Colin Phillips

Colin Phillips is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Utah State University. He holds a PhD in Earth & Environmental Science from the University of Pennsylvania (2014) and a BA in Earth & Planetary Science from the University of California, Berkeley (2009). His expertise spans hydrology, sediment transport, and environmental data analysis.

• PhD, Earth & Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania (2014)
• BA, Earth & Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley (2009)

Phillips’ research focuses on river corridor evolution, watershed dynamics, and landscape-scale sediment transport mechanisms. He integrates field experiments, laboratory studies, and large-scale data synthesis to address water and land sustainability challenges. Key themes include:

• Climatic influences on river morphology
• Hydrologic controls in wildfire-affected catchments
• Hyporheic zone clogging by fine particles
• Machine learning for sediment flux prediction
• Post-dam removal sediment dynamics

His recent publications highlight advancements in understanding gravel river adjustment, seasonal water-salt cycling, and the role of turbulence in subsurface particle deposition. Phillips has received recognition for teaching excellence (2023) and secured competitive awards like the NatureNet Science Fellowship (2018) and NSF EAR Postdoctoral Fellowship (2014). His mentorship includes graduate students in civil and environmental engineering, with courses such as Civil and Environmental Engineering Fluid Mechanics and Open Channel Hydraulics.