Members
Lab Group Members:
Researchers in our group have a wide range of experience and skills which we all benefit from by sharing our science as linked through our common interests. Depending on funding, group members include masters and doctoral graduate students, undergraduates and postdoctoral research associates.
Current Members
Dr. Amy Hansen
Assistant Professor
Dr. Hansen leads the Eco Fluids Lab in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas.
She received her Ph.D from the University of Minnesota (2012) in Civil Engineering with an Ecology Evolution and Behavior Minor. She completed a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Engineering and Applied Sciences from Caltech.amy.hansen@ku.edu
Sophie Terian
Env. Engineering – PhD student
Sophie is interested in the water quality impacts of wetlands and in optimizing contaminant removal simultaneously with other ecosystem services. She aspires to improve water quality models for underserved communities and ultimately use her expertise to guide policy decisions. She is currently working to improve predictions of ammonium concentrations in a watershed-scale wetland-river network model. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys singing, cooking and baking, being outdoors, and playing with her cats.
Sophie is also a member of the Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship.
Vic Secondine
Environmental Science - PhD Student
Vic earned their B.S. in environmental science at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS. They are a citizen of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. During their post-bacc year in KU's PREP program, Vic collected soil cores in the Baker and Haskell Wetlands to compare active and passive restoration on soil properties over time. Vic's doctoral research focuses on the effects of fire and inundation on carbon and nitrogen cycling in wetlands. They are passionate about Indigenous science and include cultural fire in their wetland research. In their free time, Vic loves to read fantasy and self-help books, play cozy video games, create through various arts and crafts, and spend time with their children and cats.
Gift Manyonga
Environmental Science - Masters Student
gmanyonga@ku.edu
Gift got his B.S. at Ankara University in Turkey. Gift is passionate about addressing the challenges posed by climate change and land-use transformations. His research focuses on the future planning and sustainability of farm ponds and other wetlands, particularly in the context of shifting agricultural practices and evolving environmental conditions. In his free time, Gift likes to backpack.
Sidhant Tiwari
Environmental Science - Masters Student
sidtiwari25@ku.edu
Sidhant Tiwari obtained his bachelor’s in civil engineering from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Enrolled in master’s degree in environmental and water resources engineering at KU, he is interested in assessing the causes and effects of hydroclimatic hazards on the environment and applying adaptive measures. He has hands-on experience in identifying communities vulnerable from flood and landslide hazards, then proposing nature-based solutions to safeguard them. His current research focuses on understanding the role of vegetation in removal and exchange of nitrogen compounds in riparian wetlands. It aims to understand the conditions under which wetlands can improve water quality for proper water resources management and planning in agricultural landscapes. In his free time, Sid loves to workout, binge movies, and go on hikes.
Xavier Martinez
Undergraduate Research Assistant - Chemical Engineering
Cesar Xavier Martinez is a freshman from Topeka and a first-year Emerging Scholar. He decided to study engineering because he wants to learn how things work, and math and science are his strongest skills. He took an interest in Chemical Engineering because he loves the hands-on aspect of the job and because he wants to play a role in the mitigation of climate change.
Ezra Joseph
Undergraduate Research Assistant - Biochemistry
Ezra assists graduate students with various lab and fieldwork tasks in the Ecofluids lab. In his free time, he enjoys reading, listening to/making music, and riding his bike.
Jonah Rosebaugh
Undergraduate Research Assistant - Botany
Jonah Rosebaugh grew up in southwest Missouri with a lifelong fascination for the natural world. He is currently pursuing a degree in Botany and is excited to contribute to the farm pond research project. He has experimented with converting a pond in his hometown into a wetland-- a side project that sparked his curiosity about ecological restoration. Outside of academics, he enjoys competitive swimming, cooking, baking, and hiking. He is eager to gain hands-on experience through research, with the goal of continuing to work in environmental research at KU after graduation.
Josh Edwards
Undergraduate Research Assistant - Civil Engineering
Josh assists with field and lab work and is interested in urban stormwater system design. With a background in public works civil field operations, and a passion for conservation, he wants to incorporate environmental focuses from wetland research into urban stormwater.
Nick Madrid
Undergraduate Research Assistant - Civil Engineering
Nick is an undergraduate studying Civil Engineering. He joined the EcoFluids Lab Group to develop a deeper understanding of water resources. He is interested in studying watersheds in Colorado, where he is from, and aims to one day work on water resource management for reservoirs and national parks.
Former Post Doctoral Scholars
| Former Post Doc | Current Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Hadi Mohammed | Google Scholar | |
| Nada Jumaa | Post Doctoral Scholar - Texas A&M University | Google Scholar |
| Pawan Upadhyay | Water Resources Director - Shoshone Paiute Tribes | Google Scholar |
Former Doctoral Students
| Former Ph.D. Student | Degree | Current Position | Dissertation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bre Rivera Waterman | Environmental Science | Faculty - University of Oklahoma | From Mesocosms to Watersheds: Investigating Reactive Nitrogen Transport, Export and Removal in Agricultural Landscapes | ResearchGate |
| Oladipo Bolade | Environmental Engineering | Senior Staff Professional - Geosyntec Consultants | Integrating In-Situ and Remote Sensing Monitoring for Surface Water Quality Improvement in Selected Midwestern United States Watersheds. | Google Scholar |
Former Masters Students
| Former Masters Students | Masters of Science | Thesis | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sameep Adhikari | Civil Engineering | Hydraulic Designer - GFT | |
| Sudipta Sarker | Environmental Engineering | Solid Waste EIT - HDR | |
| Erin Reinkemeyer | Civil Engineering | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
Former Undergraduate Research Assistants
| Former Undergraduates | Major | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
| Cassie Amrein | Chemical Engineering | |
| Julia McDonald | Biochemistry | |
| Daniel Liang | Mechanical Engineering | |
| Luisa Ortega | Civil Engineering | |
| Joseph Hawker | Environmental Studies | |
| Kara Miller | Civil Engineering | Transmission Line Design Engineer -- Power Engineers |
| Hannah Minn | Environmental Studies | |
| Joey Craft | Civil Engineering | Hydrologic Field Assistant at USGS |
| Allison Dobbie | Civil Engineering |