Ali Ameli

Principal Investigator

I am a hydrologist interested in exploring how water and solutes move and react within watersheds, how these movements and reactions change with climate variability and land-use alteration, and, ultimately, how these changes impact terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. I lead national and international projects on developing interdisciplinary approaches for water security assessment and watershed management in collaboration with geochemists, ecologists, agricultural and forestry scientists, and water conservation and protection agencies. Through these works, we are developing science-based evidence on the interaction amongst hydrological, geochemical, and ecological processes to inform watershed management, planning, and engineering designs. Our end goal is to manage the environmental impacts of climate variability and land-use alteration on groundwater and surface water resources.

Elizabeth Xiao

Graduate Research Assistant

I am a mathematician developing new mathematical models to simulate the effects of the flood on water movement in shallow and deep earth compartments. I completed a BSc and an MSc in Mathematics at UBC. My MSc thesis was focused on algebraic geometry and combinatorics.

Ardalan Tootchi

Affiliated Researcher

I am an environmental scientist interested in the geospatial patterns of the global water cycle. My research focuses on predicting the spatial-temporal patterns of inundated regions and shallow groundwater tables across North America and globally. I am also interested in tackling water and agricultural adaptation challenges for Earth’s growing population. Previously, I obtained my PhD in Geoscience and Natural Resources from Sorbonne University (Paris-France) in 2019, working on global wetland patterns and their modeled impact on climate at regional scales. I did my Master's in Environmental Sciences at Ecole Polytechnique after receiving my BSc in Engineering from Sharif University of Technology

James Tang

Graduate Research Assistant

I am a computer science student interested in inferring the functional relationship between the persistence of snow on the ground and stream flow behavior. My other research interests are computer vision and machine learning. I previously completed my BSc in Computer Science and Mathematics at UBC. Currently, I am finishing my MSc at UBC in computer vision.

Ara Bayati

PhD Student

I am a geological engineering student interested in developing and applying physics-informed Machine Learning models. In particular, I am interested in unpacking the black box of machine learning models and exploring where and when machine learning models fail in the interpretable prediction of streamflow behavior. My Ph.D. thesis primarily focuses on developing process-based algorithms to improve the black-box nature of machine learning models. I completed my BSc and MSc at the Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. My MSc research involved processing satellite images to predict surface water quality using Machine Learning. In addition to my MSc research, I worked as a researcher at Sharif University of Technology's Remote Sensing Research Center. I used machine learning and satellite imagery to analyze land cover changes, aerosol pollution, and agricultural irrigated water. I received Sharif University's award for the best master student of the year in 2021 (Dr. Tavakoli Award). I love music, and I enjoy learning musical instruments. I love to travel and participate in outdoor activities.

Hamed Sharif

MSc Student (Graduated)

I am a Geological Engineering student in Dr. Ali Ameli’s research group. My research goal is to develop a quantitative framework to explain the mechanisms of streamflow flood/drought generation in diverse climatic settings. In doing so, I couple novel statistical machine-learning models with cutting-edge concepts in process-based hydrology. Previously, I graduated with a BSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Sharif University of Technology. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball and going mountain climbing. Twitter account: https://twitter.com/_hsharif

Hongyi Li

MSc Student (Graduated)

I am a Geological Engineering student working in Dr. Ameli’s research group. My research is focused on exploring the drivers of catchment storage and release processes using statistical models. My research interests include catchment hydrology, predictive hydrology in ungauged basins, and hydrologic data analysis. Previously, I completed my undergraduate education at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Joseph Janssen

PhD Student

I am a Geological Science student in the Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Department and the Institute of Applied Mathematics at UBC. My Ph.D. thesis focuses on developing new statistical Machine learning models, including causal inference and information theory models, for identifying streamflow's temporal and spatial sources at low-flow and high-flow conditions. Previously, I graduated with distinction from UBC with a BSc in Mathematical Sciences in 2020. In my free time, I enjoy listening to the blues, science/comedy podcasts, and playing ping pong/tennis.

Mahbod Taherian

MSc Student

I am a Geological Engineering student. My research, supervised by Dr. Ali Ameli, focuses on the impact of snow alteration on hydrologic transport processes. I am developing process-based models to investigate how snow-melt rate and timing alterations affect catchment-scale flow paths and transit time. Previously, I graduated with a BSc degree in Civil Engineering from the Sharif University of Technology. I enjoy swimming, hiking, and playing piano in my free time.

