CV - University of Colorado Boulder

Francis Kevin Rengers
EDUCATION
• Ph.D., Geology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO August 2009-Present
Thesis Title: The Influence of Transient Perturbations on Landscape Evolution: Exploring Gully Erosion
and Post-Wildfire Erosion
Advisor: Dr. Greg Tucker
• University of Colorado Hydrological Sciences Graduate Certificate March 2012
• M. S., Geology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO August 2005
Thesis Title: Grain Size Trends of Gravel Bars on the Rio Chagres, Panama
Advisor: Dr. Ellen Wohl
• B. S., Geology, Summa Cum Laude, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV August 2003
Senior Thesis Title: Spatial Analysis of Landforms on Reclaimed Surface Mines of Monongalia County
Advisor: Dr. J. Steven Kite
• B. A., French, Summa Cum Laude, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV August 2003
WORK EXPERIENCE
Staff Fluvial Geomorphologist March 2009 to July 2009
Golder Associates*, Denver, CO
Supervisor: Dr. George Annandale
• General Responsibilities: fluvial geomorphology, sediment transport, hydrology, and hydraulics.
*Golder Associates acquired Engineering and Hydrosystems, the company I was working for previously.
Staff Fluvial Geomorphologist March 2006 to March 2009
Engineering and Hydrosystems, Inc., Littleton, CO
Supervisor: Dr. George Annandale
• General Responsibilities: fluvial geomorphology, sediment transport, hydrology, and hydraulics.
• Designed and conducted sediment sampling plans in gravel-bed and sand-bed rivers.
• Utilized sediment sampling techniques including: Wolman Pebble Count, sieve analysis, and
photographic interpretation using the software GoldSize.
• Utilized sediment gradation data and soil characteristics to predict future stream erosion with the
Annandale Erodibility Index and hydraulic calculations.
• Conducted paleo-hydrologic and geomorphic field interpretation to predict future stream
erosion/deposition trends.
• Collected and analyzed spatial data with ArcGIS 9.3 employing the ArcHydro toolbox, and the Spatial
Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions.
• Conducted hydraulic and hydrologic modeling with the following software packages: HEC-RAS, HEC-
HMS, GOLDSIM (used to create water balance models), and SITES (NRCS spillway erosion prediction
model).
• Employed analytical tools including: MathCAD, FLOWMASTER, TR-55, and ArcGIS 9.3.
Water Resource Specialist Intern June 2005 to March 2006
Colorado Water Conservation Board, Denver, CO
Supervisor: Jeff Baessler
• Aided the Stream and Lake Protection Section of the Colorado Water Conservation Board in water right
appropriation for instream flow protection, and prepared reports to be presented at public meetings.
1

• Estimated water availability in ungaged basins.
• Utilized ArcGIS 9.1 to produce maps for legal presentations.
• Conducted stream channel classification, and evaluated minimum instream flow requirements using the
R2Cross method.
Whitewater Raft Guide May 2004 to August 2004
A-1 Wildwater, Fort Collins, CO
Supervisor: Robert Breckenridge
• Led class III and IV whitewater rafting trips on the Cache la Poudre River, Colorado.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant June 2010-Present
University of Colorado
Advisor: Dr. Greg Tucker
• Research Focus 1: Researching the mechanics of gully erosion at a field site on the high plains of
Colorado using a highly instrumented watershed and numerical modeling.
• Research Focus 2: Exploring post-wildfire erosion in Colorado on a site burned in 1996 and a site burned
in 2010.
• Field work for Research Focus 1: Developed a highly instrumented watershed to monitor gully erosion:
installed 5 rain gages, 2 soil moisture probes, 1 Parshall flume, 2 overland flow detectors, 3 field cameras,
and multiple stakes to measure flow depth and headcut propagation. Used Terrestrial LiDAR to
investigate headcut erosion in gullies.
• Field work for Research Focus 2: Installed a Parshall flume, rain gage, shallow groundwater well, and a
temperature logger to monitor stream discharge and the influence of vegetation growth on a stream
affected by wildfire. Used Terrestrial LiDAR to quantify post-wildfire erosion.
• Analytical Work: Spatial analysis of LiDAR data using ArcGIS, MATLAB, RiScan, and Terrascan.
Time-series analysis of field data to explore the mechanics of gully headcut propagation. Development of
numerical models to explore 1) the landscape effect of gully erosion and 2) the landscape response to
post-wildfire erosion.
Research Assistant August 2004-May 2005
Colorado State University
Advisor: Dr. Ellen Wohl
• Conducted research on sediment grain size patterns in the remote upper Rio Chagres Basin, Panama.
• Field work included: GPS mapping, modified Wolman Pebble Counts, petrologic identification of river
sediments, identification of active fluvial deposition zones, coordination of helicopter transport between
sample sites, and management of a Panamanian field assistant.
• Analytical work included: statistical analysis of river gravel data using SAS statistical software, spatial
analysis with Global Mapper (a geographic information system), and numerical analysis in MS Excel and
SigmaPlot.
Research Assistant July 2003
West Virginia University
Supervisor: Dr. Jaime Toro
• Assisted Dr. Jaime Toro and graduate student Laura Burnette collect structural geologic data in the York
Mountains, Alaska.
• Field work included: strike and dip measurements, geologic mapping, and petrologic identification.
Researcher (Senior Thesis) August 2002-May 2003
West Virginia University
2

