C David Guzman
2019-Present
Assistant Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
OFFICE: 21 Marston Hall
EMAIL: cdguzman AT umass.edu
https://www.umass.edu/engineering/about/directory/christian-guzman
WATERSHED HYDROLOGY RESEARCH
My research focuses on the soil and water resources at various scales within watersheds that contribute food, energy, water, and societal needs. Along with collaborators from a variety of disciplines, I am interested in soil surface dynamics, surface water quality degradation, and socio-hydrological development. I have a special interest in pursuing scholarship with a socio-hydrological perspective that benefits the local community, nation, and the world, including marginalized and underserved communities.
PREVIOUS AND ONGOING RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS I have previously been involved in several projects at Washington State University in Professor Jan Boll's Laboratory. Research in Professor Boll's lab focuses on many scales and themes in hydrology from modeling catchment hydrology in the Palouse Region of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho to characterizing stable isotopes in Costa Rica. The Soil and Water Lab of the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University is an integrated, collaborative group of researchers with whom I conducted research in Ethiopia, Colombia, and Ithaca, NY under supervision of Professor Tammo Steenhuis. These projects entailed field research campaigns, soil sampling, hydrological modeling, and erosion risk mapping in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia with Bahir Dar University and Valle Del Cauca in Colombia with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).
EDUCATION
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Ph.D., Biological and Environmental Engineering, 2016, Cornell University
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M.S., Biological and Environmental Engineering, 2011, Cornell University
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B.S., Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2009, University of Florida
PROJECTS
Water Quality in DCR Reservoirs 2024-2026 (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection): PI: Christian Guzman, Co-PIs: Emily Kumpel, John Tobiason
Water Quality Modeling Support (WQ-MODEL-19) NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection, 8/2023 - 9/2024, PI: Christian D. Guzman, Co-PIs: Dave Reckhow, Sean McBeath, John Tobiason.
Water Quality in DCR Reservoirs 2022-2024 (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection): PI: Christian Guzman, Co-PIs: Emily Kumpel, John Tobiason
VIC-SNiP: Assimilating remotely sensed data to model water, Sediment, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous transport at continental scales 2021-2025 (National Aeronautics and Space Administration): PI: Dongmei Feng, Co-PIs: Christian Guzman, Colin Gleason. Water Resources Research Center Massachusetts FY21 Annual Application, U.S. Geological Survey, 9/2021 – 8/2022, PI: Marie-Francoise Hatte, Co-PIs: Christian Guzman, Alison Roy, Christine Hatch Assessing Social Vulnerability and Understanding the Flood Risk Factors in Massachusetts 2021-2022 (UMass Amherst Institute of Diversity Sciences): PI: Christian Guzman, Co-PIs: Şalap-Ayça, Eve Vogel, Christine Hatch, Cielo Sharkus. Water Quality in DCR Reservoirs 2020-2022 (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection): PI: Emily Kumpel, Co-PIs: Christian Guzman, John Tobiason Understanding changing natural and human-altered watersheds in the Inland Pacific Northwest through isotope hydrology and urban-ecological resiliency 2020-2023 (US Department of Agriculture): PI: Christian Guzman
AWARDS
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2018 USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship
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2016 CUAHSI Pathfinder Fellow Travel Support (Biennial Science Colloquium)
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2016 Cornell University Graduate School Diversity Advisory Council Member
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2015 Degree Marshal at the 147th Cornell University Commencement Ceremony
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2015 College of Agriculture and Life Science Alumni Grant
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2015 Cornell Diversity Programs in Engineering, Graduate Student of the Year
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2014 NSF GROW/USAID Research and Innovation Fellowship
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2013 US Borlaug Fellows in Global Food Security Program Award
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2013 Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Inductee
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2012 CUAHSI Pathfinder Graduate Student Fellowship
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2012 Cornell University Graduate School Research Travel Grant
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2010 Food Systems and Poverty Reduction IGERT Fellow
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2010 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Tim Nsubuga
2021-Present
PhD Student
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
OFFICE: 42 Marston Hall
EMAIL: tnsubuga AT umass.edu
Tim is pursing his PhD in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and started in Fall 2021. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Physics with a Minor Degree in Geoscience from the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts and completed a MS from UMass Amherst in 2023. He became interested in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering after taking Introductory Physics 1, Watershed Hydrology and desiring to apply his educational background. His research will focus on water quality modeling in the Connecticut River Floodplain. Timothy enjoys reading graphic novels, drawing, basketball, and football.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
In June-July 2019, Timothy attended the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He conducted research on analysis of Acoustic Waves during Simulation of Hydraulic Fracturing.
