Get to know Justin
Please describe the UPP-funded or affiliated project(s) you are currently working on or have worked on in the past?
Full Name: Integrating USGS NGWOS Observations, Physics-based Hydrology Model and AI/ML Technologies for Accurate and Reliable Streamflow Forecasting
This project aims to incorporate recent additions of in-situ gages to improve the performance of a large scale hydrological model of the Willamette River Basin.
Who are your USGS supervisor and PSU advisor?
Peyman Abbaszadeh (PSU); Adam Stonewall, Susan Wherry, and Caelan Simeone (USGS)
What are your primary responsibilities/roles of your research position?
My position aims to improve the performance of the model as it relates to reservoirs operations. The Willamette Basin is heavily altered, and not including reservoir operations impairs model performance. The first stage of the project has the advisors and I exploring the performance of remote sensed (e.g., NASA Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite), modeled, and in-situ options for observing reservoir operations.
What skills have you gained from your research experience?
In this position, I have expanded my data analysis skills, and I have gained experience with new remote sensed hydrological datasets. Additionally, I have built upon the existing hydrology knowledge that I developed during my MS.
What aspects of your project have you enjoyed the most?
I have enjoyed working with the USGS supervisors. I have worked with USGS data in the past, but it has been great to have direct communication with experts when questions come up. Rather than searching through extensive documentation to find an approximate answer, I can discuss these questions with an expert and get detailed guidance about best uses of publicly available data.
What have you learned or hope to learn from this experience?
I hope to gain experience working with federal organizations. I also hope to gain experience leveraging newly available or expanded datasets to answer fundamental hydrological questions about the Willamette River. Additionally, I aim to gain experience with presenting complex hydrological questions to diverse audiences.
What are your academic and/or career aspirations after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to work in water quality research with a local, state, or federal organization.
What's your favorite way to use or interact with water?
My favorite way to interact with water is riding my bike along the Willamette and observing the diverse plants and animals that live in urban waterways.