We’re very excited to announce that the first graduate student from the Natural Infrastructure Graduate Fellowship, Madlyn Carpenter, graduated on August 5th, 2024. The Natural Infrastructure Graduate Fellowship is a funded Master’s degree program through a collaboration between Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems.

Natural Infrastructure Fellowship graduates conduct both practice-oriented and basic research on natural infrastructure (NI) methods and engineering guidance, tool development, cost and economic analysis, monitoring and adaptive management, and social dimensions of climate resilient infrastructure with an emphasis on integration of natural and conventional systems. Through real-life experience at internships and their unique, interdisciplinary courseloads, they will form a future workforce equipped to solve complex climate and resiliency problems.

Learn more about Madlyn’s time at IRIS:

-Tell us what you worked on during your time at the NI graduate fellowship:

My research involved helping DU answer questions about design approaches for multi-objective wetlands.  My research specifically targeted wetland waterfowl habitat provision and water quality improvement through phosphorus retention. I created some practical tools for DU to help inform how their current design and management practices may be improved to meet both objectives.  I worked with DU staff in the Great Lakes office, and their interest in water quality focuses on Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms.

-What were some of your takeaways from being part of the program?

Some of my biggest takeaways from participating in the program were to trust myself to be independent and not get hung up on overcomplicated approaches.  Overcomplicated approaches are less likely to be adopted, and simpler approaches can still provide a ton of helpful insights.  I really just gained so much knowledge and confidence through this program, and it has made me feel thoroughly prepared to enter the “real world” and start my first engineering job. 

-Who were your biggest mentors?

My biggest mentors were definitely my advisor, Dr. Brian Bledsoe, and Will Mattison, the research manager at UGA for the NI fellows.  I thoroughly enjoyed working for Dr. Bledsoe and I feel lucky to have studied under a leader in the field of NI.  I also enjoyed working with those in the DU Great Lakes office, including Sara Burns and John Coluccy, who were able to help me with my project.

-What’s next for you?

I am moving back to my hometown in Lincoln, Nebraska to begin work at an engineering consulting firm called Felsburg Holt & Ullevig as a Water Resources Engineer I.  FHU’s focus is on transportation engineering, but they do a variety of NI projects, so I am hoping to bring what I’ve learned about NI from this program back to my home state.  I am also getting married in September to my fiancé, Morgan!