Graduate Students

Aldo Farah Perez
afara017@fiu.edu
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science: Natural Resource Science and Management
Research: River ecology, river connectivity in the Andean Amazon
Advisor: Elizabeth Anderson
Bachelor's Degree: Universidad de Costa Rica

Ana Rojas
aroja088@fiu.edu
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Tropics, Andes-Amazon region, socioecology of non-native species in rivers and watersheds, tropical conservation
Advisor: Elizabeth Anderson
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Studies, FIU

Brenna Kays
bkays001@fiu.edu
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Natural resource science and management, impacts of citizen science and environmental education on restoration outcomes and human wellbeing
Advisor: Elizabeth Anderson
Bachelor's Degree: BA in Sustainability and the Environment, FIU
From: Miami

Tania Romero Bautista
FIU Email address: trome013@fiu.edu
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Research interests focus on making conservation and sustainable development
strategies more accessible to rural Amazonian communities and guiding policymakers in how
to design and implement more comprehensive, integrative regulations for community-based
freshwater management.
Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Anderson
Bachelor's Degree: BS. in Ecotourism
Master's Degree: Master of Sustainable Development Practice
Country of origin: Peru

Anna Fache
afach004@fiu.edu
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Energy
Advisor: Mahadev Bhat
Master's Degree: MS in Environmental Studies, FIU
Bachelor's Degree: Environmental Studies, FIU
From: Florida

Chloe Vorseth
cvors002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Ecosystem service valuation, environmental economics
Advisor: Mahadev Bhat
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Kentucky
From: Crestwood, Kentucky

Rigoberto Olivera
Advisors: Mahadev Bhat, Robert Burgman

Rigoberto Olivera
Advisors: Mahadev Bhat, Robert Burgman

Philip Lamela
plame001@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Geosciences
Research: Paleobiology, foraminiferal biogeography of the Paleocene Cannonball Formation, South Dakota
Advisor: Laurel Collins
Bachelor's Degree: Duke University (2010)
From: Miami

Vanessa Londono
vlond002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Geosciences
Research: Paleobiology, Cretaceous deep sea foraminifera
Formation, South Dakota
Advisor: Laurel Collins
Bachelor's Degree: FIU (2015)
From: Florida

Maria Sider
mgudn001@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Geosciences
Research: Paleobiology, Holocene foraminifera of Panama
Advisor: Laurel Collins
Bachelor's Degree: FIU (2011)
From: Florida

Jeanette Decuba
Email: jdecu001@fiu.edu
Degree Program: Geoscience
Research: Foraminiferal response to Deep Water Horizon Well Oil Spill
Advisor: Dr. Laurel Collins
Bachelor's Degree: Earth and Environmental Science
Country of origin: United States

Adrian Figueroa
afigu083@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Natural Resource Science and Management
Research: Plant-animal mutualisms; fire ecology; protected area management; impacts of animal-mediated seed dispersal and fire exposure on plant recruitment in a critically endangered ecosystem
Advisors: Hong Liu, Joel Heinen
Bachelor's Degree: Double major BS in Environmental Studies: Natural Resources Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies; Minor in Biological Sciences; Certification in Biodiversity Conservation and Management; Worlds Ahead Graduate, FIU
From: Hialeah, FL

Steffanie Munguia
smung008@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Science, Natural Resource Science and Management
Research: Protected area management, policy alignment across regulatory levels to meet conservation goals
Advisor: Joel Heinen
Master's Degree: MA in International Environmental Policy, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, CA
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Integrative Animal Biology, University of South Florida; BS in Environmental Science and Policy, University of South Florida

Sagar Dahal
FIU Email address: sdaha012@fiu.edu
Degree Program: PhD Program
Research: Spatial Ecology
Advisor: Dr. Joel Heinen

Bachelor's Degree: Zoology
Master's Degree: Zoology (Ecology)
Country of origin: Nepal

Blaire Kleiman
bkleiman@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Agroecology, plant-insect ecology
Advisor: Krishnaswamy Jayachandran
Bachelor's Degree: Environmental Studies, University of Central Florida
From: Miami

James Dautel
jdautel@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Remote sensing in agriculture, using remote sensing techniques to predict root zone flooding in avocado groves
Advisor: Krishnaswamy Jayachandran
Bachelor's Degree: FIU
From: Oak Ridge, TN

