Tag: Spotlight

Emily’s research at UF utilizes high-resolution mass spectrometry to investigate per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) and other contaminants in the aquatic environment. At UF, Emily developed a methodology for PFAS extraction from Florida manatee blood using dried blood spot cards, offering a minimally invasive procedure for whole blood collection and analysis.

Michael Shirley, Ph.D. Deputy Director, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection Florida Department of Environmental Protection Michael Shirley has had a long career devoted to environmental protection with a focused science-based management approach. He received a Ph.D. in Marine Science with a minor in Environmental Toxicology from North Carolina State University, a Master of Science […]

Amanda Chappel, an Environmental Engineering Sciences PhD student in Dr. Elise Morrison’s lab, is studying the ecosystem effects of coastal eutrophication and its implications on nutrient cycling dynamics in estuarine systems, with the goal of supporting effective management strategies that will advance solutions to minimize anthropogenic impacts to coastal systems. We asked Amanda to tell […]

Jen Lomberk, an attorney specializing in environmental law and policy, recently joined the CCS Advisory Board. Lomberk has worked on projects spanning a broad spectrum of environmental issues ranging from stormwater regulation in the state of Florida to national park management in The Bahamas to the innovative use of conservation easements to protect sea turtle […]

Dr. Lili Du’s research integrates optimization, network modeling, machine learning, control, and data analytics approaches into transportation system analysis with the main focuses on autonomous vehicle (AV), connected vehicle (CV), connected and automated vehicle (CAV), and electric vehicle (EV) impacts, mobility on demand, network resilience, and traffic flow analysis. Du’s research has been published in Transportation […]

Collin Ortals is conducting his PhD research under the guidance of Center for Coastal Solutions Director, Dr. Christine Angelini. Collin’s work is primarily located in the Matlacha Pass (Florida), a key waterway that connects the Caloosahatchee and Charlotte Harbor estuaries. Collin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to […]

Heather W. Barron, DVM, Dipl. ABVP‐avian, CertAqV Medical and Research Director, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) Dr. Heather Barron has been the Medical and Research Director and Head Veterinarian of the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) since 2011. She received training in exotic and wild animal medicine and surgery through a […]

Professor Peter Ifju is a faculty member in the UF Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department and specializes in unmanned aircraft systems (drones) development for natural resource applications. He also works extensively on micro air vehicles, composite material characterization, and experimental stress analysis. Given a natural resource sensing need, often no commercial off-the-shelf products are available, […]

Carola Forlini is a PhD student in Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering under the mentorship of Dr. Alex Sheremet (University of Florida, ESSIE). Carola holds a Bachelor’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering, a Master’s in Civil Engineering with a focus in hydrology studies, both from University of Parma, in Italy, and a Master’s in Coastal and […]

Fernanda Gastelu is collaborating with the Center for Coastal Solutions on estuarine hydrodynamics, with a focus on understanding the exchange flows in the tidal inlets that surround Sanibel Island, Florida. Fernanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and a Master’s degree in Water Sciences from Centro de Investigación […]

Elizabeth Gadsby, Ph.D. is a passionate University of Florida alumna. She met her husband, James Gadsby, at UF in a romantic encounter retold in the UF Alumni magazine. Almost 30 years later, Elizabeth and James recently moved back to Gainesville, FL and are dedicated to using their experiences to give back to the university that […]

Ron Fick is a PhD candidate in Computer and Information Science and Engineering working with Dr. Paul Gader. Growing up in Palm Beach, Ron developed a connection with the Florida ecosystem and coastline. He grew up playing golf and fishing off the beach. At Suncoast High School, he was exposed to computer science in the […]

Paul Silverglate, Vice Chair and US Technology Sector Leader at Deloitte, recently joined the CCS Advisory Board. Paul has over 32 years of professional experience serving companies headquartered in Silicon Valley and around the world. He also leads Deloitte’s Risk and Financial Advisory practice for the Technology, Media & Telecommunications industry, and serves as a […]

Student Spotlight: Nick Chin A native of Tampa, Nick received his BS in Environmental Engineering Sciences from UF in 2017. After graduating, Nick worked as a Civil/Environmental Engineer and has experience with site characterization and remediation, as well as establishing minimum flow levels for river systems in Florida. Wanting to learn more about technology and […]

Dr. Patrick Musgrave recently joined the UF Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department as an Assistant Professor, and he is also affiliated with the Center for Coastal Solutions as part of the cluster hire for Artificial Intelligence in Coastal Systems. His research focuses on the development of adaptive & morphing structures operating in fluidic environments and […]

Dr. Kate Hubbard, who leads the harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring and research program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI), has recently joined the CCS Advisory Board. She directs FWC’s Center for Red Tide Research which works closely with the Florida HAB Task Force to strengthen and […]

Jamila Roth is a PhD student in the UF School of Natural Resources and Environment, and she recently answered some questions about her research interests and efforts. What is the goal of your PhD research? The overarching goal of my research is to better understand how environmental change, including tropicalization, impacts seagrass meadows in the […]

Karen Sem M.E. Student, Environmental Engineering Sciences, UF Growing up near Lake Okeechobee, Karen Sem regularly read about the effects of its water quality on the health and prosperity of its surrounding communities. At the University of Florida, where she is pursuing a Masters of Engineering degree in Environmental Engineering Sciences, Karen is researching these […]

Dr. Warren Dixon Newton C. Ebaugh Professor and Department Chair Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, UF Dr. Warren Dixon and his students are focused on the development of theoretical methods motivated by systems that exhibit uncertain nonlinear behaviors. His approach to compensate for uncertainties in the dynamics is the development of adaptive and learning control methods. […]

Bijeta Bijen Saha PhD candidate, Food and Resource Economics, UF What is the goal of your PhD research? The goal of my PhD research is to measure the short- and long-term economic effects of exogenous shocks to the environment and resulting ecological issues, particularly events that have affected the coastal communities of western Florida. My […]

John Jaeger Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, UF Dr. John Jaeger’s research program in Florida centers around resolving the relative impact of human activities on coastal and estuarine sedimentary environments in the context of the natural variations that influence their habitability. The continuing urbanization of Florida’s coastal watersheds provides a unique opportunity to correlate […]

Sydney Williams PhD Candidate, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, UF Before diving into a graduate program at UF, Sydney worked with The Nature Conservancy and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources – major stakeholders in her home state that partner to develop coastal management strategies. These post-bachelor experiences provided insight into the southeast’s cultural and […]