Principal Investigator
Tian Y. Dong, PhD
Current
- Assistant Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
- Professional Outreach Lead, South Texas Space Science Institute (STSSI)
- tian.dong@utrgv.edu
- CV
- Google Scholar
- Research Gate
Background
- PhD in Earth Science, Rice University
- MS in Earth Science, Rice University
- BS in Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
- Hometown: Baoding, China/Houston, TX
- Fun Fact: I can juggle!
Staff
Deepali Singh, PhD
Current
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Research Project: Understanding the evolution of biogenic organic molecules under Martian surficial conditions using experimental simulation
- deepali.singh@utrgv.edu
- CV
- Google Scholar
- Research Gate
Background
- PhD in Environmental Science (Specialization: planetary science), Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
- ME in Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology (Bhopal), India
- BE in Biotechnology, Amity University, India
- Hometown: Agra, India
- Fun Fact: I write poetry!
Esmeralda Mendez, MS
Current
- Program Coordinator
- Project: NASA MUREP MCA – Remote-sensing and Analytics for Integrating Science Education with NASA SMD to Strengthen Student Research Capacity at MSI (RAISE)
- esmeralda.mendez03@utrgv.edu
- Google Scholar
Background
- MS in Agriculture, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences, UTRGV
- BS in Biological Sciences, UTRGV
- Hometown: Weslaco, Texas
- Fun Fact: I like traveling!
Olagoke Daramola, PhD
Current
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Research Project: Detecting geomorphic change in the lower Rio Grande Valley using airborne LiDAR
- olagoke.daramola@utrgv.edu
- CV
- Google Scholar
- Research Gate
Background
- PhD in Marine Science (Hydrography), University of Southern Mississippi
- MS in Surveying and Geoinformatics, University of Lagos, Nigeria
- BS in Surveying and Geoinformatics, University of Lagos, Nigeria
- Hometown: Ise-Ekiti, Nigeria
- Fun Fact: I love this C. S. Lewis quote: “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
Waqid Nabi, MS
Current
- Research Staff
- waqid.nabi01@utrgv.edu
Background
- MS in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences, UTRGV
- B. Tech in Civil Engineering, Sharda University, India
- Hometown: Jammu and Kashmir, India
- Fun Fact: I love resistance training!
Graduate Students
Aleen Pertuz Paz, MS
Current
- Expected 2026, MS in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences
- Research Project: Morphology and evolution of the Isabel Delta, Bahia Grande, Texas
- aleen.pertuzpaz01@utrgv.edu
- Research Gate
Background
- MS in Hydraulic Resources Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- BS in Geological Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- Hometown: Medellin, Colombia
- Fun fact: I love to play Underwater Rugby even more with my team Makos!
Ana Y. Casillas Rodriguez
Current
- Expected 2026, MS in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences
- Research Project: Impacts of Human Activities on Water and Sediment Discharge and Channel Morphology of the Coastal Rio Grande During the Anthropocene
- ana.casillasrodriguez01@utrgv.edu
Background
- BA in Multidisciplinary Studies, UTRGV
- Hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico
- Fun Fact: I have a deaf dog; her name is Dot, and she’s the sweetest creature I’ve ever met ❤
Andrew Ward
Current
- Expected 2027, MS in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences
- Research Project: Geomorphology and Preliminary Chronology of the Stabilized Lunette Dunes (Lomas) in the Rio Grande Delta, south Texas, USA, and northern Tamaulipas, Mexico
- andrew.ward02@utrgv.edu
Background
- BS in Environmental Science, UTRGV
- Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia
- Fun Fact: I’ve lived in four different states through my life!
Annette Obregon
Current
- Expected 2026, MS in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences
- Research Project: Time Distribution of the Abandoned Channel Belts in the Rio Grande Delta
- annette.obregon01@utrgv.edu
Background
- BS in Environmental Science with a concentration in Multidisciplinary Studies, UTRGV
- Hometown: Weslaco, Texas
- Fun Fact: I play volleyball!
Naydelyn Nunez
Current
- Expected 2028, MS in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences
- Research Project: Hydrodynamic modeling of the Bahia Grande
- naydelyn.nunez01@utrgv.edu
Background
- BS in Environmental Science with a concentration in Earth and Ocean
- Hometown: Mission, Texas
- Fun Fact: I own a Quaker parrot who likes eating cheetos with me!
Undergraduate Students
Natalie Gonzales
Current
- Expected 2026, BS in Environmental Science
- Research Project: Assessing the impact of 2024 Windy Deuce Wildfire on the Geomorphology and Sedimentology of McBride Canyon near Amarillo, Texas
- natalie.gonzales02@utrgv.edu
Background
- Hometown: Weslaco, Texas
- Fun Fact: I do art on the side oil painting!
Sebastian Lopez
Current
- Expected 2026, BS in Environmental Science
- Research Project: Reconstruction of the Holocene Rio Grande Delta Avulsions using a relative age model of the abandoned channel belts.
- sebastian.lopez03@utrgv.edu
Background
- Hometown: Roma, Texas
- Fun Fact: I am a basketball and book lover!
Past Members
Postdocs and Staffs
- 2024-2025, Haiqing Xu, PhD, University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley; Now: Assistant Professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Visiting Students
- 2024, Bence Csiti, MS, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary; Now: PhD student at Umea University, Sweden
Graduate Students
- 2023-2025, Kynan Rutan, MS, University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley
Undergraduate Students
- 2023-2025, Celeste Alvarez, University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley; Now: Community Planner at Langford Community Management Services
- 2022, Benjamin A. Chapa, Texas A&M University-Kingsville; Now: MS student in Hydrogeology at University of Texas at Austin
- 2020, Cheyenne Hibbitts Kleiner, Angelo State University; Now: PhD student in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Michigan State University
T.Y. Dong Geomorphology Lab 