Hi my name is Brandon! I am currently a Ph.D. student in Dr. Roman DiBiase's geomorphology group looking at sediment storage and transport in steep landscapes. I am looking in my backyard (the San Gabriel Mountains) and quantifying how sediment moves during and in the years following fire as dry ravel and as post wildfire debris flows! I have developed a strong passion for teaching and educating students, engaging in science communication and outreach with the local community, and am a strong advocate for science literacy and supporting undergraduates to participate in the geosciences. If anything sounds too complicated let me know! I strive to make my research and teaching plans simpler so anyone can understand, and there's no harm in asking!

 

     I grew up as a first-generation Asian American in beautiful sunny Southern California. I was not exposed to any outdoor activities often associated with the geosciences (camping, field work, climbing, multi-day backpacking hikes) until I assisted other graduate students in the field. As a result of being exposed to "the science of scenery" by Dr. Jimmy Guilinger, I was drawn to surface processes and narrowed my interests to sediment storage and transport following fires ("pyrogeomorphology").
     I obtained my undergraduate degree in environmental science from the University of California, Riverside, graduating cum laude and finishing the coursework for both specializations that are offered at my alma mater (environmental toxicology and natural sciences). As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to conduct my independent research under Dr. Andrew Gray's and Dr. Nicolas Barth's guidance on boulders mobilized by shallow landslides induced by high-intensity rainfall. After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I worked for a year at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) to calibrate and construct stormwater bioretention biofilters.
     During my time at Penn State, I continue to prioritize my research but also have and will continue to teach and mentor undergraduates through the NASA-URIP program at Penn State or through their senior thesis work. After obtaining my Ph.D., I hope to continue my research but also continue promoting and supporting the participation and growth of students in the geosciences, and educating the next generation of geoscientists to the best of my ability.

     In my free time, you can catch me reading about the late Roman Republic, playing video games like Pokemon Scarlet and Genshin Impact, running, hiking, crocheting, racquet sports (pickle ball, squash, badminton), throwing a baseball, hiking, talking about the Dodgers, or crashing on a mountain bike!
 

• My MTB nickname was "Crasher"! Lots of broken helmets and countless hospital visits to get stitches but surprisingly no broken bones! ​

• Only uses Altra Trail Runners for anything outdoors

• ​My major sports teams hierarchy:
  LeBron (LeGOAT, LeCaptain America) > Dodgers > Lakers > Bills