Graduate Students
Edgar Javier Guerrón Orejuela PhD student, Geology
I am Ph.D. Candidate at the University of South Florida. My continued passion for understanding and communicating the interrelations between nature and people have allowed me to conduct research geared towards serving different communities in Alaska and Florida by creating shared knowledge of natural and social resources. My research focuses on understanding the influence of hydrological processes on social-ecological systems. I rely on hydrogeologic and remote sensing data and techniques, as well as qualitative methods and co-production of knowledge to develop vulnerability models where physical and social components interact with each other. I am also passionate about sharing my experience and knowledge with others. I enjoy teaching and mentoring undergraduate students, junior graduate students, and members of the community. I aim to make science available and accessible to non-scientific communities, in turn enhancing local community awareness of the challenges they face and their potential solutions to promote stewardship, protection, and management of natural resources.
Research Links and contact
Publications
- 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 15(10):2630.
- Guerrón-Orejuela EJ and KC Rains (2023) Technical Report: Pilot Scale Development of a Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Prioritization Tool Using Analytical Hierarchy Process. Ecohydrology Research Group, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. Prepared for: Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. DEP Agreement # AT015.
- Brigino T, K Rains, E Guerron-Orejuela, M. Rains, S. Bentz (2023) Technical Report: City of Homer Reservoir Project: Groundwater Study Ecohydrology Research Group, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL and The Kachemak Bay National Estuary Research Reserve, Homer AK. Prepared for: City of Homer. ERG Report # 2023-01/Final Report Agreement # 069687242
- Gerlach, M. E., Rains, K. C., Guerrón-Orejuela, E. J., Kleindl, W. J., Downs, J., Landry, S. M., & Rains, M. C. (2021) Using Remote Sensing and Machine Learning to Locate Groundwater Discharge to Salmon-Bearing Streams. Remote Sensing Volume 14 (1)
- Sethi, S. A., Carey, M. P., Morton, J. M., Guerron-Orejuela, E., Decino, R., Willette, M., Boersma, J., Jablonski, J., & Anderson, C. (2017) Rapid response for invasive waterweeds at the arctic invasion front: Assessment of collateral impacts from herbicide treatments Biological Conservation 212:300-309.
Awards
- The Richard A. Davis Memorial Scholarships- awarded by the USF Geology Alumni Society USF Geology Alumni Society
- American Geophysical Union - Chapman Conference Travel Award
- Society of Wetland Scientists Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting- Best Student Poster
- University of Florida Water Institute Symposium- Best Student Poster
- NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Fellowship - View Video
- USF Geosciences Tharp Research Fellowship
Josephina Reyman MS student, Environmental Science and Policy
My research interest is focused on the restoration and conservation of wetlands. I would like to better understand the impact of development on wetlands and waters in Florida. Currently, I am exploring potential research projects, including wetland storage function in the Tampa Bay Watershed or decision support tools related to wetland management across broader landscapes in Florida. Ultimately, my goal is to provide more data and information to stakeholders, so they can make better informed decisions regarding wetland environments.
Research Links and Contact
Publications
- Reyman J (2021) Analyzing Piney Point’s Wastewater Discharge Rate. Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two 11: 2.
Awards
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.
Research Links and Contact
Publications
- 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 Ecohydrology Research Group, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL and The Kachemak Bay National Estuary Research Reserve, Homer AK. Prepared for: City of Homer. ERG Report # 2023-01/Final Report Agreement # 069687242
Awards
- USF Delores Auzenne Fellowship- a two year 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
Undergraduate Students
Bhaveshsai Reddy B.S student, Environmental Science & Policy
I am a 2nd year undergraduate student interested in environmental policy and decision making at the University of South Florida. My research interests include wetland hydrology, urban ecology, and a bit of geochemistry with an interest in using GIS and remote sensing as a tool to investigate these areas of interest. As I've gone through my undergraduate years, I've also developed an interest in investigating how policy and public health measures underlie and impact the stakeholders in these scenarios, both human and ecological. Looking forward, I hope to expand my technical skillset and generate a keen understanding of how environmental factors scale up and affect social conditions. By growing my skillset and gaining an understanding of how environmental factors intertwine with social conditions on a larger scale, I hope to contribute meaningfully to informed decision-making processes aimed at fostering sustainable and equitable outcomes.