About Me

I am an Associate Professor in Water and Climate at the University of Bristol, specializing in hydrology, climate impact analysis, and environmental data science. My work bridges fundamental research and applied solutions to address global water challenges, with a particular focus on the critical role of soil moisture in climate systems. This research aims to improve water resource management and agricultural productivity, especially in data-scarce regions facing significant environmental impacts.

In addition to my academic role, I serve as the Water Theme Co-lead for the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute for the Environment, where I collaborate on interdisciplinary research to address pressing environmental issues.

My research focuses on enhancing the monitoring and prediction of key hydrological processes in a changing climate, with applications both in the UK and internationally, particularly in developing regions. I have successfully led and contributed to numerous UKRI and EU-funded projects, and I collaborate closely with national and international partners, including the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency, to develop innovative methodologies for environmental monitoring and water resource management.

As a passionate researcher and mentor, I am dedicated to fostering the next generation of environmental engineers and scientists. By embedding my research expertise into my teaching, I aim to create opportunities for innovation and collaboration within the field.

Join My Research Group

I am always looking for passionate and motivated postgraduate students eager to explore the intersection of water science and climate research. If you are interested in tackling real-world environmental challenges using innovative techniques, I’d love to hear from you.

Feel free to reach out if you are interested in PhD opportunities or collaborative research in any of my focus areas. Together, we can make significant advances in water and climate science. More information about University of Bristol’s funding opportunities is available here.

Research Areas of Focus

• Cosmic-ray Soil Moisture Technology: Investigating the role of soil moisture in climate systems and the water cycle using cutting-edge cosmic ray neutron sensors and other advanced tools. Check out my talk!
• Land Surface and Hydrological Modeling: Developing or improving open-source models by integrating new global data products and concepts.
• Climate Change and Water Resources: Modeling the impacts of climate change on hydrological systems, focusing on adaptation and resilience strategies, particularly in regions where institutional capacity may be constrained.
• Environmental Data Science: Applying data-driven approaches to address challenges in water resource management and environmental monitoring.

My list of my publications is available here!

Research Projects

• Royal Society UK-China – Estimating Groundwater Recharge Using Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing Technology
• EU Horizon 2020 – Translation of climate information into decision support for social adaptation, policy development, and resilience to water scarcity in the Horn of Africa Drylands (DOWN2EARTH)
• NERC-FAPESP – IoT-Enabled Cosmic Ray Sensors for Irrigation Monitoring (COSMIC-SWAMP)
• Royal Society – Drought Resilience in East African Dryland Regions (DRIER)
• UKRI – Mobile App Development for Drought Adaptation in Drylands (MADDAD)
• NERC – Digital Environment Feasibility Study (MOSAIC)
• NERC-FAPESP – Brazilian Experimental Datasets for Multi-Scale Interactions in the Critical Zone under Extreme Drought (BEMUSED)
• NERC – A Multi-Scale Soil Moisture-Evapotranspiration Dynamics Study (AMUSED)

Collaborations & Partnerships

I have extensive experience working with national and international institutions, including universities in the UK, USA, Germany, Kenya, Ethiopia, and China, as well as organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the United Nations, the MetOffice, and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) in the UK, and the Met Éireann in Ireland. I also collaborate with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ-Leipzig), the Jülich Research Centre in Germany, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), and the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC) in Brazil, among others.

Teaching and Supervision

I teach and supervise students in key areas within the School of Engineering, including:

• Water Management in a Changing World: Exploring the principles of hydrology and water management, with practical applications in real-world scenarios.
• Environmental Data Science: Covering essential statistical tools, Python programming, and hydrological measurement techniques.
• Research Projects Supervision: Guiding research projects for our BEng/MEng in Civil Engineering and MSc in Water and Environmental Management programs.

If you are a student interested in these areas, I am happy to discuss potential supervision opportunities for research projects and dissertations.