ABOUT ME
I earned my Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Houston (UH) in 2018 and my Masters in Water Resources (2013) and Bachelors in Civil Engineering (2010) both from the University of Tehran. After finishing my doctoral research, and before joining Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) as a coastal flood modeler, I spent two years as a joint-appointed postdoctoral fellow at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UH under the mentorship of Dr. Clint Dawson and Dr. Hanadi Rifai, respectively. My areas of expertise include geospatial modeling and machine learning for coastal resiliency, hurricane storm surge simulation, rainfall-induced flooding, fate and transport of pollutants in the environment, water and sediment quality, and the water-energy nexus.
MY EXPERIENCE
Roles & Responsibilities
COASTAL FLOOD MODELER, TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD (TWDB)
October 2020 - Present
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Managing the Texas Integrated Flooding Framework (TIFF) project, a $ 3M project with Texas General Land Office (TGLO) and TWDB in partnership with USGS and USACE
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Establishing goals, objectives, technical standards, methods, and procedures for coupling inland and coastal models to assess the compound flood risk
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Developing, maintaining, and applying hydrologic, hydraulic, and hydrodynamic models across the river, estuary, and open ocean scales
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Developing working relationships with state and federal agencies, academic institutions, and private contractors to advance coastal modeling
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, ODEN INSTITUTE FOR COMPUTATIONAL ENGINEERING AND SCIENCES
January 2020 - October 2020
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Oversee a variety of multidisciplinary research projects
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Develop proposals
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Project execution and final technical reports
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Mentor graduate and undergraduate students, instructing them on research procedures, course selection, and building communication and writing skills
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
August 2018 - January 2020
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A joint venture with Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston
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Help writing proposal
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Write scientific papers and reports
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Present findings in prestigious conferences
GRADUATE RESEARCH AND TEACHING ASSISTANT, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
September 2013 - August 2018
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Support a number of research projects via an array of functions ranging from the lead modeler, quality assurance officer, project supervision, and research activities.
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Supervise the operation of all computer models, including associated documentation of model operation. Assured accuracy of input data to the model, as well as results
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
What I’ve Learned
2018 - 2020
Postdoctoral Fellow​
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University of Texas at Austin
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UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
2013 - 2018
PH.D. IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
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UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
2010 - 2013
M.S. IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING - WATER RESOURCES
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UNIVERSITY OF TEHRAN
2004 - 2009
B.S. IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
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UNIVERSITY OF TEHRAN
Selected Projects Over the Past 5 Years
PROJECT SHOWCASE
TEXAS INTEGRATED FLOOD FRAMEWORK
Role: Project Manager
Timeframe November 30, 2020 – June 30, 2024
$3M Budget over 3 years
Led by the TWDB
USACE and USGS supporting
Four-componentstudy
Data and Monitoring Gap Analysis
Data Management and Visualization
Integrated Flood Modeling Framework
Planning and Outreach
MY SKILLS
WELL-EDUCATED PROFESSIONAL
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Focused, driven, and analytical researcher combining strong educational background with multifaceted career experience to deliver successful development programs.
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Proven professional who leverages high-level practical application skills to exceed and deliver program goals.
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Proficient coastal flood modeler with expertise in field monitoring, with in-depth knowledge of geospatial and remotely-sensed data, machine learning algorithms, and statistical methods.
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Skilled communicator with excellent interpersonal skills able to effectively relay project information, data analysis, and findings proficiently
SKILLSET
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Leadership & Teamwork
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Hydroenvironmental Modeling
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Programming
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Data Analysis
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Project Management
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Problem Solution
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Strategic Thinking
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Impact Evaluation
- Statistical Methods
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Artificial Intelligence
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Feasibility Studies
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Field Sampling
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GIS Modeling
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System Dynamics
PROFICIENCIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
Proficiencies
Technical: ADCIRC, SMS, ArcMap, QUAL2K, EFDC, CvlGrid, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, ModFlow, MATLAB, SPSS, Vensim
Language: Fluent in English and Farsi
Memberships
U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics
Produced Water Society
Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors
American Geophysical Union
International Desalination Association
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Water Works Association
National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents (NODET)
LET’S CONNECT
AWARD AND HONORS
2021 Best Paper Award (2020), Journal of Infrastructure Preservation and Resilience
2020 Postdoctoral $1200 Travel Award, University of Houston
2013-2018 University of Houston Doctoral Student Tuition Fellowship (DSTF)
2018 Best Paper: 3rd Place, Texas Water 2018 student paper competition
2018 Best Poster: 2nd Place, SSPEED Center best poster contest
2018 Best Paper: Texas AWWA SE Chapter 2018 Student Research Paper Contest
2018 Best Video: Produced Water Society (PWS) young professional video contest
2016-2017 The Student Scholarship, SE Chapter Texas American Water Works Association
2016 Best Paper: 3rd Place, 8th Int. Conf. on Environmental Science and Technology
2016 Future Faculty $3000 Travel Grant, University of Houston
2015-2016 University of Houston Future Faculty Fellowship
2015 Most Innovative Idea: 3rd Biennial Texas Energy Innovation Challenge
2015 Best Paper: Texas AWWA SE Chapter’s 2015 Student Research Paper Contest
2013-2014 Houston Endowment Recruitment Fellowship