Ariel Freidenreich
afrei006@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Agroecology
Advisor: Krishnaswamy Jayachandran
Master's Degree: MS in Environmental Studies, FIU (2016)
Bachelor's Degree: FIU (2014)
From: Hollywood, FL

Ganesh Khadka
gkhad001@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Soil-plant microbiology
Advisor: Krishnaswamy Jayachandran
Master's Degree: Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Bachelor's Degree: Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Meghan Lenahan
mlena005@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Integrated pest management, agroecology
Advisor: Krishnaswamy Jayachandran
Bachelor's Degree: University of Delaware
From: Allentown, PA

Mary Tiedeman
mtied001@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Biological drivers of phosphorus cycling in calcareous soils
Advisor: Krishnaswamy Jayachandran
Bachelor's Degree: Iowa State University
From: Sioux City, IA

Daphne Sugino
dsugi002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Agroecology
Advisor: Krishnaswamy Jayachandran
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Science, Loyola University of Chicago, IL
From: Dorado, Puerto Rico

Xinxi Wang
xwang095@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Tropical cyclones
Advisor: Haiyan Jiang
Bachelor's Degree: Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, China (2016)
From: China

Adrian Lopez
alope566@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Atmospheric Sciences
Research: Tropical cyclones
Advisor: Haiyan Jiang
Bachelor's Degree: Meteorology

Oscar Guzman
oguzm013@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Remote sensing - satellite and ground-based measurements
Advisor: Haiyan Jiang
Master's Degree: MSc Meteorology, National University of Colombia
Bachelor's Degree: Engineer in Geodesy and Cartography, District University of Bogota
From: Bogota, Colombia

Ellen Garcia
egarc279@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Horticulture and conservation biology
Advisor: Amir Khoddamzadeh
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Studies, FIU
From: Miami

Andrew Mullin
amull032@fiu.edu 
Advisor: Amir Khoddamzadeh

Adrian Figueroa
afigu083@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Natural Resource Science and Management
Research: Plant-animal mutualisms; fire ecology; protected area management; impacts of animal-mediated seed dispersal and fire exposure on plant recruitment in a critically endangered ecosystem
Advisors: Hong Liu, Joel Heinen
Bachelor's Degree: Double major BS in Environmental Studies: Natural Resources Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies; Minor in Biological Sciences; Certification in Biodiversity Conservation and Management; Worlds Ahead Graduate, FIU
From: Hialeah, FL

Haydee Borrero
hborr002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD candidate
Research: Ecology, endangered orchid demography and plant-insect interactions in a changing landscape
Advisor: Hong Liu
Master's Degree: MS in Environmental Studies, FIU
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Studies, FIU
From: Miami

Sandra Koi
skoi001@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Citizen science, specialist pollinators and lepidoptera in pine rocklands
Advisor: Hong Liu
Master's Degree: MS in Entomology, University of Florida
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Science/Biology, Nova Southeastern University, FL
From: Florida

Carlos Herdocia
Advisor: Florentin Maurrasse

Francisco Pena Guerra
fpena023@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: 2-D hydraulic modeling, terrain analysis, hydraulic geometry, scaling in hydrology; developing a state-of-the-art urban hydraulic model integrating surface flow, storm drain system, coastal surge and groundwater effect. The case study of Palermo (Italy) and Miami (USA)
Advisor: Assefa Melesse
Bachelor's Degree: Civil Engineering, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon
From: Monterrey, Mexico

Samuel Kent
skent006@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Sciences: Geoscience
Research: Nutrient modeling, hydrological modeling, and the interaction between agricultural nurseries, groundwater, and canals in South Miami-Dade
Advisor: Assefa Melesse
Bachelor's Degree: Environmental Science, University of Florida
From: Pembroke Pines, FL

Angelica Moncada
amonc002@fiu.edu
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Sciences: Geoscience
Research: Hydrological modeling and geospatial analysis of phosphorus in Florida
Advisor: Assefa Melesse
Bachelor's Degree: Environmental Science, University of Florida

Berhane Gebreamlak
bgebr004@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Geoscience
Research: Hydrology
Advisor: Assefa Melesse
Bachelor's Degree: Geology, Eritrea Institute of Technology
From: Eritrea

Temesgen Kahsai Gebrekidan
tgebr006@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Sciences: Geoscience
Research: Hydrological modeling of extreme events
Advisor: Assefa Melesse
Bachelor's Degree: Agricultural Engineering, Hamelmalo College of Agriculture, Keren, Eritrea
From: Asmara, Eritrea

