MS Students graduated (2015-2024): 17
PhD Students graduated (2015-2024): 11
Current Research Group (June 2024)
Dr. Salam Abbas, Post-Doctoral Fellow
Salam specializes in Surface and Groundwater Hydrology. He earned his doctorate in Civil Engineering from Swansea University, UK, in 2018. He applies computer modeling and statistical techniques to analyze water resources. His work focuses on developing innovative methods for effective water resources planning and management. He has worked on numerous SWAT-MODFLOW and SWAT+ projects, for watersheds across the United States and the world. He often helps other researchers in applying SWAT+ groundwater applications. Current projects include hydrologic modeling for the Lower Arkansas River Basin (Colorado), constructing a calibration framework for SWAT+, evaluating wetland development, and estimating groundwater storage in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Google Scholar.
Mohammed Almahawis, PhD Student
My name is Mohammed, and I am a PhD student from Saudi Arabia. Born and raised in Riyadh, I completed my undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at King Saud University. In 2016, I began my master’s degree at Colorado State University, where I am now pursuing my doctorate under the guidance of Dr. Ryan Bailey. My research interests include landscape hydrology, groundwater hydrology, water resources management, and surface-groundwater interaction.
Muhammad Raffae, PhD Student
My name is Raffae, and I was born and raised in Hyderabad, Pakistan. I pursued a bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering and went on to earn a master's degree in the same field. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in Water Resources Planning and Management, funded by the Fulbright Program. My research focuses on simulating streamflow and groundwater storage under various water and land management practices and climate change scenarios. The goal is to develop best management practices for sustainable water management in the Upper Colorado River Basin. I am a trainee in the NSF-funded National Research Traineeship Program InTERFEWS and a Sustainability Leadership Fellow for 2024-2025. In my free time, I enjoy playing table tennis, tennis, soccer, and hiking.
Jeffrey A. Gonzales, PhD Student
I am a dedicated and a passionate PhD candidate in Civil Engineering, originating from the Philippines. I have a keen interest in addressing environmental challenges, particularly those related to water quality and sustainable use of water and agricultural practices. My primary research interest lies in understanding the complex interactions between hydrological processes and nutrient transport within agricultural watersheds. My research aims to unravel the intricate details of how transit time distribution affects the movement and legacy of nitrogen, a critical nutrient influencing both crop productivity and water quality. In addition to my academic pursuit, I am an avid outdoor enthusiast. I enjoy activities that allow me to connect with and appreciate the beauty of nature. I love hiking and trekking through the diverse landscapes of the different National Parks.
Arif Asghar, PhD Student
My name is Arif. I grew up in Kamber, Pakistan. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering funded by the Fulbright scholarship program. My research interests focus on surface and groundwater modelling and estimating groundwater fluxes, groundwater storage and groundwater stream interactions to devise sustainable water management strategies in Central Valley, California. I completed my master’s degree in Hydraulics, Irrigation and Drainage from U.S Pakistan Center of Advanced Studies in Water, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) in Jamshoro, Pakistan. I did my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Quaid-e-Awam university of Engineering, Science and Technology (QUEST) in Nawabshah, Pakistan. During my master’s degree, I visited the University of Utah as an exchange scholar and worked on MUET clean water project as an agriculture engineer with AECOM consultants. In my free time, I enjoy playing and watching cricket, travelling, hiking, biking and spending time with my family.
Kenneth Laffite, MS Student
My name is Kenneth Laffite, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. In 2019 I graduated from the National Autonomous University of Honduras with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering. Following graduation, I gained experience by working in various areas of the field, including infrastructure risk assessment, design, and supervision for both the Honduran government and private firms. Driven by my interests in hydrological modeling and GIS, I decided to pursue a master's degree in water resources at Colorado State University. My primary research project is focused on identifying optimal locations for implementing desalination technologies to enhance irrigation water availability throughout the contiguous United States by utilizing national datasets and GIS tools. Additionally, I contribute to the modeling of salt transport in the Upper Arkansas basin through the SWAT+ salt module.
James Molloy, MS Student
James began his MS in Civil Engineering at Colorado State University in August of 2023. James holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology from Union College in Schenectady, NY. His undergraduate research investigated regional fallout of contaminated dust from mine operations in central Peru. Following his undergrad, he worked as an Engineering Technician/Geologist in western Wyoming performing geotechnical investigations, aquifer tests, and construction inspections. His research with Dr. Bailey includes modeling the Lower Arkansas River Valley watershed and unconfined aquifer with SWAT+ and gwflow to investigate the role of floodplains in controlling return flows, aquifer recharge, and nutrient transport. In his free time, James enjoys hunting, fishing, and winter sports.
Elliot Dean White, MS Student
Elliot is a graduate student from north Texas. He has spent several summers interning at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant with the Civil Desing Group. He recently graduated from CSU with his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Focusing his graduate studies on groundwater and water management, Elliot is currently in the process of developing a MODFLOW model of a karst aquifer in central Missouri for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When he is not in the classroom or at work, he can be found serving in his church or on an adventure around Fort Collins.