Javad Rahmani

PhD Student

I am a hydrogeologist interested in understanding water cycle components and their interaction with soil, vegetation, and atmosphere at local and global scales. Particularly those interactions that human societies could control and manage to reach a sustainable solution for the growing global population and subsequent water and food demands. My Ph.D. research will aim to estimate the hydrological connectivity of geographically isolated wetlands across the entire wetland-dominated landscapes of North America. I will also develop machine-learning-based scenario analysis tools to inform wetland restoration, conservation, and drainage planning across North America. Previously, I obtained my B.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering and M.Sc. in Water Resources Management from the Sharif University of Technology. In my M.Sc. thesis, I investigated the impacts of agricultural practices and climate change on evapotranspiration and river discharge of a large River Basin in the Northwest of Iran.

Oliver Meng

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I completed my Combined Computer Science and Statistics BSc degree at UBC in 2021. My undergraduate research, under the supervision of Dr. Ameli, focused on developing a new statistical machine-learning model to estimate the temporal sources of streamflow across more than 3000 catchments worldwide. I like to snowboard, run, and play soccer in my free time. As of September 2022, Oliver has started the Master of Data Science program at Columbia University (USA). Oliver is still working with the HydroGeoScience for Watershed Management Laboratory.

Joanna Wang

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I will take BA in Statistics at the University of British Columbia in May 2024. Since September 2023, I have been working with HydroGeoScience for Watershed Management Lab, applying statistical inference to model the process-based linkage between snow persistence and streamflow in North American catchments. Outside the lab, I engage in swimming, fitness, and piano. I will commence a Master's in Data Science at Harvard University starting September 2024

Benjamin Ferre

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am enrolled in my 4th year of Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of British Columbia. My specific areas of interest are the mathematical underpinnings of Machine Learning and the intersection between Machine Learning and the Natural Sciences. This passion for the Natural Sciences stems from a more general love of nature, so on my days off, you'll likely find me climbing in Squamish or surfing in Tofino.

Samadhee Kaluarachchi

Undergraduate Research Assistant (NSERC USRA)

I recently graduated with a B.Sc. Honours in Environmental Sciences from the University of British Columbia. I am interested in all questions concerning the intersection of human society and water resources, especially how various human activities alter water quality. My current research focuses on understanding the factors controlling the interaction between water flow paths and solute evolution and transport.

Edward Le

Research Assistant & Lab Manager

I have completed a Environmental and Computer Sciences degree (BSc) at UBC. My work in the lab spans administrative support and data analytics duties. I chose UBC because of its diverse academic programs and beautiful campus! Administratively, I work to provide technical assistance and help coordinate work in the lab. On an analytical level, I am working on watershed analyses across the continental United States and Canada through estimating watershed flow signatures and processing geospatial data. My research interests include understanding the role that climate change will have on watersheds, and on how societies can adapt to our changing world.

Emily Leung

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a fifth-year Geography student at UBC who is interested in climate change science and environmental justice. I decided to specialize in Geographic Information Science (GIS) to better understand and address the complex spatial dimensions of climate change in a holistic and scientific manner. My goal was to utilize GIS as a tool to inform effective climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. I worked on flow path analyses within the Liard River watershed across the Yukon Territory and in British Columbia. This work modeled the flow of water across the Liard watershed and links different types of watershed physical properties (e.g. soil permeability and porosity) to each given flow path to facilitate hydrological analyses. The purpose of my work was to support the identification of vulnerable watersheds to climate and land-use changes in Canada that require immediate attention. In my free time, I love to cook, hike, and enjoy the natural beauty of Vancouver! 
As of Fall 2020, Emily has moved on to work as a Impact Assessment Officer at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. We wish her the best of luck in her new role!

Blaise Matlock

Undergraduate Research Assistant (NSERC USRA)

I am a 4th-year Environmental Science student specializing in Land, Air, and Water systems. In my time with the HydroGeoScience for Watershed Management Laboratory, I want to learn more about the effects of climate change on watersheds and the eventual impacts those effects may have on water quality and availability. I am helping to link GIS data to small-scale watershed units to help policymakers make data-informed land-use decisions. I came to UBC because I wanted to study the environment in a place surrounded by nature. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and board games.

Elina Shi

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a fourth-year student studying Geographical Sciences at UBC. Coming from Hawaii, I am particularly interested in the effects of watershed-level land cover changes have on coastal landscapes. Land-cover changes can cause impacts on the growth of invasive algae species through watershed sediment runoff. I am also interested in seeing how remote sensing technologies can contribute to watershed research. Over the years, I have worked with GIS for several conservation efforts including monitoring invasive miconia plants with the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, monitoring and managing invasive algae in Maunalua Bay with Mālama Maunalua, and with mapping plant species in Vancouver's Pacific Spirit Park. I have been with the HG-WM lab since January 2020 working on calculating watershed-level hydrologic and land cover metrics across Canada and the US.

 As of September 2022, Elana has started Master of Environmental Management program at the Yale School of the Environment.