Elizabeth Jachens
About Elizabeth Jachens
Elizabeth Jachens is a hydrologist currently working at the U.S. Geological Survey, specializing in water resources and watershed behavior. She holds a PhD in Water Resources Engineering from Oregon State University and has experience in research, education, and engineering.
Work at U.S. Geological Survey
Elizabeth Jachens has been employed at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a Hydrologist since 2020. She works at the California Water Science Center, where she applies her expertise in hydrology to various projects. Her role involves analyzing water resources and contributing to the understanding of hydrological processes in California.
Education and Expertise
Elizabeth Jachens holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Water Resources Engineering from Oregon State University, which she completed in 2020. She also earned a Master of Science (MS) in the same field from the same institution in 2019. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Civil Engineering from California State University-Chico, completed in 2015. Additionally, she obtained a Graduate Certificate in Water Conflict Management and Transformation from Oregon State University.
Research and Projects
During her PhD research, Elizabeth Jachens focused on baseflow recession analysis and numerical modeling. Her dissertation involved fieldwork in the Oregon Cascades, where she studied watershed drought behavior and characteristics. This research contributes to the understanding of hydrological responses to drought conditions.
Professional Experience
Before her current role at USGS, Elizabeth Jachens worked in various positions related to hydrology and engineering. She served as a Graduate Research Assistant at Oregon State University from 2015 to 2020. She also held internships as a Project Engineer Intern at Magnus Pacific Corporation in 2015 and as an Engineering Aide at West Yost Associates in 2014.
Community Engagement and STEM Education
Elizabeth Jachens is the Educational Coordinator for TAHMO, a non-profit organization. In this role, she organizes and leads regional teacher training sessions. She develops instructional materials that emphasize STEM education, utilizing real and local weather data to enhance learning experiences for students.