People
Graduate Students
Michael Knight
MS student (Geology)
My interest in research is in understanding the connection between hydrologic processes and the environment through the use of field work and hydrologic modeling. I have interned for an environmental consulting firm for 2 years while completing my undergraduate degree in environmental geology from FGCU. I also have experience with hydrologic modeling as I worked with the program ArcNLET that is a GIS model to project and calculate nitrate and phosphorus plumes from septic tanks for risk management purposes. I am currently investigating the effects beaver dams and beaver dam analogs have on the hydrology of wetlands in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula with the goal of accurately modeling effects on local hydrology.
Presentations
- Knight, M., K. Rains, T. Brigino, S. Johnson, M. Rains (2025) Effects of Beaver Dams and Beaver Dam Analogs on Wetland Rehydration in Alaska. Society of Wetland Scientists Student Conference
Awards
- Craig B. Hutchinson Memorial Scholarship- awarded by the USF Geology Alumni Society
Md Omer Hossain
MS student (Environmental Science and Policy)
My research interests encompass various aspects of hydrology, with a focus on detecting and predicting climate change-driven shifts in hydrological processes. I am particularly interested in understanding how climate change effect the groundwater water availability and temperature at regional scale. Moreover, I use a combination of geospatial methods, climatic and hydrologic modeling, statistics and programming techniques to investigate long-term trends in regional hydrological systems. Finally, I aim to integrate my research with policy to support science-based resource management strategies. In my free time, I enjoy bikepacking and creating documentary videos about the culture and natural complexity of the places I visit.
Publications
- Hossain, M.O, A. Ahmed, KM Nafee, M Al Fahad, A. Ahmed (2024) Soil organic carbon content across various geomorphic units in mangrove forest: a case of Dublar Char, Sundarbans Ecology Journal 6: 1(43-57).
Tyelyn Brigino
PhD student (Geology)
My research focuses on increasing the understanding of groundwater support for ecological and human communities. I am interested in using geochemistry as a tool to better understand groundwater as a shared resource between salmon populations and adjacent human users in the Kenai Peninsula Lowlands, Alaska. Specifically, I am investigating how groundwater contributes to aquifer- to-estuary connectivity and the role groundwater plays in augmenting flows, modulating temperatures, and subsidizing nutrients. I aim to engage community members and resource managers in this research to create a shared knowledge informed by local values to inform regional decision-making.
Publications
- Brigino, T., Rains K.C., Guerrón-Orejuela E.J., Argueta, J., Bentz S., Walker C., Rains M.C., (In Press) No groundwater, no fish: the critical role of groundwater in supporting non-glacial, salmon-bearing rivers in south-central Alaska. Journal of the American Water Resources Association
- Guerrón-Orejuela EJ, Rains KC, Brigino T, Kleindl W, Landry S, Spellman P, Walker C, Rains M (2023) Mapping groundwater recharge potential in high latitude landscapes using public data, remote sensing, and analytic hierarchy process Remote Sensing 15(10):2630.
- Brigino T, K Rains, E Guerron-Orejuela, M. Rains, S. Bentz (2023) Technical Report: City of Homer Reservoir Project: Groundwater Study Prepared for: City of Homer. ERG Report # 2023-01/Final Report Agreement # 069687242
Awards
- Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship - awarded by NOAA
- Richard A Davis Fellowship- awarded by the USF Geology Alumni Society USF Geology Alumni Society
- USF Delores Auzenne Fellowship- awarded by the USF Office of Graduate Studies USF Graduate Studies
- The Craig B. Hutchinson (2022) Memorial Scholarships- awarded by the USF Geology Alumni Society USF Geology Alumni Society
- Southeastern Geological Society Graduate Award- awarded by the Southeastern Geological Society SEGS
- Society of Wetland Scientists Multicultural Mentoring Program Award (SWaMMP)- awarded by the Society of Wetland Scientists SWaMP
- UF Water Institute Symposium Student Diversity Scholarship UF Water Institute
- Fred L. and Helen M. Tharp Scholarship - awarded by USF Geosciences
- STEM Scholarship- awarded by the American Association of University Women AAUW
- NSF S-STEM Managing the Nitrogen Cycle Scholarship S-STEM
Zamil Ahamed Limon
MS student (Geography)
I study how natural features evolve across landscapes, with a focus on wetlands, water resources, and vegetation in both agricultural and urban environments. My research combines historical aerial imagery, remote sensing, and fieldwork to track changes in these resources through time. By integrating geospatial analysis with deep learning methods, I aim to create practical tools that enhance environmental planning, support sustainable land use, and improve long-term ecosystem management.
