Graduate students in this program conduct both practice-oriented and basic research on natural infrastructure methods and engineering guidance, including 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. This fellowship is made possible by our partnership with Ducks Unlimited. Students largely focus on engineering, but come from departments across campus.


Stevens Charles
My name is Stevens Charles and I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I moved to Jacksonville at the age of two and went to Florida International University. My interest in resilient infrastructure rose from my desire to implement environmental engineering and civil engineering into one field. After being introduced to natural infrastructure, I fell in love with the concept, in particular infrastructure that solves both environment/climatic problems along with urban problems using natural processes. With the current state of the nation’s infrastructure, I believe this is the future and I am glad that I can provide value in the advancement of natural infrastructure.
Advisor: Félix Santiago-Collazo

Hattie Greydanus
I am from Corvallis, Oregon. Tromping through Portland’s bioswales as part of that research got me very excited about integrating nature-based solutions with our built environment. I chose this program because of the inspiring people I get to work with and places I may have the opportunity to visit! I have lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of my life, so I am looking forward to getting to know riverine systems across the county. I hope to be a civil and restoration engineer, with a focus on rivers, from delicate headwaters to complex estuaries. I also hope to represent, teach and communicate this science in some capacity as well. I will officially start this program in the summer and I hope to focus my research on restoration techniques in fluvial systems.
Advisor: Brian Bledsoe

Dennis Catalina Granados Duran
My name is Dennis Catalina, and I’m an environmental and sanitary engineer from the University of LaSalle. I’m from Colombia–specifically from Fresno and Mariquita Tolima. I just started my master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering at UGA. Currently, I’m working with my major professor Dr. Felix Santiago-Collazo on projects of floodplain reconnection on the Big Muddy river in Shawnee National Forest. Broadly speaking, we aim to answer how many and what size shallow water impoundments are needed to alleviate the Mississippi River’s flooding and enhance the region’s flora and fauna. We plan to use hydrologic-hydraulic modeling techniques to quantify volumes and design the natural infrastructure.
Advisor: Félix Santiago-Collazo

Hunter Kunzelmann
I was born in Macon, GA and started my undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering in 2019 after matriculating to UGA in 2018 as an ecology student. I became interested in the field of resilient infrastructure when I took Urban Systems Engineering and learned about biomimicry and the ability to utilize natural designs in man-made infrastructure for aesthetic as well as environmentally friendly protective purposes. Familiarity with professors in the UGA College of Engineering as well as the possibilities provided by working with a conservation group with a staff of engineers drew me to the DU program. After graduating with my master’s degree, I hope to work in the field of resilient infrastructure designing solutions to problems presented by climate change and sea level rise with a group of like-minded individuals.
Advisor: Matt Bilskie

Derek McAden
I am from Little Elm, Texas (north of Dallas, Texas) born and raised. I developed a passion for water resources infrastructure while growing up on one of the man-made lakes in North Texas. I followed that passion first to Southern Methodist University in Dallas for both a bachelors and a master’s degree in environmental engineering, specializing in sustainable development. Now, I am starting a MS Civil and Environmental Engineering degree under Dr. Whitney Lisenbee. I hope to use my education to glorify God and serve communities by honoring the local habitats, providing/advocating for infrastructure a community asks for, and improving the resilience of existing infrastructure and habitats.
Advisor: Whitney Pagan

Elizabeth Collins
I am from Long Island, New York. I wanted to follow in my fathers footsteps and become a Civil Engineer which led me to the University of South Carolina for a bachelors degree in civil engineering. During my time at South Carolina, I realized I had an interest in coastal sustainability and wanted to learn more about the topic. My master’s degree will be in Civil and Environmental Engineering under Dr. C. Brock Woodson. I am excited about all of the work I will be doing through Duck’s Unlimited.
Advisor: Brock Woodson

Holly Mullins
I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland and was raised on the Chesapeake Bay – which I credit for my interest in coastal engineering. I received my undergraduate degree at Coastal Carolina University in Engineering and am now pursuing my masters degree at UGA under Dr. C. Brock Woodson. My passion has always lay in research for and about coastal waterways so I am excited to begin working with IRIS and Ducks Unlimited.
Advisor: Brock Woodson

