Dr. Thomas P. Ballestero, P.E.
238 Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 603-862-1405
tom.ballestero@unh.edu

Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at UNH
Member of the Environmental Research Group
Water Resource Engineering and Hydrology
UNH Stormwater Center Director and Principal Investigator

Tom Ballestero is a hydrologist and water resources engineer. His role in the Center is Co-Principal Investigator and Lead Scientist.  He is an Associate Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of New Hampshire. His experience with surface water runoff extends back to 1976 when he co-taught short courses on modeling techniques. His current research projects include the Stormwater Center, stream restoration (in close collaboration with the US Fish & Wildlife Service), and bedrock hydrogeology. Dr. Ballestero teaches advanced courses on: stormwater systems, stream restoration, sediment transport, open channel flow, engineering hydrology, and hydrologic monitoring. Dr. Ballestero is the former Director of the New Hampshire Water resources Research Center, and is presently a commissioner for the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.  Dr. Ballestero holds professional licensure as a:  Professional Engineer, Professional Hydrologist, Professional Geologist, and Groundwater Professional.

Dr. Alison Watts
222 Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 603-862-
alison.watts@unh.edu

Affiliate Faculty

Alison Watts is an Assistant Research Professor in the UNH Department of Civil Engineering. Her research includes a study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) transport from seal coated surfaces, research on the movement and transformation of PAHs in wetlands; nutrient removal mechanisms; statistical analysis of hydrologic data; ecological assessment of stormwater wetlands, and the use of stormwater wetlands to treat deicing runoff from airports. Dr. Watts has experience in groundwater studies, and wetlands mapping, as well as course work in hydrology, wetlands ecology, environmental microbiology, and geostatistics. She is involved in natural resource and wetlands conservation in her local community, and is a member of the Newfields Conservation Commission. Dr. Watts is a NH Professional Geologist, and has over ten years of experience as a consultant in contaminant investigations, site assessment and remediation. She has an MS in Geology, and a PhD in Civil Engineering/Water Resources.

Dr. Robert Roseen, D.WRE, P.E.

Part-time Affiliate Research Assistant Professor

Staff

James Houle, MA, CPSWQ
244 Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 603-767-7091
james.houle@unh.edu 

Program Manager

James Houle is the Program Manager for the Stormwater Center. His responsibilities include directing and managing the Stormwater Center's growing body of research projects.  Areas of expertise include the design and implementation of innovative stormwater control measures including porous pavements and subsurface gravel wetland systems, low impact development (LID) and green infrastructure (GI) planning and implementation, operation and maintenance, and water resource monitoring.

Mr. Houle holds an M.A. in Sustainable Development a B.S. in Molecular Biology and is currently enrolled in the Natural Resources & Earth Systems Science Ph.D. Program at UNH. He has over fifteen years of experience with water quality related issues in New Hampshire and is a certified professional in storm water quality (C.P.S.W.Q.).

Timothy A. Puls
Phone: 603-343-6672
timothy.puls@unh.edu

Site Facility Manager

Timothy Puls rejoined the UNH Stormwater team in the spring of 2008 as the Site Facility Manager. His responsibilities include management of day-to-day field operations, maintenance of the field facilities, and assisting in the management and development of ongoing research projects. Tim worked as an engineering consultant in the private sector focusing on municipal infrastructure projects throughout southern New Hampshire from 2006-2008. Tim initially joined the UNH Stormwater Center while attending the UNH College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. He worked as an undergraduate research assistant from 2005 through 2007.  During his time at UNH Tim was a member of Students Without Borders, a student chapter of Engineers Without Border – USA.  Through SWB Tim became involved in the development of sustainable agricultural systems and practices at the UNH Organic Garden.  He also worked with the YE Water Foundation in Jakarta, Indonesia developing a rainwater collection prototype as an alternative water supply for the cities poorest communities.  Tim graduated from UNH with a BS in Environmental Engineering: Municipal Processes in 2006.  

Grad Students

Iulia A. Barbu, EIT
230 Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 603-862-1172
iaj4@unh.edu 

PhD Candidate & Research Assistant

Iulia Barbu is a Doctoral Candidate studying Water Resources at the University of New Hampshire. She joined the UNH Stormwater Center in the Fall of 2007 as a research assistant after receiving her undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering (2005) from the University of Technical Engineering in Bucharest, Romania, and going through professional training with NH Department of Transportation. Currently, her research focus is in development of  mathematical models for designing and sizing LID stormwater systems and developing modeling tools for stormwater practitioners. Her work experience include road design, drinking and waste water treatment as well as stormwater systems design. Other research  interests include: climate change and policy development with regards to water resources and sustainable stormwater management.

Robin Stone
230 Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 603-862-1172
rml54@cisunix.unh.edu

Masters Student

Robin Stone came to UNH to pursue her master’s degree in January of 2011, joining the UNH Stormwater Center as a research assistant.  Her research focuses on the optimization of bioretention systems for nitrogen and phosphorus removal.  She is investigating both the soil composition and the structural design of bioretention systems.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX in 2006.  She then worked for three years a geophysical analyst,  processing seismic data for oil and gas exploration, before deciding to pursue an MS in Civil Engineering with a focus in water resources engineering.

Viktor Hlas
230 Gregg Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 603-862-1172
vir3@wildcats.unh.edu

Masters Student