Affiliate Spotlight: Gaur studies soils as an ecosystem
Nandita Gaur works in the Crops and Soil Science Department of the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, but her degrees all are in engineering.
“I am a civil engineer, and my PhD was in bio and ag engineering. Even though I trained in the realm of engineering, my heart’s always been at engineering’s intersection with the natural environment and its human dimension.” Gaur’s research focuses on using remote sensing and geophysics to understand soil physics.
Meet the students: More than two dozen researchers funded through Spencer Grants
Through nearly a decade of awarding funds to graduate students, the John Spencer Grant program has enabled students from across the University of Georgia to conduct research touching on all aspects of water resources. Here are a few of the students and what they are up to today.
Spencer Grant highlight: Michael Baker
Michael Baker completed two master’s degrees—forestry and natural resources and then statistics—before starting a PhD at Warnell. He plans to graduate in May.
The research for his PhD focused on a state-listed species of freshwater mussel, called the Brook Floater (Alasmidonta varicosa) that lives along the East Coast of the US and Canada.
Spencer Grant highlight: Emily Chalfin
Chalfin came to the University of Georgia as staff, not as a student.
Chalfin’s research involves describing the habitat use and modeling the distribution of the Etowah Bridled Darter, a species that first was described four years ago and named Percina freemanorum in honor of ecologists Bud and Mary Freeman.
Spencer Grant highlight: Kwaku Asiedu
Originally from Ghana, Kwaku Asiedu came to the U.S. to work toward a master’s degree in geology through the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. His research used Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), computational modeling, and borehole geophysical logging to better understand subsurface fracture characteristics and their influence on groundwater recharge and aquifer connectivity.
Spencer Grant highlight: Cydney Kate Seigerman
An anthropologist, Cydney Kate Seigerman studies how human behavior affects and is affected by water laws and agricultural systems. They conducted their PhD dissertation research in Brazil.
Applications open for 2026 Spencer Grants
The UGA River Basin Center announces the annual call for proposals for John Spencer Research Grants to graduate students. This program was initiated in 2017 with a contribution from Kathelen Amos in honor of her son, former RBC master’s student John Spencer. Ongoing funding is provided by donations to the RBC. Research grants are available […]
How much water is enough? UGA research helps balance needs for the Flint
The River Basin Center and American Rivers collaborate with local water utilities and others in South Metro Atlanta and Central Georgia to balance upstream needs for drinking water with downstream needs for wildlife, recreation and agriculture. Planning for the river became a real worry 25 years ago, when drought nearly dried up the headwaters. Today, the RBC, Odum post doc Laura Rack and others do important research to ensure sensitive wildlife survive while 400,000 people get the drinking water they need.
Affiliate Spotlight: Leach describes natural world in the language of chemistry
As an affiliate of the River Basin Center, Franklin Leach manages monitoring equipment at the confluence of two branches of Tanyard Creek, streams that come together just south of Bolton Dining Hall in the middle of UGA campus. Tanyard Branch is a learning lab for UGA students from multiple colleges, and the monitoring equipment will provide data for all sorts of research projects in the future.
Spencer, Butler fellowships awarded to new Odum grad students
Devon Locke (left), Tre’Shur Williams-Carter (right) and Isabelle “Bell” Scherick (center) were awarded Spencer and Butler fellowships to attend Odum School. Locke and Williams-Carter are master’s students, while Scherick is working toward a Ph.D.