Get to know Will
Please describe the UPP-funded or affiliated project(s) you worked on.
My thesis project was supported by the UPP which is titled: Spatial Analysis of Burn Severity and Streamflow Response in the Western CONUS.
Read the 2023 UPP article describing Will's work in more detail on the UPP blog.
Who are your USGS supervisor and PSU advisor?
Marc Stewart and Heejun Chang
Provide a link to your project website, publication, or presentation (if applicable).
Spatial analysis of streamflow trends in burned watersheds across the western contiguous United States
What were your primary responsibilities/roles of your position?
I was tasked with determining the suitability of a variety of landscape metrics in explaining the hydrologic post-fire effects on burned watersheds. I then summarized my findings in my thesis document and two peer-reviewed journal articles.
What did you learn from this experience? What skills did you gain from your research experience?
If at first you don't succeed, revise! And revise again.
What aspects of your project did you enjoy the most?
I enjoyed the collaboration with many creative and supportive individuals at PSU and USGS who encouraged me to consider big picture questions and to expand the scale of my hydrologic investigations.
What are you doing now?
I am currently working as a Hydrographer for Oregon Department of Water Resources and paddling my kayak on the rivers of the Columbia River Gorge every chance I get.
Which PSU courses have been the most useful to you in your job(s) since graduation? Why?
Quantitative Spatial Analysis with Jackson Voelkel. This class introduced the tools that I needed to perform complex spatial analyses and gave me the fundamentals in R scripting that I still use daily.
Are there any courses you now wish you had taken at PSU, based on your job requirements? Why?
My course work with the geography department prepared me well for my current employment. The emphasis on GIS, relational databases, and environmental statistics has been particularly helpful.