Ikechukwu Onwuka
ionwu002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Ways of reducing phosphorus to background concentrations to remediate impacted water bodies and in wastewater treatment
Advisors: Leonard Scinto, Assefa Melesse
Bachelor's Degree: Oceanography, University of Ghana

Mekdelawit Deribe
FIU Email address:mderi017@fiu.edu
Degree Program: PhD in Earth system Sciences
Research: Management and sustainable use of transboundary waters with a special interest on
the Nile River.
Advisor: Dr. Assefa Melesse
Bachelor's Degree: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Master's Degree: Environmental Sciences, Hydraulic Engineering
Country of origin: Ethiopia

Joseph Sinicrope
jsinicro@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Deactivation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities and sites; impacts of climate change/sea level on deactivation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities and sites
Advisor: Pallab Mozumder
Master's Degree: MBA, FIU; MS in National Security Studies, USMC Command and Staff College, VA
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Business Administration, University of Virignia
From: Homestead, FL

Hugo Guzman
FIU Email address: hguzm002@fiu.edu
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Environmental Economics & Policy
Advisor: Dr. Pallab Mozumder
Bachelor's Degree: BA English Literature (FIU)
Country of origin: Argentina

Tania Islam
FIU Email address: tisla015@fiu.edu
Degree Program: Master's in Environmental Studies
Research: Natural hazard related risk assessment, Water & coastal resource management
Advisor: Dr. Pallab Mozumder
Bachelor's Degree: Geography & Environment at University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Country of origin: Bangladesh

Lina Maria Romero Rodriguez
FIU Email address: lrome072@fiu.edu
Degree Program: Ms. in Environmental Studies
Research: Pending, to define during this term (Spring 2021)
Advisor: Dr. Pallab Mozumder
Bachelor's Degree: Sociology
Master's Degree: Master in sustainable development projects
Country of origin: Colombia

Joshua Allen
jalle091@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Geoscience
Research: Everglades; water budget and chemical conditions of two areas in the Florida Everglades
Advisor: Rene Price
Master's Degree:University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab (2014)
Bachelor's Degree: University of Southern Mississippi (2012)
From: Biloxi, MS

Oriana Calagna
ocala003@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Environmental education
Advisor: Kathleen Quardokus Fisher
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Studies, FIU
From: Caracas, Venezuela

Logan Saucer
lsauc002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Geoscience education
Advisor: Kathleen Quardokus Fisher
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Geosciences, FIU
From: Cedar Rapids, IA

Stephanie Campo
scamp016@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Natural resource science and management
Advisor: Kathleen Quardokus Fisher
Master's Degree: MS in Environmental Policy and Management, FIU
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Studies, FIU
From: Miami

Alexander Zastera
FIU Email address: azast002@fiu.edu
Degree Program: Masters in Environmental Studies
Research: Biodiversity, Local Ecology, and scientific education
Advisor: Dr. Kathleen Quardokus Fisher
Bachelor's Degree: BFA in Studio Art, BA in Art History
Master's Degree: N/A
Country of origin: USA

Cody Eggenberger
cegge004@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Mangrove lakes in South Central Everglades and North Florida Bay; movement ecology of the recreationally important fishes of the Everglades and Florida Bay
Advisor: Jennifer Rehage
Bachelor's Degree: Michigan State University
From: Okemos, Michigan

Carissa Gervasi
cgerv002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Science, Natural Resource Management
Research: Fish ecology, ecological and socioeconomic impacts of marine protected areas
Advisor: Jennifer Rehage
Bachelor's Degree: Roger Williams University, RI
From: Sturbridge, MA

Jordan Massie
jmass041@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Science
Research: Aquatic ecology
Advisor: Jennifer Rehage
Bachelor's Degree: Fisheries and wildlife Science, Oregon State University

Jonathan Rodemann
jrode010@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Science, Natural Resource Science and Management
Research: Fish ecology, effects of seascape changes in Florida Bay on recreational fisheries
Advisor: Jennifer Rehage
Master's Degree: Marine Biology, Northeastern University, IL
Bachelor's Degree: Marine Science and Biology, University of Miami, FL
From: Bridgewater, NJ

Nicholas Castillo
ncast169@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Science
Research: Fish ecology, effects of contaminants on bonefish in South Florida and the Greater Caribbean Basin
Advisor: Jennifer Rehage
Bachelor's Degree: Environmental Science and Policy, Psychology, and Certificate in Marine Science Conservation and Leadership, Duke University
From: Fort Myers, FL

