Owen Naughton

Dr. Owen Naughton is a Lecturer in Environmental Engineering at South East Technological University (SETU Carlow). He holds a PhD in hydrology from Trinity College Dublin and has held research fellowships and academic roles at institutions like Trinity College and the National University of Galway. His research focuses on hydrology, ecosystem processes, and the implementation of EU environmental directives. He specializes in groundwater flooding, remote sensing, and peatland restoration. Current roles include an SFI Public Service Fellowship with the National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland (2024–2026).

Education:

• PhD in Hydrology and Ecohydrology of Turloughs, Trinity College Dublin (2006–2011)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin (2002–2006)

Research Interests: Transdisciplinary studies in hydrology, ecosystem research, groundwater flooding dynamics, remote sensing applications, and climate change impacts on water resources. Key areas include karst wetlands (turloughs), peatland restoration, and EU environmental policy compliance.

Notable Contributions:

• Developed the UISCEmod open-source software for karst wetland modeling
• Advanced flood risk mapping using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery
• Contributed to Ireland’s groundwater flood hazard assessment frameworks

Awards & Grants:

• EPA funding for sustainability projects (2024)
• SFI Public Service Fellowship (2024–2026)
• EPA STRIVE Research Fellowship (2014–2015)
• IRC Enterprise Research Fellowship (2010–2013)

Lab/Teams: Engaged in interdisciplinary teams addressing environmental challenges through modeling, remote sensing, and field observation. Collaborates with organizations like the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Trinity College Dublin.