Current Group Members

David Hanigan, PhD, PE
Associate Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Nevada, Reno
Phone: 775-682-7517

---

Kenny Hickenbottom
Ph.D. Student

I'm from Carson City, Nevada. I am interested in water treatment issues relating to the Reno-Tahoe area and my research at UNR focuses on the influence of wildfire on disinfection by-product formation. I like rock climbing, music, and looking for cool rocks with my wife!

Seth McCoy
Ph.D. Student

Mike DeNicola
M.S. Student

I grew up in Houston Texas and Attended the University of Redlands in Southern California where I got my bachelors in environmental science and minored in chemistry.  Since then I have held a variety of jobs ranging from analytical chemistry to forest and rangeland ecological monitoring with organizations such as the University of California, US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.  My current research interests include water quality and contaminant fate and transport.  In my free time I enjoy mountain biking, fishing, dancing poorly, and exploring the outdoors.

Haley Grable
M.S. Student

​I am from Athens, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in cognitive science. My research focuses on post-wildfire PFAS fate. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy playing guitar, collecting plants, and exploring the outdoors.

Aditya Prathap
Undergraduate Researcher

I am from El Dorado Hills, California and am a fourth year Civil Engineering student focusing in hydrology and water resources aiming to graduate in May of 2023. My work at UNR is focusing on disinfection byproducts. Outside of courses I enjoy cycling, hiking, and being a member of the Nevada Concrete Canoe team.

AJ Mathew
Undergraduate Researcher
I'm from Henderson, Nevada. I am a third year student getting my degree in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Environmental Science, and I am very excited to learn more about water pollution and remediation. My research work studies disinfection byproduct formation in drinking water. In my free time, I like to read, hike, and enjoy the sun.

Dalia Marin-Rios
Undergraduate Researcher

I’m from Reno, Nevada. I’ll be receiving my bachelors degree in Environmental Engineering in May of 2023. I am very interested in improving the quality of and preserving water in Northern Nevada. I started assisting Kevin in the lab in June 2022. I enjoy reading, swimming, and hanging out with my dogs. 

Eden Ansell
Undergraduate Researcher

I am originally from Las Vegas, and came to the University of Nevada, Reno to pursue my bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Civil engineering has been my passion for most of my life -- with my main area of interest being in water resources and hydrology. I am excited to be assisting Kenny in his research regarding the influence of wildfires on disinfection by-product formation. In my free time, I like to crochet and hang out with my pet rats!

---

Prior Students and Post-docs

Xuexiang He
Post-Doc (2021-2022)

Ibrahim Abusallout
Post-Doc (2019-2021)
Now with CDM-Smith

Mingrui Song
Ph.D. (2022)
Now post doc at UC-Riverside

Junli Wang
Ph.D. (2022)
Now post doc at UC-Riverside

Priyamvada Sharma
Ph.D. (2021)
Now with Geosyntec

Utsav Thapa
Ph.D. (2021)
Now a post-doc at SUNY-Buffalo

Kevin Stewart
M.S. (2022)
Now with Keller Associates

Libby McKenna
M.S. (2020)
Now with Corona Environmental Consulting

Saeed Arabi
M.S. ChemE (2020, Co-advised with Dr. Sage Hiibel)

Andrew Poustie
M.S. (2018)
Now with Stantec Engineering

---

Prior Undergraduate Researchers

Jackie Kittredge (2021-2022, BS EnvrE), now with Keller and Associates
Aron Chan (2019-2021, BS EnvrE), now with Nevada Department of Transportation
Jackson Alicata (2018-2019, BS ChemE)
Chelsea Cluff (2016-2017, BS CEE), now with Farr West Engineering