Research Group Lead:
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2022_2-e1721238680926.jpeg)
Paul Block, PhD, PE
Associate Professor
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Reid A. Bryson Distinguished Professor of Climate, People and Environment
University of Wisconsin – Madison
1269D Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Graduate Students:
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2024-07-17-at-12.42.47 PM-e1721238945116.png)
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/IMG_3377-e1721238882966.jpg)
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/IMG_6155_cropped-e1721238813599.jpg)
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/thumbnail_KaitlynnHietpas_Headshot-e1721238782541.jpg)
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/kylie_headshot-scaled-e1721238730724.jpg)
Kylie Southard
PhD Student
B.S. – Arizona State University
M.S. – Arizona State University
Alumni:
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/IMG_3356-e1721238979207.jpg)
Max Beal
PhD Degree
Thesis: Leveraging Hydroclimatic Processes and Remote Sensing for Biological Response in Water Resource Management: Applications to Water Quality and Water-related Disease
Currently: Postdoctoral fellow with EPA (Research Triangle)
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/EWRI_Headshot.jpg)
Jonathan Lala
PhD Degree
Thesis: The role of seasonal and subseasonal hydroclimatic prediction in disaster risk reduction: Applications to rainfed agriculture and extreme rainfall
Currently: Climate analyst at EPRI
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/LilyKraft_6d9.jpeg)
Lily Kraft
MS Degree
Thesis: Development and application of statistical seasonal forecasts for reservoir operation in the Tekezé basin, Ethiopia
Currently: PhD student at the University of Iowa
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/DSC04295-1-e1538537186840.jpg)
Bryan O'Reilly
MS Degree
Thesis: Predicting and monitoring water quality: a mixed methods approach to watershed management
Currently: CNA Institute for Public Research
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/20181002214024.jpg)
Colin Keating
MS Degree
Thesis: Probabilistic Streamflow Forecasts to Advance Flood Preparedness: Applications and User Perspectives
Currently: Hydrologic Technician at USGS California Water Science Center
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/GuangPhoto-e1536094105207.jpg)
Guang Yang
Former Postdoc
Research – Water sharing policies for transboundary rivers, optimal reservoir management for non-stationary hydrology
Currently – Associate Professor, College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, China
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Sarah_Alexander.jpg)
Sarah Alexander
PhD Degree
Thesis: Evaluation, communication, and integration of climate information across scales to foster local decision-making and support community resilience
Currently: Water Resources Management Policy/Technical Advisor with USAID
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/DSC01506-1.jpg)
Colin McGuire
MS Degree
Thesis: Wisconsin’s Central Sands Hydroclimatology: Characterization, Forecasting, and Impacts on Real Estate
Currently: Engineer at Tetra Tech
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Eric_Mortensen.jpg)
Eric Mortensen
MS Degree
Thesis: Reducing stakeholder vulnerability to climate variability in southern Peru using statistically-based prediction and risk management tools
Currently: PhD student at VU Amersterdam
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Justin_Delorit.jpg)
Justin Delorit
PhD Degree
Thesis: Developing and coupling hydro-economic decision support frameworks and season-ahead streamflow forecast models to address water scarcity for large scale, irrigated agriculture in water rights-managed basins
Currently: Faculty, Air Force Institute of Technology (Dayon, Ohio)
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/brian_z.jpg)
Brian Zimmerman
MS Degree
Thesis: Utilizing the State of ENSO to Improve Probabilistic Seasonal Forecasts for Temperature and Precipitation
Currently: Climate scientist, Salient Predictions
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Donghoon.jpg)
Donghoon Lee
PhD degree, Former Postdoc
Research: Forecast-based actions for disaster early warning
Currently: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Solomon.jpg)
Solomon Tassew Erkyihun
Former Postdoc
Research – Optimization of large-scale hydropower in Ethiopia; influence of ENSO on Ethiopian agriculture
Currently: Demand Forecaster for Tampa Bay Water
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/caitlin_soley.jpg)
Caitlin Soley
MS Degree
Thesis: Cyanobacteria Abundance Modeling: Development and Assessment of Season-Ahead Forecasts To Improve Beach Management on Lake Mendota
Currently: Engineer with CORE Consultants, Inc.
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Rabi_Gyawali.jpg)
Rabi Gyawali
Former Postdoc (with WI Dept of Natural Resources)
Research: Wisconsin streamflow and river islands under climate change
Currently: Hydrologist, Arizona Department of Water Resources
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Meron-T.-Taye-photo.jpg)
Meron Teferi Taye
Former Postdoc
Research – Ethiopia climate change and Grand Renaissance Dam
Currently: Staff, International Water Management Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/matt_g.jpg)
Matthew Grzegorzewski
MS Degree
Thesis: Applying Season-ahead Streamflow Forecasts to Guide Reservoir Allocations for the Highland Lakes in Central Texas
Currently: Engineer with US Army Corps of Engineers
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Ying_Zhang.jpg)
Ying Zhang
PhD Degree
Thesis: Hydroclimatic prediction and projection to guide decision-making for agricultural planning, economic development, and reservoir filling in Ethiopia
Currently: Research Scientist, Joint Global Change Research Institute, University of Maryland
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Kinman_Leung.jpg)
Kinman Leung
MS Student (Drexel University)
Thesis: Water Quality in the Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania: The Potential for Long‐Lead Forecasts
Currently: Engineer at Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
![](https://wss.cee.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Andrew_King.jpg)
Andrew King
MS Student (Drexel University)
Thesis: An Assessment of Reservoir Filling Policies under a Changing Climate for Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam
Currently: Engineer at Fairfax Water, Fairfax, Virginia