Headshot of Jeff Niemann.

Jeffrey D. Niemann

Faoro Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Jeffrey D. Niemann is the Faoro Professor of Water Resources in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He earned a B.S. with High Distinction from the University of Colorado at Boulder and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Niemann’s research interests center on hydrology and geomorphology. His research has included: analyzing the structure of channel networks, simulating long-term landscape evolution, modeling and downscaling soil moisture patterns, quantifying evapotranspiration from shallow groundwater, measuring and modeling snowpack and frozen ground, simulating flood events in mountain basins, modeling hydrologic response in urban areas, mapping flood inundation, forecasting landslide and debris flow occurrence, assessing climate change impacts on regional water balance, and quantifying uncertainty in model forecasts. Dr. Niemann was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers at the White House in 2002 and was appointed the Borland Chair of Hydrology in 2010 and 2019. Dr. Niemann coordinates the Hydrologic Science and Engineering and Water and International Development (WAID) academic programs, and he teaches Basic Hydrology, Watershed Modeling, and Water Engineering for International Development.  In 2016, Dr. Niemann was honored with the Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Niemann is also active in the field of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).  He has contributed to drinking water and sanitation system projects in rural El Salvador, Belize, Burundi, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guatemala, Kenya, and elsewhere. In 2011, Dr. Niemann was honored with the George T. Abell Award for Outstanding International Contributions and the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Research Focus Areas

  • Hydrology
  • Geomorphology
  • Soil Moisture
  • Floods
  • Snowpack

Education

  • B.S. 1993, University of Colorado – Civil Engineering
  • M.S. 1997, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Ph.D. 2001, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Civil and Environmental Engineering

Highlighted Honors and Awards

  • 2019: Faculty Award for Outstanding Performance, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • 2010 and 2019: Borland Chair of Hydrology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • 2011: George T. Abell Award for Outstanding International Contributions, Colorado State University
  • 2002: Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, White House