Program Directory

I am conducting a comprehensive study to assess the impact of traditional and conservation crop management practices on annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in in-row and in-furrow irrigated crops in Arkansas. Additionally, I am investigating how different measurement methods, specifically comparing enclosed-headspace gas sampling chambers to in-field (LI-COR soil gas analyzer), influence GHG measurements. Furthermore, my research integrates the concept of smartagriculture, where applicable, to explore how modern technology, approaches can enhance themanagement of GHG emissions in agricultural settings.

Farah Gasmi is a hydraulic engineer who graduated from Tunisia. She holds a master's degree in Geoinformation Systems and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree in Environmental Dynamics. Her thesis focuses on enhancing urban flood resilience in the USA through the utilization of GIS and remote sensing techniques, while also incorporating social vulnerability factors. Her research aims to contribute to the development of a more resilient response to flood hazards within the state.

Maria's current research is focused on the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) optimizing remote sensing techniques to measure adaptation, particularly in the agriculturalm sector.

Her research interests encompass Remote Sensing, GIS, UAV, Water management and Agriculture Adaptation. She is committed to propelling meaningful progress in addressing environmental challenges and promoting the impactful utilization of geospatial technology both locally and globally, in the quest for sustainable solutions.

Mahboobeh is a research assistant and a Ph.D. candidate in the Environmental Dynamics Program at the University of Arkansas. Her primary research focuses on conducting a comprehensive whole building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with a particular emphasis on the de-carbonization of construction sites.

Her research has yielded significant results, and she recently published a paper in the high-prestige Journal of "Sustainability". Furthermore, she presented her findings at the Society of Wood, Science, and Technology (SWST) 65th International Convention in Kingscliff, NSW, Australia, and the Forest Products Society 75thannual International Conference in Madison, WI.

She lately, successfully completed her qualifying exam for candidacy and presented her dissertation proposal titled "Decarbonization Construction Process Model for Mass Timber Projects. This topic has garnered interest from the international academic community, with several scholars expressing their eagerness to collaborate on this research, including distinguished scholars from Spain.

She has been awarded two study abroad fellowships, the highly-regarded Sturgis Fellowship from the University of Arkansas, and theSTSM fellowship from the Society of Wood, Science, and Technology which has facilitated her international travels. She is now in Spain to conduct joint research with a research team at Jaume I University. The benefits of such collaboration are numerous, including the broadening of knowledge, the introduction of diverse perspectives, and the exchange of ideas and insights. These international collaborative efforts have the potential to generate groundbreaking results and contribute significantly to her research. Being in a European research environment, in addition to U.S. academia, provides her the opportunity to enrich her doctoral research and gain exposure to alternative perspectives in a transformative way. Furthermore, this experience will broaden her international communication network with other seasoned scholars.

Moein Hemmati is a research assistant and Ph.D. student in the Environmental Dynamics Program at the University of Arkansas. His research primarily centers around Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with a special emphasis on assessing the environmental impact during building operations. He is committed to advancing the field of sustainable architecture and seeking innovative solutions to minimize the ecological footprint of the constructed environment.

Also, Moein has been exploring the application of machine learning and deep learning techniques within the realm of building LCA. Moein had the opportunity to present his research findings at two prestigious conferences: the 65th International Convention of the Society of Wood, Science, and Technology (SWST) in Kingscliff, NSW, Australia, and the 75th annual International Conference of the Forest Products Society in
Madison, WI.

Maria Lopez Rojas is a Costa Rican anthropologist interested in archaeobotany, agroforestry, landscape domestication, and cultural change over time. Lopez Rojas collaborated with archaeological projects in the Central and Northern Highlands, Northern Plains, Pacific Coast, and the Central Caribbean of CostaRica, where she participated in archaeological surveys, excavations, soil sampling, pottery analysis, and microbotanical analysis (phytoliths). Maria’s goal is to foster systematic archaeobotanical studies in Costa Rica, for this, she has conducted phytolith analysis to identify the connections between paleovegetation changes and subsistence practices in the Nuevo Corinto archaeological site, Costa Rica. Also, Maria is committed to the communication of cultural heritage to a broad audience, and because of this, she is co- producing the podcast LACAP to share Pre-Columbian history and visualize the long-term human occupation of Costa Rica. 

During her PhD thesis research, Shelby is exploring the chao/kosmotropic properties of bine solutions in the presence of ancient protein sequences (AncC). These interactions assist us in understanding the mechanisms that allow for the bioavailability and precipitation of certain life-necessary organic molecules.

She is currently interning at NASA HQ in DC during Fall 2023 studying planetary protectional and contamination control.

Harrison is broadly interested in regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems, biodiversity conservation, and environmental justice. His current research focuses on applications of geospatial tools for enhancing sustainability of agroecosystems and improving livelihoods of producers and farmers.

Previous projects have included applications of ground penetrating radar for field-scale soil characterization, landscape analysis of reclamation efforts at the Tar Creek SuperfundSite, and fertility and crop suitability mapping at the national scale in Central America.

In 2023, Harrison was awarded a NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship to conduct his current research which uses machine learning to assess the impacts of climate change on U.S. corn and soybean production.

When not working on research, Harrison enjoys long bike rides, working in his home garden, and foraging for wild edibles.

Impacts of the Natural Resource Conservation Service cost-shared conservation practices on water quality, particularly identifying if agricultural practives such as cover crops, nutrient management plans and buffer strips demonstrate postiive impacts on sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorous loads at the catchment scale.

Urban metabolism issues in contex of the built environment and natural resource management, addressing climate change by introducing sustainable typologies and approaches in the building construction sector, building design and proces to achieve net-zero houses.

Dalton is interested in the effects of climate change on human health. After being stationed in Southeast Asia, he saw firsthand the impacts pollution can have on overall wellbeing, inspiring him to further pursue learning about environmental health. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy University, where he studied how epidemiology is advancing due to climate change.