My name is Barb Utley, and you have found my research page. Growing up I spent time in many parts of the country, but I have called Georgia home for 7 years before moving up to Blacksburg. I am currently a doctoral candidate at Virginia Tech in the Biological Systems Engineering Department. I am a member of Two Sweet, the Stream and Wetland Ecological Engineering Team at Virginia Tech. My dissertation topic is the Development of an In-stream Permittivity Sensor for Continuous Monitoring of Suspended Sediment Concentration. I completed my Undergraduate and Master's degrees in Biological Engineering at the University of Georgia. My Master's thesis was the Effect of Landuse on Sediment Oxygen Demand Dynamics in Blackwater Streams (For more information please visit the "Sediment Oxygen Demand page".
My interests include water resource engineering, specifically stream restoration and ecosystem function and health. My course work focused mainly on fluvial dynamics in urban and agricultural settings. Since both my Masters and PhD projects are based on the affects of sediment or measuring aspects of sediment in streams, I have also taken classes in soil physics and chemistry.
Away from school, I enjoy hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities with friends and Beamer (my Dog!). Also, since adopting my four legged friend 4 years ago, I have enjoyed working with him in obedience and agility.