EDUCATION
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B.A, Physics, 2020, College of the Holy Cross
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Minor in Geoscience
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M.S., Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, 2023, UMass Amherst
AWARDS
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AGU Voices for Science Fellowship (2024)
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UMass Graduate School Dissertation Grant (2024)
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UMass Graduate School Writing Fellow (2022)
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SPATIAL Isotope Workshop (2022)
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UMass Graduate School Spaulding-Smith Fellow (2021)
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Sigma Pi Sigma (2020)
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Physics Department Certificate of Recognition (2019)
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John and Abigail Adams Scholarship (2015)
Zelalem Regasa Womber
2024-Present
PhD Student
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
OFFICE: 42 Marston Hall
EMAIL: zwomber AT umass.edu
Zelalem began pursuing his Ph.D. in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst starting in Spring 2024. He holds a BSc in Soil and Water Resource Management from Woldia University in Ethiopia and an MSc in Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering (Engineering Hydrology) from Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. In his leisure time, Zelalem enjoys playing soccer, and table tennis, and watching movies.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
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From Jul 2015 to Oct 2017, Zelalem worked as an assistant lecturer at Woldia University, Ethiopia, and from Nov 2019 to Jan 2024, he served as a lecturer there. His research involved assessing water quality using remote sensing and in-situ methods.
EDUCATION
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B.S. Soil and Water Resource Management, Woldia University, Ethiopia,
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M.S., Hydraulic and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia,
RESEARCH PRODUCTS
Womber, Z.R., Zimale, F.A., Kebedew, M.G., Asers, B.W., DeLuca, N.M., Guzman, C.D., Tilahun, S.A. and Zaitchik, B.F., 2021. Estimation of suspended sediment concentration from remote sensing and in situ measurement over Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Advances in Civil Engineering, 2021(1), p.9948780.
Vishawjot Singh Sandhu
2024-Present
PhD Student
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
OFFICE: 42 Marston Hall
EMAIL: vsandhu AT umass.edu
Vishawjot is pursing his PhD in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and started in August 2024. He received his Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering with a Minor in Soil and Water Engineering from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Punjab, India. In the summer of 2024, he successfully earned his MS in Biosystems Engineering with a focus on Ecological Engineering from Auburn University. His research will focus on water quality modeling in the Wachusett Reservoir. Vishu enjoys reading books (thrillers, mystery, life lessons), cooking, playing badminton, and talking with colleagues.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, AL.. During the master's, his work included vadose zone modeling, conducting laboratory-based column experiments, analyzing water and soil samples for metals, collecting field samples, etc. 2021-2024
Graduate Engineer Trainee, TAFE, Chennai, India. In August 2019, Vishu was recruited to TAFE, where he worked for the next 6 months as the district block sales manager. August 2019 – March 2020
Internship, New Holland Fiat India Private Limited, Noida, India.
June 2018 – July 2018
RESEARCH PRODUCTS
· Kaur, P., Lamba, J., Way, T. R., Sandhu, V., Balkcom, K. S., Sanz-Saez, A., Watts, D. B. (2023). Cover crop effects on X-ray computed tomography–derived soil pore characteristics. Journal of Soils and Sediments. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-023-03596-7
EDUCATION
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B.S. Agricultural Engineering, 2021, Punjab Agricultural University,
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M.S., Biosystems Engineering, 2024, Auburn University
AWARDS
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Alpha Epsilon Honorary Society for Agricultural Engineers (August 2022- Present)
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Sandhu, V., Malhotra, K., Lamba, J., Way, T. R. (2023, October). Using HYDRUS-1D to Quantify Metal Loss in Leachate from Fields Fertilized with Animal Manure. [Poster]. 2023 Graduate Engineering Research Showcase, Auburn University, Alabama. 1ST Place.
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CEGS Ambassador – College of Engineering Graduate School Ambassador. (July 2023-July 2024).
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Alumni Committee Ambassador- College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology. (July 2017-July 2019).
Raul Vera
2023-Present
Undergraduate Researcher (c/o 2024)
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
EMAIL: rvera AT umass.edu
Raul is a Senior Civil & Environmental Engineering major on the water resources track. He became interested in conserving wildlife and coastal communities from climate change while working as a clammer on the Chesapeake Bay of Virginia.
Outside of his academic pursuits, Raul is Vice President of the UMass Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) chapter. In his free time, he enjoys running, biking, and fishing. He also enjoys reading medieval fantasy novels and listening to the Dark Souls OST.
RELEVENT ENGINEERING EXPERIENCES
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Investigating carbon transport and stable water isotopes in streams of the Northeastern US (Ongoing - LSAMP) Raul Vera, Christian Guzman
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Fishing for food security along the dammed Connecticut River; Consequences of Hydropower in the energy transition (Summer 2022 - ETI) Raul Vera, Eve Vogel, Vicente Pereira Roa
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Aquatic Conservation and Fish Passage Engineering - Pathways Internship (2022-Present - US Fish and Wildlife Service)
EDUCATION
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B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, December 2024, UMass Amherst
AWARDS
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2024 Sustainability Award
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2023-2024 Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar
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2023 Dean’s List
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2022 David and Mary Gaboury Scholarship
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2021 Class of 1943 Scholarship
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2019-2021 Chancellors Award