mesoProgram Team
mesoTeam team social distancing kayak adventure August 2020
Tiffany L. Messer, PhD (Principle Investigator)
Dr. Tiffany Messer grew up on a farm east of Winchester, Kentucky, where her love for water resources was sparked. She joined the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of Kentucky in October 2020. She holds degrees in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (University of Kentucky, B.S., 2008) and Biological and Agricultural Engineering (North Carolina State University, M.S. 2010, PhD, 2015). Additionally, Tiffany completed a postdoctoral appointment in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University (2015-2016) to focus on ecological designs and analytical chemistry.
Her research interests reside at the intersection of engineering, ecology, and agriculture with an emphasis on environmental biogeochemistry and water resources in human impacted ecosystems. She works specifically on identifying, tracing, and treating nutrients and emerging contaminants using ecological engineered designs (i.e., wetlands, streams, stormwater control measures). Along with being awarded over $3.5 million as a project investigator (PI) or co-PI in grant funding, she has been awarded the NSF CAREER Award (2021), USDA AFRI NIFA Postdoctoral fellowship (2016), and the EPA STAR (2012-2015) fellowship. These grants have allowed her to form an incredible team including graduate and undergraduate engineering and natural resource researchers that embrace inclusivity, diversity, and community, while studying designs to improve water quality in Kentucky, the southeast, midwest and beyond. Additionally, she is an active member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and the American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES).
She loves teaching and has taught GIS for Water Resources (junior-graduate level), Engineering Computer program (freshman level), Constructed Wetlands (junior-graduate level), Soil and Water Engineering (junior-senior level), and Engineering Technical Writing (graduate level) courses. Most importantly she enjoys hearing about student experiences, connecting students with employers, and guiding students to reach their career dreams.
In her free time, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her family, which include her husband (Patrick), sons (Elliott (8) and Raymond (5)), and 11 yr West Highland Terrier (Oliver). She also enjoys hiking, art projects, traveling, and visiting the family farm.
Kiley Power
(MS Student)
Kiley Power is a master student in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky. Kiley is a Lexington native and attended the University of Kentucky for her undergrad where she received her bachelor’s degree in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering as well as a certificate in Environmental Engineering. Dr. Tiffany Messer is her academic advisor, and her research focuses on the filtration of nanopesticides through wetlands on a mesocosm scale. Outside of school, Kiley enjoys spending time outdoors, whether she's horse-back riding, hiking, kayaking, or running.
Matthew Russell
(PhD Student / Lab Technician)
Matthew Vincent Russell is a PhD student in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky. Matthew was born in McCook, Nebraska but moved shortly after to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. For his bachelor’s degrees, Matthew moved back to Nebraska and completed degrees in Water Science and in Environmental Restoration Science. He then obtained his master’s degree at UNL in Natural Resources with a specialization in Hydrology. Before Matthew began his master’s degree, he worked for one year in Omaha, NE at a civil site engineering firm as an environmental scientist I. Dr. Tiffany Messer is his academic advisor, and his research focuses on the assessment of floating treatment wetlands and their productivity when livestock antibiotics and nitrogen inhibitors are introduced. In his free time, Matthew likes to cook, play/coach soccer, camp, and spend time with his fiancée, Megan, and golden lab, Maverick.
Alexis McFadden
(MS Student)
Alexis McFadden is a M.S. student in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky. She was born in Irmo, South Carolina and earned her B.S. in Biosystems Engineering with an emphasis in Ecological Engineering and a minor in Sustainability from Clemson University. Her academic advisor is Dr. Tiffany Messer, and her research focuses on sulfate contamination in downstream rivers below mining operations. In her free time, Alexis enjoys playing the viola and hiking.
Katherine Risotola
(MS Student)
Coming soon!
William Rud
(MS Student)
William Rud is a Master student in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky. He is from Smiths Station, Alabama where he lived until moving to Auburn for his undergraduate degree. William obtained his Bachelor of Biosystems Engineering from Auburn University before moving to Kentucky to start his research with Dr. Tiffany Messer. His research focuses on the impact of nanopesticides on nutrient cycling in wetlands and agroecosystems. William plans to continue his education with doctoral degree in ecological engineering. In his free time William likes to backpack, cook, canoe, and volunteer with scouting.
Emily Nottingham
(PhD Student )
Emily is originally from Ozawkie, Kansas. She attended Kansas State University for my bachelor's and master's degrees in Biosystems Engineering. Currently, she is working on her PhD where she studies constructed wetland treatment of emerging contaminants from urban and rural runoff. Her research interests include the nexus of food, energy, and water systems as well as managing water quality and quantity concerns with ecological-based solutions. Upon graduating from the University of Kentucky, she hopes to continue in academia. Emily also enjoys running, going on walks with her pup Penny, and exploring everything Kentucky has to offer!
Kyle Lemaster
(Undergraduate Researcher)
Coming soon!
Caleb Stickney
(MS Student)
Coming soon!
LinkedIn
Lillian Schlaug
(Undergraduate Researcher)
Lillian Schlaug is an undergraduate student studying Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky. Lillian was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She is interested in learning more about water quality issues and the overall research process. Her hobbies include hiking, kayaking and going to concerts.
mesoTeam team picture via Zoom call in March 2020
mesoProgram Alumni
Graduate Students
Sam Hansen, M.S. Biological Systems Engineering (Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality; Lincoln, NE)
Mary Keilhauer, M.S. Natural Resource Sciences (MIG; Denver, CO)
Julia Lindgren, M.S. Environmental Engineering (HDR; Boise, ID)
Levi McKercher, M.S. Natural Resource Sciences (PhD Student, University of South Carolina)
Jessica Satiroff, M.S. Environmental Engineering (Infrastructure Design Group, Inc.; Sioux Falls, SD).
Brittany Trejo, M.S. Environmental Engineering (U.S. Department of Defense; Albuquerque, NM).
Nayelly Rodriguez, M.S. Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (PROtect; Denver, CO)
Josephus Borsuah, Ph.D. Natural Resource Sciences (PostDoc, University of Nebraska Civil Engineering; Lincoln, NE)
Jacob Richardson, M.S. Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (TBD)
Kyra Sigler, M.S. Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (PhD Student, Virginia Tech)
Undergraduate Researchers
Natalie Balbuena
Alexa Davis
Kaitlyn Duncan
Autumn Dunn
Garrett Isom
PJ Hildebrand
Maddie Johnson
Trevor Kaslon
Helen Little
Bailey Monroe
Erin Remley
Ken Oathout
Abbey Osborne
Adam Ransdell
Rachel Rohrer
Vanessa Spring
Jacob Stover
Rob Schroeder
Benjamin Worden
Brody Zabel