People
Fabian Nippgen
Assistant Professor of Watershed Hydrology
Graduate Students
Cole Green-Smith
MS student - Remote sensing of snow and runoff source areas
After graduating from Colorado State University in 2013 with a BS in Environmental Geology, Cole worked as a hydrogeologist and hydrologist for both private industry and government agencies. The pursuits of understanding natural systems (especially involving water) continue to drive Cole’s curiosity about his surroundings and human interactions with the environment. Through attending UWyo’s interdisciplinary Water Resources program, Cole hopes to expand his education and eventually help offer solutions to water issues in the western United States. When not looking at water, rocks or data, Cole can likely be found in the Desert Southwest, or any of the mountain ranges throughout Wyoming….climbing, hiking, skiing, drawing, and making music.
Viktor Stromberg
MS student – Ecohydrological impacts on hyporheic exchange flow of mountain streams.
Co-advised with Dr. Ginger Paige.
Viktor holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Appalachian State University. His studies have brought him out west where he began his work in environmental consulting as a founding member of the environmental restoration LLC, Riparian Restoration. He is currently studying the effects of riparian vegetation on groundwater—surface water exchanges in the Laramie range. When not working, Viktor loves to play in Wyoming’s public land — snowboarding, fishing, climbing, and kiting.
Salar Jarhan
PhD student - Modeling of water resources in snow-dominated systems
Co-advised with Dr. Ginger Paige
Salar joined the lab in fall of 2021. He received his B. Sc. from university of Tabriz (Iran) and M. Sc. from TU Dresden (Germany), where he already worked on large-scale hydrologic modeling and calibration. At UW, Salar works on modeling water resources in the Snowy Mountains by utilizing observational data at three different levels. His research aims to improve current methods to monitor and model runoff generated by snowmelt in Wyoming’s mountain ranges. For recreation, Salar enjoys hiking, working out, and learning new languages.
Undergraduate Students
Simon Martinez
Undergraduate Researcher
Simon is majoring in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management. In 2020, he received an Associates of Applied Science in Fire Science at Casper College. He joined the lab group in the spring of 2022 and has since worked on two projects in both the Snowy and Laramie ranges. When Simon is not working, he is exploring the mountains with his dog Juniper.
Clay Wells
Undergraduate Researcher
Clay has been pursuing a dual major in Earth Systems Science and Environment and Natural Resources as well as a minor in Geology. His interests are in the effects of climate change as it pertains to snowpack accumulation and distribution, as well as drought in the western US. Clay grew up in Rock Springs WY in the Green River Basin and likes to mountain bike, watch movies, and spend time with his dog.
Katelyn Mitchem
Undergraduate Researcher
Katelyn is a senior currently majoring in Environmental Systems Science and Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management. She has been working with the lab collecting stream discharge data in the Laramies and Snowies since Spring of 2022. Most of her time is spent running cross country and track, but she enjoys climbing and spending time outside in her free time.
Paul Dubanski
Undergraduate Researcher
Paul is a pursuing his bachelors degree in rangeland ecology and watershed management and has worked in the lab since May 2022. Paul likes to spend his free time by hunting, fishing, and swing dancing.
Lab Alumni
Wyatt Schiermeyer
Undergraduate Researcher
Wyatt graduated December 2019 with a degree Environmental Geology/Geohydrology from the Geology department. His undergraduate research explored the use of UAVs to measure changes in turbidity in the Laramie River, WY.
Kyle Fitch
MS student - Deciphering beaver pond dynamics via remote sensing: Understanding landscape controls on beaver impoundment area in small headwater catchments
Kyle defended his thesis in April 2021.
Tate Beddingfield
Undergraduate Researcher
Tate graduated in May 2021 with a BS in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management and Environment and Natural Resources.
Joseph Duncan
Undergraduate Researcher
Joseph is a currently a junior double majoring in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management, and Environment and Natural Resources. He is working in two different projects in the Laramie and Snowy ranges. Watershed management and research caught his eye while volunteering with Trout Unlimited. Whenever Joseph is not working, he is likely fly fishing or hunting all over the state of Wyoming.
Elijah True
Undergraduate Researcher
Elijah worked on a project on riparian ecohydrology in the Laramie Range, alongside other graduate and undergraduate researchers.