UTSACenter for Water ResearchScience Building 1.03.04 |
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Scholarship Recipients, 2007/2008The Center for Water Research (Center) is funded to address research and technical issues in water resources in San Antonio and South Texas and of direct benefit to the people of the state of Texas. In addition, the Center provides water-related educational services to the University as part of regularly scheduled classes, and to the community at large. The graduate research assistantships are being targeted to students whose thesis research reflects the goals and role of the Center. More specifically, these students will be able to use the outstanding research facilities available through the Center as they work toward completion of their degrees. Thesis topics are classified in one of the following areas: (1) Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Water Resources; (2) Environmental Chemistry; (3) Civil and Environmental Engineering; (4) Environmental Spatial Analysis; (5) Environmental Microbiology; (6) Environmental Ecology; and (7) Environmental Geomorphology.
Research Project Summary:
The major goal of Singaiah's research is to perform hydrologic modeling
over urbanized watersheds in Bexar County, TX to lay the ground for an
advanced hydrologic forecasting system that combines a dynamical storm
forecasting model and a physically based distributed-parameter
hydrologic model. The forecasting system will address several
hydrologic science priorities such as: 1) quantitative precipitation
estimation (QPE), 2) forecasting of precipitation (QPF), and 3) flash
flood prediction.
Research Project Summary:
Julie's research involves the study of microbial community dynamics
associated with temporal changes and changes due to low impact
restoration efforts in a former agricultural field near Johnson City,
Texas. Using a combination culturing, molecular, and FAME analysis the
goal is to describe the microbial community paired with the changes in
vegetation. Soil parameters such as pH, soil moisture, soil texture,
carbon content, C:N ratio, etc. will be elucidated in order to gain a
more thorough understanding of the abiotic factors that contribute to
microbial community dynamics.
Research Project Summary:
A biofilm is a unique community of bacteria and their excreted
substrates that are attached to a surface. In most cases, the build up
of this biofilm is undesirable and has adverse affects on its
surrounding environment causing what is termed biofouling. This project
involves three severely biofouled drinking water production wells in
southern Bexar County, Texas. The main focus of this research is to
determine the most effective treatment for dealing with this biofilm
issue. The objectives in this study are: i. access the effectiveness of
UV radiation and various chemical biocides for treating biofilms,
focusing especially on primary colonizing bacterial species, ii.
evaluate water chemistry and water quality parameters, iii. identify
which species of microorganisms are present in both the biofilm and
planktonic form and, iv. design a field-scale treatment plan for the
biofouled wells, that will maximize well productivity and minimize
cost. Read more
Research Project Summary: A variety of laboratory and field studies have shown
that cementitious fly ashes (Class C) are very
effective in improving the mechanical properties of
soft and/or expansive soils. So it is expected that
the fly ash stabilized soil will perform adequately
for levee and embankment construction with higher
level of factor of safety. However, fly ash could be
only used when it does not have any significant
environmental impact. The environmental impact of
using fly ash in levees and embankment will be studied
carefully by laboratory experimentation and by
developing models.
Research Project Summary:
Lee White's thesis title is "Reconstruction of Paleoclimate and
Paleohydrology from detailed Sedimentological and Geochemical (major
and trace element, and stable isotope composition) characterization of
Paleosol." Ancient soil, also known as paleosol, reflects climate
conditions that existed during the time of soil formation. The stable
carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of pedogenic carbonates in
paleosols are routinely used as climate proxies for paleoclimate
reconstructions. The oxygen isotopic composition of carbonates reflects
the isotopic composition of water, mostly meteoric water. The
fractionation of oxygen isotopes between the water and the carbonates
is also a function of temperature. Read More
USDA/HSI Grant Scholarship Recipients. P.I.: Paul Jurena
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Texas A&M
University (TAMU) have joined to build a permanent research-based
bridge. This bridge will enable a Hispanic-Serving Institution UTSA and
Land-Grant Institution TAMU to empower underrepresented Hispanic/Latino
students to obtain research skills and opportunities. To facilitate
this undergraduates, graduates, and faculty members from UTSA will work
in teams with graduates and faculty members from TAMU on a research
project. The research project entitled "Understanding how species
richness alters productivity, establishment, physiology, and nutrient
cycling along a grassland to woodland gradient" will enhance the
recruitment and retention of Hispanic/Latino students.
Research Project Summary:
The objective of this study is to develop methods on how plants,
specifically Juniperus ashei (ashe juniper - short tree/shrub species)
and Carex planostachys (cedar sedge - drought tolerant sedge species),
utilize fissures separately and when grown together (competition) in
limestone and shallow or discontinuous soil formations such as those
seen on the Edwards Plateau in a controlled environment.
Research Project Summary:
Studying microbial communities in Mitchell Lake, a former municipal
wastewater treatment sludge disposal site for the San Antonio Water
System. In particular, antibiotic resistance in resident bacteria, and
the culturing and identification of algal species. |
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