Get to know Matthew
Please describe the UPP-funded or affiliated project(s) you are currently working on or have worked on in the past?
Stream temperature Effects from Restoration and Beaver dams in the Tualatin River Basin. This is a project of TREE (Tualatin River Environmental Enhancement Grant Program) and is a collaboration between Heejun Chang (PSU) and Erin Leahy (USGS).
Who are your USGS supervisor and PSU advisor?
Heejun Chang
Provide a link to your project website, publication, or presentation (if applicable).
Visit the website here!
What are your primary responsibilities/roles of your research position?
- Stream Temperature Data Collection: Gather detailed stream temperature data throughout the Tualatin River Basin using Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) technology, capturing spatial and temporal variations.
- Thermal Impact Analysis of Beaver Dams: Assess how beaver dams influence thermal regimes, focusing on temperature variability within beaver-impacted reaches.
- Basin-Scale Landscape Analysis: Investigate the effects of basin-scale landscape characteristics, such as slope and drainage density, on stream temperature variability.
- EXTRA:: Social Survey on Public Perceptions of Beavers: Conduct a social survey to gauge public perceptions of beaver activity in urban areas, focusing on opinions regarding biodiversity benefits, potential impacts on infrastructure, and views on coexistence.
- Data Access and Public Engagement: Create a public-access data platform (e.g., an interactive map or database) where land managers and community members can view collected temperature data, social survey findings, and landscape analysis results.
- Publication and Research Dissemination: Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, with an accessible summary report and a link to the full paper, making insights available to stakeholders and the broader public.
What skills have you gained from your research experience?
My research experience has given me a solid foundation in project management and data analysis, especially under the constraints of complex deadlines and multiple outputs. Through this project, I’ve learned to structure and prioritize my work effectively, balancing technical data analysis with public communication needs. Additionally, I've become adept at building websites—a skill I taught myself specifically for this project to better share our results with the public. Collaboration & Communication!
What aspects of your project have you enjoyed the most?
I’ve really enjoyed the interdisciplinary nature of this work. Bringing together data from fieldwork, using cutting-edge techniques like fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing, and analyzing how this translates to ecosystem resilience has been fascinating. Presenting this research, especially at conferences like BeaverCon 2024, has also been very rewarding. It’s an incredible experience to connect with others in the field and see the impact of our work beyond the lab. I have enjoyed the social science much more than I anticipated! This year alone I will be presenting this work a total of 7 times. Public speaking and sharing the results have been the most rewarding!
What have you learned or hope to learn from this experience?
This project has taught me a lot about resilience and adaptability, both personally and professionally. I’ve learned to embrace challenges and find ways to problem-solve on the fly—whether it's troubleshooting technology in the field or balancing multiple deliverables. Working in water science and with a federal organization has also given me a greater appreciation for the collaborative nature of environmental research and its application in real-world conservation.
What are your academic and/or career aspirations after graduation?
After graduation, I’m interested in pursuing a role that combines research and practical application, ideally within water resource management or environmental consulting. I’m drawn to positions where I can continue to bridge data science and public engagement, particularly in ways that support sustainable resource use and climate resilience. I also wouldn't mind just being a full-time cartographer.
If you have completed your research experience, what are you doing now?
Although the "research" is complete, I still have deliverables that must be met. I am working on my thesis, a website, and collaborations with lab mates (and others at PSU) to create maps when needed.
What's your favorite way to use or interact with water?
Drinking it!