Jonathan Czuba

Jonathan Czuba is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. His research program integrates ecological engineering with fluvial geomorphology to address riverine ecosystem dynamics under anthropogenic and climatic pressures.

• Key Themes: Stream restoration, river network connectivity, ecohydraulics, and plastic pollution mitigation
• Methods: Coupling field measurements with computational models (HEC-RAS, Landlab)
• Collaborations: USGS, Indiana University, University of Minnesota

Research Focus: Advances understanding of how sediment and nutrient fluxes interact with vegetation, aquatic biota, and human interventions across diverse river systems. Notable work includes quantifying floodplain connectivity, modeling post-wildfire sediment cascades, and developing tools for ecohydraulic assessments.

Awards:

• 2023 UCOW Early Career Award
• 2023-2024 Engineering Teaching Excellence
• 2024 CALS Impactful Researcher of the Month

Mentorship: Actively advises graduate/undergraduate researchers in Watershed Engineering, emphasizing fieldwork, modeling, and remote sensing. Collaborates with Kyle Strom (Civil Engineering) and Doug Edmonds (Indiana University).