معرفی
Frances O'Donnell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Auburn University, where she leads the Auburn Ecohydrology Lab. Her research focuses on ecohydrology, emphasizing vegetation-water cycle interactions, stormwater management, and ecosystem restoration with applications in geographically isolated wetlands and transportation infrastructure resilience.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University
- B.A. in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University
Research Interests: Dr. O'Donnell investigates soil moisture dynamics and evapotranspiration processes to develop green infrastructure solutions for stormwater management. Her work integrates field measurements, hydrological modeling, and remote sensing to quantify ecosystem services of wetlands and improve climate resilience in water systems. Key projects examine forest restoration impacts on groundwater and sustainable practices for agricultural pollution mitigation.
Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal three dominant themes: landslide prediction along Alabama highways using soil moisture thresholds, sediment/nutrient dynamics in agricultural wetlands under climate change, and cost-optimization tools for green infrastructure. International collaborations in Haiti address drinking water accessibility, while Arizona watershed studies analyze forest management effects on water balance.
Scientific Awards and Grants:
- NASA Research Grant for Geographically Isolated Wetlands
- USDA-NIFA Foundational and Applied Science Program Grant ($500,000)
Advising and Collaborations: Dr. O'Donnell mentors graduate students through thesis research with real-world applications, including permeable pavement design tools and UAV-based water quality monitoring. She collaborates with NASA, USDA, and NOAA on federal projects, and her students publish in journals like Water Environment Research while securing positions at Virginia Tech and Geosyntec Consultants.
Laboratory: The Auburn Ecohydrology Lab conducts field experiments in Alabama watersheds and Haiti, utilizing sensor networks, hydrological models, and drone technology to advance understanding of water-ecosystem interactions for sustainable infrastructure planning.
