FACULTY ASSOCIATES

Benjamin R. Hayes, Ph.D., P.G. - Director. Specializing in fluvial geomorphology and watershed hydrology, Ben directs the Susquehanna River Initiative and helps with field research on the dynamics of streams and movement of coarse sediment throughout the Susquehanna watershed. Over the past twenty years, he has contributed to watershed studies around world, including Iceland, South Africa, Costa Rica, Canada, and the United States. An avid fly tyer and fisherman, Ben spends a lot of time paddling and wading streams throughout the eastern United States. He is also active in stream restoration and fish habitat improvement projects and has contributed to state and federal guidelines regarding fluvial process and aquatic ecology. Previously, Ben served as an ordained pastor in the Mennonite Church, where he was active in human relief and water supply efforts in impoverished areas of the world.

Matthew McTammany, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Biology. Specializing in aquatic ecology, Matt also serves as Faculty Director of the Environmental Center and provides leadership to its many broad initiatives. He has been instrumental in the development of several new courses focused on the Susquehqnna River including Watershed Science (BIOL 299) and Stream Restoration (BIOL 298). He is helping lead the Semester On the Susquehanna course in Fall 2010. Matt spends a lot of time on the river and its tributaries, collecting biologic samples and carefully monitoring the variability in water chemistry and habitat. He also works closely with several local watershed groups and helped establish the hydrologic monitoring network at Roaring Creek watershed. Matt is also very active in the Susquehanna River Heartland Coalition for Environmental Studies where he developed a real-time water quality monitoring network on the Susquehanna River.

R. Craig Kochel, Ph.D., - Professor of Geology. Specializing in fluvial geomorphology, planetary geology, environmental geology and geologic hazards, Craig co-directed the Environmental Center for a number of years and continues to play a lead role in its activities. He has worked on river and hillslope research around the world and in a diversity of hydroclimatic regimes, such as high-latitude cold regions (Alaska, Iceland), arid (Texas, Southern California), humid-temperate (Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina), tropics (Hawaii). He also conducts laboratory flume experiments on groundwater sapping, dynamics of rivers and alluvial fan processes. Craig contributes locally to watershed groups and his work extends to environmental ethics through collaboration with the Forum on Religion and Ecology with Professors Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim at Yale University.

Jessica T. Newlin, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Specializing in open-channel flow hydraulics and sediment transport, Jessica's research involves geomorphic studies of local rivers and use of flume and numerical models to analyze fluvial processes and the effect of hydraulic structures on stream channels. She is contributing to the SRI's understanding of sediment transport and channel change in the Susquehanna watershed. She also supervises both undergraduate and graduate students and teaches a number of relevant courses, including Watershed Resources Engineering (CENG 320) and River Mechanics (CENG 422).

Carl Kirby, Ph.D. - Professor of Geology.  Specializing in the geochemistry of natural waters, Carl was an early director of the Environmental Center and continues to serve in an advisory capacity. His research contributes greatly to the SRI's understanding of the chemistry of streams and groundwater in the Susquehanna watershed and he is a recognized expert on the chemistry of abandoned mine discharges throughout our region. He has helped local watershed groups remediate several mine discharges by designing passive treatment facilities. An avid fly fisherman, Carl also helped the local Buffalo Creek watershed association with a limestone-dosing facility to lessen the impact of acid rain on native brook trout habitat in headwater streams. Carl is currently studying the chemistry of frac and flow-back water associated with Marcellus Shale natural gas resources within the Susquehanna watershed. This effort is a significant contribution to environmental scientists and watershed groups in Pennsylvania.

Fred Swader, Ph.D. P.E. - Faculty Associate. Retired USDA Agricultuarl Engineer and Cornell professor, Fred helps with research projects, including the hydrology of Montandon marsh and reclamation alternatives of the nearby sand and gravel pit. He also lends his wisdom of forty years of senior level research and administration to the team on various initiatives.