Alumni

Postdoctoral Associate (2015-2016)

Current Position: Lecturer, University of Cantabria

mazame (at) unican.es; mazame (at) mit.edu

My research uses numerical and experimental modeling to understand the coastal protection provided by vegetation.

Visiting Graduate Student (2015)

Now: Postdoctoral Scholar UCLA

My work uses Large Eddy Simulation (LES) to analyze the interaction between vegetation and environment. At MIT I examined the mass and momentum transfer associated with seagrass meadows and at UCLA I am studying kelp ecosystems.

Visiting Graduate Student (2014-2015)

Now: Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Vegetation patches have a significant impact on bio-ecological and geomorphic processes through momentum and mass exchange that occurs between the vegetation patch and surrounding environment. My research is focused on how suspended sediment is deposited around a vegetation patch. Using an artificial rigid canopy and changing the flow conditions, I will examine the sediment distribution around the canopy.

Visiting Scholar (2017-2019)

Current Position: Associate Professor, Sichuan University, China

chaoliu (at) scu.edu.cn; liuchaoscu (at) vip.qq.com

At MIT I investigated how the spacing between floating islands (FTIs) deployed in series along a channel impacts the velocity field and mass removal. A large island spacing leads to a higher inflow rate into the root zone, but a smaller number of FTIs per channel length. These competing trends produce an optimum spacing, corresponding to a maximum mass removal per channel length.

SM 2012, Ph.D 2015

Current Position: Assistant Professor of Geology, Colby College

aortiz (at) colby.edu

Lab Website

In the Nepf Lab may research focused on the effect of vegetation patches on turbulence generation and sediment deposition.

Visiting Student (2013-2014)

The mutual influences between biological and physical processes, called biogeomorphic feedbacks, play a key role in the landscape evolution. In the Nepf Lab I studied how neighboring patches of vegetation alter the flow field and promote deposition and growth into larger vegetation structures.

Graduate Student (S.M. September 2014)

econnor (at) alum.mit.edu

My project at MIT examined the physical mechanisms controlling nutrient acquisition by submerged aquatic vegetation.

Graduate Student (S.M. May 2014)

Current Position: Senior Environmental Engineer at Gradient Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts

kondzi (at) gmail.com, jkondziolka (at) gradientcorp.com

My research at MIT investigated the fluid mechanics of flow through and around patches of vegetation. I approached this first from an experimental perspective in the laboratory with my research partner Dieter Meire, who has since returned to Ghent University. We studied how finite patches of vegetation might grow into larger, cohesive structures through their own biogeomorphic feedbacks. I then expanded on this research by building a numerical model to evaluate how entire landscapes, such as wetlands, might evolve as a result of the underlying feedbacks we identified in the laboratory. The image shown at left is an example of channel formation that occurred organically in the model. As an environmental engineer at Gradient, I work with an environmental science team to model transport processes and understand the histories of contaminated sites, such as those covered under Superfund (CERCLA). With this information, we can suggest the most productive remedial measures for contaminated sites, or determine who is responsible for leading the cleanup of a site.

Graduate Student (Ph.D. 2013)

Current Position: Environmental Engineer at Gradient Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts

jrominger (at) gradientcorp.com

At MIT I studied the interplay between the shape of flexible aquatic plants, the dynamic motion of these plants in ocean currents, and how plant shape and plant motion combine to affect nutrient acquisition and uptake rates in aquatic environments. At Gradient, I’m working on a variety of projects relating to the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment, spanning both surface water and groundwater sites, and which require a variety of modeling techniques.

Visiting Student (2011-2012)

Current Position: Senior Engineer, Changjiang Institute of Survey Planning Design and Research, Wuhan, China

chenzhengbing@cjwsjy.com.cn

Vegetation density and patch dimension have a significant effect on the flow and vortex structure in the wake of vegetation patch, which can cause a different sediment transport behind the porous patch compared with transport in the interior vegetation zone. At MIT I studied the effect of different submergences and densities on flow and turbulence behind the porous patch with PIV technology.