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Alabama Water Institute

AWI Faculty Fellows

The Alabama Water Institute Faculty Fellowship Program recognizes University of Alabama faculty for outstanding research, extension, and education programs that significantly advance UA’s interdisciplinary water-related communities of science. Each year, AWI’s research entities select faculty members to join the fellowship. CIROH, Global Water Security Center (GWSC,) and CONSERVE Research Group Faculty Fellowships are awarded to candidates who are affiliated with AWI. Each fellowship has a tenure of three academic years.

Class of 2027 Fellows

Photo of Dr. Aijun Song

Aijun Song, Ph.D.

CIROH Faculty Fellow

Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Photo of Dr. Jonathan Frame

Jonathan Frame, Ph.D.

CIROH Faculty Fellow

Assistant Professor of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Geological Sciences

Photo of Dr. Mesfin Mekonnen

Mesfin Mekonnen, Ph.D.

GWSC Faculty Fellow

Assistant Professor in Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

Photo of Dr. Rebecca Totten

Rebecca Totten, Ph.D

CONSERVE Faculty Fellow

Associate Professor of Geological Sciences

Distinguished Fellows

photo of Dr. Gregory Starr

Gregory Starr, Ph.D.

Professor of Biological Sciences

Portrait of Dr. Mukesh Kumar

Mukesh Kumar, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Early Career Fellows

photo of Dr. Matthew VanDyke

Matthew S. VanDyke, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations

Portrait of Dr. Hamed Moftakhari

Hamed Moftakhari

Assistant Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Portrait of Dr. Wanyun "Abby" Shao

Wanyun “Abby” Shao, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Geography

Portrait of Dr. Steven T. Weinman

Steven T. Weinman, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering