. The data sets and GIS database available through the Baltimore Ecosystem Study will be invaluable as I work to develop computer models to determine the impact of land use on water quality. |
| Michael
J. Pennino PhD, Marine Estuarine and Environmental Sciences (MEES) IGERT Mentor: Sujay Kaushal Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Biochemistry, and Chemistry, May 2005, Oberlin College 2008 |
Research
Interests I am broadly interested in understanding how human alteration of the environment impacts the interconnected processes that sustain ecosystems, particularly the biotic and abiotic factors that control carbon and nutrient cycling in streams and riparian zones. Through my research I hope to develop a holistic view of the processes involved in maintaining water quality and steam biogeochemical transformations, by researching the role of symbiotic communities in streams and wetlands. I plan to study how communities of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms involved in carbon and nitrogen cycles differ between natural, urban, and restored streams. I also intend to study the relationship between sediment quality, hydrology and important biogeochemical pathways, like denitrification, which removes nitrogen from streams. |
| Jeanna
D. Ragsdale PhD, Geography and Environmental Systems IGERT Mentor: Laura Lewis Master of Science, Soil and Water Quality, University of Florida, 2006 Bachelor of Arts, Geography, Central Washington University, 2002 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Sculpture and Painting, Pacific Lutheran University, 2000 2008 |
Research Interests |
| Danielle Schwarzmann PhD, Public Policy IGERT Mentor: Virginia McConnell Master of Science, Economics, UMBC, 2009 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Drexel University, 2007 2009 | Research Interests I
am interested in environmental economics and policy. Specifically
I would like to conduct cost-benefit analysis for different storm
water |
Gwen
Stanko |
Research Interests Studying the effectiveness of various low impact development designs at improving water quality in urban water bodies I am broadly interested in performing research to determine the effectiveness of various low impact development designs on water quality in urban water bodies. In part, I intend to study the effects of low-impact development on the reduction of eutrophication of water bodies downstream of highly urbanized environments. The interdisciplinary nature of the IGERT program will also allow me to learn about the economics associated with implementing and maintaining low impact development designs. Because of the negative effects of ever-increasing urbanization on streams, wetlands and other water bodies, developing cost-effective methods for improving urban water quality is of utmost importance. While conducting this research, I plan to work with urban watershed groups to implement the most beneficial low impact development designs for a given situation. |
Olyssa
Starry |
Research Interests |
| Robin
Van Meter PhD, Marine Estuarine and Environmental Sciences, expected May 2010 IGERT Mentor: Christopher M. Swan Master of Science, Environmental Science/Ecology,
December 2003, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA Bachelor of Science, Conservation Biology,
May 2000, University of Maryland, College Park, MD |
Research
Interests Freshwater ecosystems have been impacted for decades by anthropogenic chemicals and recently road salt deicers have been identified as a serious threat. I plan to assess the impacts of salt stress in freshwater systems with a particular emphasis on amphibian communities and the food web interactions at work in these systems. It is well documented that amphibian populations world-wide are dwindling and their preservation is key to maintaining the health and biodiversity of many ecosystems. The sustainability of these ecosystems is also critical to human health as a source of freshwater. While the US Environmental Protection Agency has strict limits on the maximum chloride levels acceptable for human consumption, many natural freshwater habitats are increasingly exceeding this limit. To gain a better understanding of freshwater salinization, I will employ an experimental approach by manipulating salt in experimental ponds. |
| K.
Tara Willey PhD, Geography and Environmental Systems IGERT Mentor: Christopher M. Swan Master of Science, Entomology, Virginia Tech,
2008 Bachelor
of Science, Environmental Science, Virginia Tech, 1998 |
Research
Interests Benthic macroinvertebrates in urban streams I am interested in three areas of research pertaining to the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in urban streams: (1) large-scale impacts of stream restoration; (2) the relationship between the benthic macroinvertebrates present in urban streams and their habitat, focusing on the influence of hydrologic regime, to understand the limiting factors for the benthic community; and (3) assessment of management techniques, such as stream restoration and TMDLs, to gauge the impact on macroinvertebrate communities. |
| Yvette
M. Williams PhD, Geography and Environmental Systems IGERT Mentors: Richard Pouyat and Laura Lewis Master of Environmental Science, Conservation
Biology, 2003, Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies,
New Haven, CT Bachelor
of Science, Biology |
Research
Interests Urban design and public policy I want to contribute knowledge to science-based public policy for finding common ground between housing development and wetland protection. Sound environmental planning for community development will require the integration of these issues to develop policies for long term watershed management. The IGERT program theme of “Water in the Urban Environment” offers me the opportunity to integrate my interest in the ecological aspects of flood control of wetlands with emerging directions in urban design for the purposes of creating safe and livable communities. Using elements from landscape ecology theory, I will employ GIS techniques to analyze landscape level metrics for vegetation. |
| Sheena Young Ph.D., Chemistry IGERT Mentor: William LaCourse Masters of Science, Geography and Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 2005 Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Spellman College, Atlanta, GA, 2004 2009 | Research Interests Development of a Chemical Sensor for the Detection of Pharmaceutical Drugs in Groundwater The primary focus of my research involves the use of analytical methods to develop chemical sensors for the detection of emerging pharmaceutical contaminants in urban groundwater systems. My goal is to develop a sensor technology that provides rapid and accurate detection of trace levels of pharmaceutical drugs. The presence of prescription drugs in water is a rising concern due to the potential for adverse health affects. They are entering the water streams at alarming rates through human consumption of medication, subsequently absorbed and released through toilet flushing. These contaminants are released into rivers, lakes, and streams and cycle back into our drinking water. IGERT will provide me with the fundamental knowledge and interdisciplinary resources to develop monitoring devices to quantify and potentially map the transport of these contaminants. |
Modified 1/8/10
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Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education
UMBC, Technology Research Center 102
1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, Maryland 21250
Phone:410-455-1763 Fax: 410-455-1769 Email: cueremail@umbc.edu