Hello, I'm Gabriel ...

... a PhD qualified geo-environmental engineer with advanced expertise in physical and chemical hydrogeoscience. I love to get my hands dirty in the lab and field in order to make real-world measurements and observations. My passion lies in designing specialist field and laboratory experiments, acquiring, compiling and interpreting geoscience information using advanced data science tools provided through the Python programming language. My work aims to improve fundamental process understanding and to develop methods for the quantification of subsurface processes and properties. This includes water flows across the surface/subsoil boundary and the impact of underground resource extraction. Understanding and quantifying such processes must underpin sustainable management of Earth's resources. I believe in the power of collaboration and lead projects across countries and disciplines.

Currently, I am appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Applied Geosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. I am also affiliated as a Visiting Fellow at UNSW's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Connected Waters Initiative, UNSW's multi-disciplinary and cross-faculty groundwater research centre, as well as Australia’s National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training.

Profiles

Experience

May 2019 - present: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow

Department of Engineering Geology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Funded by the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program

May 2018 - present: Visiting Research Fellow

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
In recognition of my UNSW track record

July 2018 - present: Assistant Professor

Department of Engineering Geology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Faculty position

Dec 2016 - April 2018: Lecturer

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Faculty position

Dec 2014 - Nov 2016: Associate Lecturer

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Faculty position

Dec 2011 - Nov 2014: Postdoctoral Research Associate

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Funded by the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Australia

Dec 2008 - Nov 2011: Research Associate

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Funded by the Australian Government's National Water Commission and the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Awards

2019: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship

European Commission

2013: Finalist, Malcolm Chaikin Prize for Research Excellence

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney

2012: Outstanding Student Paper Award

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011

2011: Team finalist, National Water Commission Professor Peter Cullen Eureka Prize for Water Research and Innovation

Team: Prof. I. Acworth, A/Prof. B Kelly, Dr. M Andersen, A McCallum, A Greve and G C Rau

2009: Student Conference Sponsorship Award

International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), NSW Chapter, Australia

Certificates

Oct 2019: Leadership Excellence Foundations

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Three-day seminar about leadership models, effective coaching and conflict resolution

Sept 2019: The Art of Natural Presentation

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Three-day practical workshop aiming to improve communication skills by using natural body language

Nov 2016: Higher Degree Research Supervision Essentials

Faculty of Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Taining required for the supervision of PhD/MPhil research candidates at UNSW

Oct 2016: Foundations of University Learning and Teaching

Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Education, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Teaching practice development by exploring a range of perspectives, ideas, theories, and practical approaches to learning and teaching in the higher education context

Nov 2013: Solute and Reactive Transport Modelling

National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Australia

Education

2009 - 2012: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Thesis: Experimental Analysis of Heat as a Tracer for the Quantfication of Thermal Dispersion and Water Flow in Sand

2002 - 2008: Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl.-Ing.) Umweltschutztechnik

University of Stuttgart, Germany
Thesis: The Use of Natural Heat as a Tracer to Quantify Groundwater Surface Water Interactions: Maules Creek, New South Wales, Australia
This degree is comparable to a Master in Environmental Engineering Science