Andrew Altieri, Ph.D., is an environmental engineering sciences associate professor and leads the center’s nature-based solutions program, which harnesses natural features to sustainably manage ecosystems and promote their resilience. His childhood adventures snorkeling and scuba diving sparked his passion for coastal environments.
Areas of expertise:
- Coral reef ecology
- Anthropogenic impacts
- Coastal resilience/restoration
- Nature-based solutions
Program lead: Nature-based solutions
Alberto Canestrelli, Ph.D., associate professor in coastal engineering, researches eco-morphological trends and water quality in coastal environments, particularly estuaries, tidal channels and salt marshes. He develops and uses numerical models, and employs acoustic instruments and drones for high-resolution data collection. This integrated approach advances understanding of coastal environments, supporting effective management and restoration strategies.
Areas of expertise:
- Eco-morphology of salt marshes
- Numerical modeling
- Long term morphodynamic trends of estuaries
Vic Engel, Ph.D., is an environmental engineering sciences professor of practice in the Center for Coastal Solutions. He develops interdisciplinary research programs that support resilience in built and natural systems. He grew up on the Indian River Lagoon watching Space Shuttle launches from his backyard, leading to his passion for both coastal environments and science.
Areas of expertise:
- Coastal resilience
- Ecohydrology
- Ecosystem restoration
David Kaplan, Ph.D., environmental engineering sciences professor and director of the H.T. Odum Center for Wetlands, spearheads the center’s optimizing water quality solutions program to inform decisions for improved water quality management at Lake Okeechobee.
“It’s a cliché to say water is life, we like to add water quality is health.”
Areas of expertise:
- Water quality
- Harmful algal blooms
- Hydrology
Program lead: Optimizing water quality solutions
Sharon Ryan, associate director for strategy and communications, guides strategic planning, action planning and stakeholder engagement for large-scale, multidisciplinary projects. She also leads communications and partnership initiatives for the center. Her facilitation approaches are designed to be inclusive of multiple perspectives, support teams to do their best thinking, and foster ownership of results.
Areas of expertise:
- Facilitation
- Strategy
- Science communications
- Partnerships | Development
Nina Stark, Ph.D., assistant professor in the civil and coastal engineering department, co-manages the CCS field operations and serves as the faculty lead of the coastal and marine geotechnics research group at the University of Florida. Her hands-on work promotes more resilient infrastructure in the face of rising coastal hazards.
“Since I get to do field work all over the globe, I think I’ve visited some of the most unique places in the world during my job.”
Areas of expertise:
- Coastal and marine geotechnics
- Seabed mechanics
- Beach trafficability
- Coastal and riverine morphodynamics and structure-seabed interaction
- Geotechnical storm and flood reconnaissance and mitigation
Xiao Yu, Ph.D., associate professor in civil and coastal engineering, specializes in nearshore hydrodynamics, coastal modeling and sediment transport processes.
Areas of expertise:
- Nearshore processes
- Turbulent mixing and transport processes
- Sediment transport