Madison Campbell
I’m from Southeast Georgia- I would say Hinesville, but Savannah is the closest city most people know. Being southern, I have a large family that mostly lives within driving distance. I’ve spent the majority of my life traveling around the state to visit family, largely sticking to the coastal plain. I come from a long line of farmers who weren’t exactly rolling in money, so a lot of our time was spent outside, exploring the nature around us, or working the (large) garden for food. Growing up surrounded by the wonders of the natural world gave me a love for it that I think most people miss out on today. Playing our roles in nature is my life’s passion. Using my background in physics (BS from Georgia Southern University) and love for biology and ecology, I am excited to blend my skills and knowledge bases to study marsh terracing in Southern Louisiana through the guidance of my major professor, Dr. C. Brock Woodson, and fellowship with Ducks Unlimited in an effort to shepherd our society into the future using practices long figured out by mother Nature herself.
Advisor: Brock Woodson

Clare DeBerry
My name is Clare DeBerry, and I am a fifth-year undergraduate student in the Double Dawgs program, and I am majoring in Civil Engineering at UGA. I am from Marietta, Georgia and enjoy painting, traveling, reading and yoga. I am currently involved in campus organizations such as the professional fraternity of Theta Tau and ASCE. I am interested in research topics pertaining to coastal engineering processes and specifically interested in coastal protection projects. My family lives on the Florida coast, so I am passionate about hurricane protection efforts. Additionally, my goals within the graduate program are to learn new software and modeling techniques as well as to assist in coastal protection and restoration efforts.
Advisor: Félix Santiago-Collazo


Alexa Oulette
My name is Alexa Oulette. I was first drawn to IRIS by the collaborative and interdisciplinary values that it upholds. I had been looking for a program that shared the same values that I did, while also asking new and innovative questions. Working in the wildlife biology field, I was very aware of Duck’s Unlimited and all of the great work that they do in the area of conservation. When I discovered this opportunity to work with such a respected organization, conducting research that was at the forefront of its field, while also aligning with my own interests, I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance. I am just beginning my master’s degree in wildlife biology, in Dr. Nate Nibbelink’s spatial ecology lab. My work focuses on how climate mitigation efforts impact wildlife communities along the Georgia and South Carolina coast, especially from a spatial and landscape ecology standpoint.
Advisor: Nate Nibbelink

Nicholas Austin
My name is Nicholas Austin and I am from Stewartsville, NJ. I graduated from Roanoke College in 2022 with a degree in Environmental Studies. I just started my master’s degree in Natural Resources with a focus on soil and water. I chose this program because I enjoy working outdoors, working with a team, and making new connections. I have had some experience in observing ways to protect wetlands and waterways while interning with a construction company and I am eager to further my knowledge and bring new ideas to the table. I am excited to help with researching wetland restoration methods for the Ducks Unlimited program. After I complete my master’s program I hope to continue in the environmental consulting field.
Advisor: Rhett Jackson


Noah Cleveland
My name is Noah Cleveland, and I am from Mint Hill, North Carolina. I received my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from Montreat College with a concentration in conservation biology and I am now pursuing my Masters in Landscape Architecture at UGA. In addition to a love for ecology, I have always valued collaborating with others and thinking creatively which is ultimately what led me to this field. I see natural infrastructure as a wonderful opportunity to positively affect our environments and the people living in them and I am excited to work alongside others who share that passion while in the program.
Advisor: Jon Calabria


Aurora Fowler
My name is Aurora Fowler and I am originally from Minden, Nebraska. Before coming to the University of Georgia, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from Nova Southeastern University. After graduating, I worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a fisheries observer in the Gulf of Mexico. I then spent almost 3 years working as the Ecological Coordinator for the Center for Coastal Conservation at Little St. Simons Island on the Georgia coast. It was during my time on LSSI that I fell in love with freshwater ecosystems and discovered my interest in natural infrastructure. My master’s project at UGA will focus on levee setbacks along the Missouri river and the associated impacts to biodiversity restoring floodplains will have along the river.
Advisors: Seth Wenger & Charles van Rees
Alumni

Madlyn Carpenter
Graduated Summer 2024
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. I now work at engineering consulting firm 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 of Nebraska.
Advisor: Brian Bledsoe