Publications
- Miah, T., Fariha, J. N., Jodder, P. K., Raiyan R., Limon, Z. A., Usha, S. A., Hossain, Z., & Rahaman, K. R. (2025) Unravelling the spatio-temporal relationship between land use and land surface temperature through longitudinal geospatial modelling in south-eastern Bangladesh. Earth Systems and Environment.
- Fariha, J. N., Miah, M. T., Limon, Z. A., Alsulamy, S., Kafy, A. A., & Rahman, S. N. (2024) Quantifying spatial dynamics of urban sprawl for climate resilience sustainable natural resource management by utilizing geostatistical and remote sensing techniques. Theoretical and Applied Climatology.
- Biswas, J., Jobaer, Md. A., Haque, S. F., Shozib, Md. S. I., & Limon, Z. A. (2023) Mapping and monitoring land use land cover dynamics employing Google Earth Engine and machine learning algorithms on Chattogram, Bangladesh. Heliyon.
Awards
- National Thesis Competition for Urban Planning Students, 2021- awarded by Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP)
Dhrubo Barua
PhD student (Geography, Environmental Science & Policy)
My research interests lie in exploring advanced geospatial techniques and developing novel methods to enhance spatial analysis and decision-making. I aim to design approaches that enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and applicability of geospatial analysis across different environmental and socio-economic contexts. Currently, I am focusing on developing decision support tools that enhance wetland management practices at landscape scales in Florida.
Publications
- Abdullah, S., Barua D. (2022) Combining Geographical Information System (GIS) and machine learning to monitor and predict vegetation vulnerability: An Empirical Study on Nijhum Dwip, Bangladesh Ecol Eng 178: 106577
- Abdullah, S., Barua D. (2022) Modeling Land Surface Temperature with a Mono-Window Algorithm to Estimate Urban Heat Island Intensity in an Expanding Urban Area Environ Process 9(1)14
- Abdullah, S., Barua D., Abdullah S.M.A., Rabby Y.W. (2022) Investigating the Impact of Land Use/Land Cover Change on Present and Future Land Surface Temperature (LST) of Chittagong, Bangladesh Earth Syst Environ 6(1): 221-235
- Abdullah, S., Adnan M.S.G, Barua D. Murshed M.M., Zabir Z., Chowdhury M.B.H., Hassan Q.K., Dewan A. (2022) Urban green and blue space changes: A spatiotemporal evaluation of impacts on ecosystem service value in Bangladesh Ecol Inform 70(May): 101730
Chelsea Braz
PhD student (Geography, Environmental Science & Policy)
My research interests lie in the intricacies of water law and in using geospatial analysis to address water infrastructure and water quality challenges. Like many regions in the United States, Florida faces aging infrastructure and increasing flood intensity and frequency, which have contributed to impaired waterbodies and harmful algal blooms. Addressing these complex issues requires interdiciplinary thinking and innovative solutions. I aim to contribute to this effort by developing data-driven strategies to mitigate water impairments.
Awards
- NSF S-STEM Managing the Nitrogen Cycle Scholarship S-STEM
Bethany O'Donnell
MS student (Environmental Science and Policy)
My research interest is focused on the restoration and conservation of wetlands. I received a B.S. in biology with an ecology and evolution concentration from USF St. Petersburg in December 2021. I worked for two years at a private lake and wetland management company, and one year at the Florida Department of Agriculture before returning to school. My current research utilizes GIS, geospatial datasets, and aerial imagery for the development of decision support tools related to wetland management across broader landscapes in Florida. In my free time I enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, reading, and walking nature trails.
Awards
- Jon A. Kusler Student Scholarship- awarded by the National Association of Wetland Managers
Savannah Morgan
MS student (Geology)
My research interests focus on using hydrologic modeling and geospatial methods to investigate hydrogeologic systems and their interactions with the environment. I received a B.S in Geology with a minor in Environmental Science and Policy from USF in Summer 2025. I quickly returned to pursue my M.S in Geology starting Spring 2026. My current work involves using a GIS based model, ArcNLET-Py, to analyze nitrate and phosphorus loads entering water bodies to better understand the impacts septic tanks have on Florida’s waterbodies.