Lydia Cuni
lcuni002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Plant ecology; effects of light availability, fire history and litter on plant species composition and diversity in the pine rockland-hardwood hammock ecotone
Advisor: Cara Rockwell
Bachelor's Degree: FIU (2014)
From: Hialeah, FL

Marcel Bozas
mboza011@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Natural Resource Science and Management
Research: Wildlife and Everglades tree island ecology
Advisor: Michael Ross
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Studies, FIU
From: Miami

Himadri Biswas
Advisor: Michael Ross

Rosario Vidales
rvida018@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Environmental Studies
Research: Coastal wetlands of the Southeast Saline Everglades, Florida; intraspecific variation in leaf traits of red mangrove Rhizophora mangle and its environmental drivers
Advisor: Michael Ross
Bachelor's Degree: FIU (2014)
From: Homestead, FL

Mason Bradbury
mbrad045@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Natural Resource Science and Management
Research: Restoration, social-ecological systems and historical political ecology
Advisor: Michael Ross
Master's Degree: MS in International Conservation and Development, University of Montana
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Biology/Anthropology, Michigan State University

Melinda Paduani
mpadu004@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Natural resource management, mangrove/estuarine ecology and ecotoxicology
Advisor: Michael Ross
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Biology with Environmental Studies Minor, University of Central Florida
From: Queens, NY

Ikechukwu Onwuka
ionwu002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Ways of reducing phosphorus to background concentrations to remediate impacted water bodies and in wastewater treatment
Advisors: Leonard Scinto, Assefa Melesse
Bachelor's Degree: Oceanography, University of Ghana

Timothy Kirby
tkirb004@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Natural Resource Science and Management
Research: Water governance, natural resource economics; social equity and environmental justice in U.S. water governance, social network analysis of climate change professionals and organizations, water-saving technology adoption behaviors, financing mechanisms for water infrastructure investments
Advisor: Michael Sukop
Bachelor's Degree: Sustainable Development, Columbia University, NY (2016)
From: Danville, VA

Ron Hariprashad
rhari002@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: MS in Geosciences: Hydrogeology
Research: Modeling surface water and groundwater interaction
Advisor: Michael Sukop
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Engineering, FIU

Martina Rogers
mroge044@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Hydrogeology
Research: Hydrogeology; analysis of well water level time series data for aquifer parameter estimation
Advisor: Michael Sukop
Bachelor's Degree: BS in Environmental Sciences, Broward College, FL
From: Liptovsky Hradok, Slovakia

Boya Zhang
bzhan018@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Geoscience
Research: INSAR
Advisor: Shimon Wdowinski
Master's Degree: Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China
Bachelor's Degree: Capital Normal University, China

Roshan Koirala
rkoir001@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth System Science: Geoscience
Research: Remote sensing and GI
Advisor: Shimon Wdowinski
Master's Degree: Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Bachelor's Degree: Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Selena Chavez
schav063@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Geosciences
Research: Use of LIDAR to model hurricane damage to mangrove forest in the South Florida Region
Advisor: Shimon Wdowinski
Bachelor's Degree: Environmental Science and Policy, University of Maryland
From: Bethesda, MD

Javiera Hernandez
jhern385@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Hurricane impact simulations using idealized catastrophe models
Advisor: Hugh Willoughby
Master's Degree: Geography, University of Florida
Bachelor's Degree: Geosciences, FIU
From: Osorno, Chile

Margie Kieper
margaret.kieper@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Geosciences
Research: Rapid intensification; analysis of satellite imagery of tropical cyclones, tropical cyclone life cycle and intensification, tropical cyclone precipitation
Advisor: Hugh Willoughby
Bachelor's Degree: SB, MIT (1979)
From: Minneapolis, MN

Jeremy Lane Katz
jkatz029@fiu.edu 
Degree Program: PhD in Earth Systems Science
Research: Tropical cyclones
Advisor: Ping Zhu
Master's Degree: MS in Geoscience (2016)
Bachelor's Degree: University of Louisiana at Monroe, LA (2013)
From: Mandeville, Louisiana

Courtney Moore
FIU Email address: cmoor081@fiu.edu
Degree Program: Environmental Studies
Research: Wetland Ecosystems Research
Advisor: Dr. TiffanyTroxler
Bachelor's Degree: Civil & Environmental Engineering
Master's Degree: Environmental Studies
Country of origin: United States (Virginia)