Our Team
Dr. Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba
One of my research goals is to understand how physical, biological processes, and the coupling between them, influence coastal dynamics. Another research objective of mine is to understand how human activities affect coastal evolution, through both the accumulated effects of purposeful engineering activities and the unintentional consequences of land-use change.
Using novel conceptual and computer models, integrated with field and experimental efforts, I study a variety of environments, including river deltas, marshes, coastal barriers, and mangroves.
See my CV here.
If you're interested in joining the research team, do not hesitate to contact me!
Current PhD Students
Md Nurul Kadir
Isamar Cortés
Shane Daiek
Current Master’s Students
Shane Nichol's O-NeillCurrent Undergraduate Students
Eric Dammann
Eric Swanson
Ingrid Witty
Md Nurul Kadir
Kadir will join the MSU Coastal Dynamics lab as a Ph.D. student in Spring 2023. His research will carry out under the Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH) project funded by the NSF. His project will involve the extension/modification of a numerical model for the evolution of fluvial deltas under sea-level cycles to describe the development of estuaries under different scenarios of sea-level rise, water discharge, and tidal influence. The key novelty is the coupling between hydrodynamics and estuarine geometry over decadal to centennial time scales. This work will help constrain the role of estuarine geomorphic changes on flood risk along the Delaware estuary.
Fun Fact
Kadir is originally from Bangladesh, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees. He also works as a teacher at a university in Bangladesh. As Bangladesh is famed for its rivers, he decided to base
his career on river studies. He also holds a Master's degree in Hydrology from the Netherlands, which classifies him as a hydrologist. Aside from research and learning, he enjoys traveling to new places, cooking; especially desi cuisine such as “Biriyani”, singing folk songs, watching movies, and occasionally reading books. He just became a father to a lovely baby girl named "AYAT," of whom he is incredibly proud.
Isamar Cortés is a fourth year PhD student in the MSU Coastal Dynamics Lab. Isamar's research focuses on studying how climate change affects the mangrove system across the Caribbean. Through coupling satellite imagery analysis and numerical modeling efforts, Isamar is able to quantify a relationship between mangrove coverage change and climate conditions.
Isamar works on this research in conjunction with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a predoctoral fellow at NASA. In addition to research, Isamar is also a volunteer for several organizations such as (but not limited to) Semillas del Triunfo, GeoLatinas and Women in Coastal Geoscience and Engineering. Through her platform, Isamar works to promote DEI efforts in the geosciences.
Fun Fact
Isamar has a small English budgie with a lot of personality. He may make guest appearances during zoom meetings.
You?
We are always interested in working with new students! Look at our “Student Opportunities” tab or reach out to us with any interest.
Shane is a PhD student in the MSU Coastal Dynamics Group and a teacher of earth science, forensic science, and space exploration at West Orange High School. His research is aimed at better understanding of coastal processes, in order to better manage anthropogenic influences on marine environments. His research seeks to understand how planning and management practices can limit the negative effects that result from increased development in coastal areas, including evaluation of the roles of federal, state and local government and organization in drafting policy. Specifically, he is focused on understanding the role vegetation plays on the morphodynamic properties of dunes in Long Beach Island, NJ. Additionally, Shane is interested in using UAVs, multispectral imaging, and remote sensing to monitor the distribution of dune vegetation.
Ingrid Witty
Ingrid Witty is a senior student at MSU majoring in Geography Environmental Concentration and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) working on search in the MSU Coastal Dynamics Lab that focuses on Forest and Marsh Vegetation changes along the Mullica River located in Southern NJ due to climate change, and or salinity changes from sea level rise.
Witty's work incorporates the use of ESRI ArcGIS mapping tools to design maps that show vegetation changes over time. GIS Maps are created through the use of satellite imagery and high resolution photography depicting land use changes over time for multiple years.
Fun Fact
Witty is a License Real Estate agent in NJ, and owns a Housing Development company called Witty Properties LLC
Eric Dammann
Eric is a senior whose research focuses on understanding the geological, geo-bio-chemical, and ecological evolution of coastal marshes on the east coast of the United States. He utilizes primarily numerical models to quantify marsh evolution and understand possible future scenarios of marsh collapse, expansion, methane release, and numerous other variables based on initially chosen parameters (typically related to sediment concentration and sea level rise).
He also uses GIS software and code to understand the spatial distribution and species of vegetation in berm-dune systems as well as identify sedimentation and erosion patterns year to year based off of LiDAR data.
Alumni
Jesse Kolodin
Jesse became a 2021/2022 Fellow with the Eagleton Insitute of Politics and Science Initiative. Jesse currently works with New Jersey’s State Department of Banking and Insurance, assisting as a climate specialist that is helping to develop better regulating practices for the private flood insurance market. Check out Jesse’s Twitter Page, Research Gate, Github, or LinkedIn profiles.
Madeline Kollegger
Currently a PhD student in the Landscape Biogeochemistry lab at the University of Connecticut. She is studying Thin Layer Placement in Long Island Sound. You can contact her at madeline.kollegger@uconn.edu, her Twitter @madelinepk1, ResearchGate, or LinkedIn.
Arye Janoff
Arye became a Knauss Fellow in February of 2021. Check out Arye’s personal website, Twitter page, Google Scholar, Github, or Research Gate!
Christopher Tenebruso
Working in the field at GEI Consultants. Find his LinkedIn here.
Norjmaa Khosbaatar
Need to get info…
William Anderson
Currently a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University.
Daniel Ciarletta
Currently a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow at St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (USGS).
Undergraduate Students
Kevin Weatherwalks, Mathematical Sciences (May 2016 – August 2017)
James Kim, Computer Sciences (May 2016 – September 2016)
Matthew Cheung, Biological Sciences (Fall 2015 and Spring 2016)
Luis Germano Biolchi, Earth Science (Spring 2015).
