Madelyn Maffia, PhD Student in Water Resources Science Started in 2021.
Maddie received her B.S. in Environmental Science with concentrations in Aquatic Biology and Environmental Water Resources from Oregon State University in 2020. In 2021, Maddie returned to Oregon State for her PhD in Water Resources Science. Her dissertation work is broadly investigating the response of channel morphology, hydraulics, and native coho salmon populations to large wood restoration activities. In addition to her dissertation work, Maddie is involved in side projects such as studying the impact of decoupled drought conditions (low-flow and increased stream temperature) on cutthroat trout and coastal giant salamanders, assessing the effects of low-intensity fire on trout and salamanders, investigating the impacts of mixed burn severity on these species, and examining how geomorphology and wood recruitment in streams with different hydrologies differ after a high-intensity fire. Outside of her research, Maddie enjoys running, rock climbing, and spending time with friends.
Zachary Perry, PhD Student in Water Resources Science Started in 2021.
Zach earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester in 2015, before spending several years in manufacturing — an experience that sharpened his instinct for applied, real-world problem solving. In 2021, he joined Catalina's lab to pursue his PhD, bringing that same hands-on curiosity to the mountains. His dissertation centers on a question with urgent stakes: how do headwater streams store and move water underground, and how will that change as our climate does? Zach is particularly focused on the cascading effects of warming temperatures — shrinking snowpack, more frequent wildfires — and what they mean for the small streams that anchor mountain ecosystems. To find answers, he combines field data collection, water stable isotopes, and spatial analysis tools, weaving together hydrology, geomorphology, and environmental science. When he's not in the field or at his desk, Zach can be found reading, cooking, or exploring the natural world.
Lutz Klein, PhD Student in Hydrology, University of Bonn Started in 2024.
Lutz is from Bonn in Germany, where he received his Masters of Science in Geography – Water and Global Change in 2024. Since May of 2024 he is working as a research assistant and PhD student in the Fire-Stream project with Catalina as the co-supervisor. In the project Lutz investigates the impact of wildfires on hydrological processes at a catchment scale based on the Lookout Fire in the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. Using water isotopes and SAS functions he focuses on changes in water transit times and in water quality. He previously gathered experience in working with stable water isotopes by investigating the influence of planted forests in New Zealand on hydrological processes in the critical zone. In his free time Lutz enjoys biking, bouldering, and pretty much any other outdoor sport.
Shannon Duffy, MS Student Water Resources Science
Started in 2024.
Shannon is from the green mountain state of Vermont and completed her Bachelor's degree at Colgate University in upstate New York. She moved to the west coast in 2021- just in time for the record-breaking Dixie Fire. She has come to OSU to seize the unique opportunity that the Lookout Fire provides to research the impact of wildfires on water flow paths in wet forests which are often neglected in the field of wildfire research. In her research, she uses pre-existing hydrometric and water quality data coupled with water chemistry and water stable isotopes collected during storm events. She aims to compare wildfire impacts across catchments of varying burn severities and varying physiography to better understand the mechanisms by which fires alter streamflow dynamics. The goal of this research is to augment fire-informed forest management in wet forests. In her free time, Shannon will take any opportunity to escape to the mountains for skiing, hiking, and camping.
Stalin Guaman, PhD Student Water Resources Science. Started in 2025.
Stalin is originally from Quito, Ecuador. He received a B.S. in Geoscience Engineering and an M.S. in Eco-hydrology. He has extensive experience handling and interpreting tracer data. This expertise led to a position as a research technician at the University of Cuenca, allowing him to deepen his research experience while completing his master’s thesis, which focused on using an isotope-enabled global circulation model as input for spatially distributed, tracer-aided modeling in remote, sparsely monitored catchments.
Now at OSU, he is excited to integrate the skills he developed during his bachelor’s and master’s studies to explore how wildfires affect hydrological processes. Outside of academics, he enjoys going to the gym in the afternoons and playing sports when he has time. On rainy days, he prefers to stay home, eating and drinking something warm while reading books or papers, or watching movies.
Maeve Bittle, MS Student Water Resources Science
Started in 2025.
Maeve's research interests are primarily concerned with post-fire impacts on watersheds regarding water quality. She became interested in hydrology research after an internship at Redwoods National and State Parks, where she worked for the forester and hydrologist on a project tracking the long-term impacts of logging on second growth forest watersheds. She received her B.S.E. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa in 2021. Her undergraduate research investigated airborne contaminants in homes near an industrial shipping canal in Indiana. Before starting at OSU, she worked for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for two years as their data manager for land transactions and assisted in monitoring for their conservation easement program.
Layne Phillips, Undergraduate Honos Student Student Natural Resources Started in 2025.
Layne is a undergraduate student in OSU’s Honors College and College of Forestry studying Natural Resources with a specialization in policy & management. She is from the Oregon Coast, and joined OSU in the Fall of 2023. Her ongoing honors thesis work broadly investigates hydrological processes and influences inside cave systems. Particularly analyzing if seasonal changes or depth have an influence on stable isotope ratios of drip water in Oregon Caves National Monument. Along with her personal research, Layne looks to assist this lab to gain more experience and build a professional network. Outside of school, she enjoys a variety of outdoor recreational activities and watching movies with friends.
Jeremy Harris, Undergraduate Student, Wildland Fire and Restoration-Started in 2025
Jeremy is an undergraduate student in the College of Forestry at Oregon State, specializing in Wildland Fire and Restoration. He is from the Bay Area in California and has been at OSU since 2023. He is currently part of the lab as an aide, performing duties such as acid washing, sampling kit preparation, and other tasks such as assisting with field work. Outside of the lab, he is also a sousaphone player in the Oregon State University Marching Band.