Advisor: Dr. J. Steven Kite
• Compared the slope form of reclaimed strip mining areas with those in nearby unmined areas.
• Field work included: landform identification and GPS mapping.
• Analytical work included: landform morphometry analysis using ArcGIS 8.
Summer Intern June-August 2002
University of Petrosani
Supervisor: Dr. Eugen Traista
• Conducted water quality research with Dr. Eugene Trista of the University of Petrosani, Petrosani,
Romania.
• Field work included: water quality sampling and macro-invertebrate collection.
• Analytical work included: chemical testing for dissolved oxygen and phosphorus levels.
Research Assistant August 2001-May 2002
West Virginia University
Supervisor: Jocelyn Smith
• Assisted Jocelyn Smith, a geomorphology graduate student studying the impacts of strip mine
reclamation on first-order drainages in the Appalachians.
• Field work included: slope measurements and GPS mapping throughout the academic year.
Study Abroad Participant May 2001-June 2001
West Virginia University
Supervisors: Drs. Michael and Valerie Lastinger
• Took part in a six-week study abroad course in Vendee, France through West Virginia University.
During my time there I took on a research project involving the provenance and transport of sand on the
beach of Les Sables d’Olonne in western France.
• Research included: a literature search and interviews with the director of Le Musée du Sable “The Sand
Museum.”
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant August 2009-May 2010
University of Colorado, Department of Geological Sciences
• Introduction to Geology Lab
Teaching Assistant January 2004-May 2004
Colorado State University, Department of Geosciences
• Geomorphology Lab
Teaching Assistant August 2003-December 2003
Colorado State University, Department of Geosciences
• Introduction to Geology Lab
Geology Tutor August 2002-May 2003
West Virginia University, Department of Geology and Geography
• Tutored a blind student for two semesters in geology classes. Planet Earth (Geology 101) and Earth
through Time (Geology 103).
3

PUBLICATIONS
In Preparation:
Rengers, F. and Tucker, G. Modeling Gully Headcut Dynamics, in prep.
Rengers, F. and Tucker, G. Combining Terrestrial LiDAR and Field Monitoring to Track 3D Evolution of Gully
Headcuts, in prep.
Rengers, F., Tucker, G., and Moody, J. Post-Wildfire Erosion Illuminated: Measuring Hydrologic Impacts in a
Burned Watershed with Terrestrial LiDAR, in prep.
Published:
Rengers, F. and Wohl, E. 2006. Trends of Grain Sizes on Gravel Bars in the Rio Chagres, Panama.
Geomorphology. vol. 83, issue 3-4, p. 282-293.
PRESENTATIONS
Rengers, F. and Tucker, G. 2011. "Integrating Field Measurements and Numerical Modeling to Investigate Gully
Network Evolution." Poster. American Geophysical Union. San Francisco, California. December 6, 2011.
Rengers, F., Tucker, G., Phillips, D.A., Okal, M. 2011. "Exploring Knickpoint Retreat Mechanics with Repeat
Terrestrial Lidar Scans". Talk. Geological Society of America. Minneapolis, Minnesota. October 11, 2011.
Rengers, F. 2008. “Predicting Bank Erosion Using a GIS.” Talk. Colorado Association of Stormwater and
Floodplain Managers Annual Meeting. Crested Butte, Colorado. September 11, 2008.
Rengers, F.K. and Patterson, J.M. 2007. “A Method for Quantifying Geomorphic Change in Fluvial Systems.”
Talk. American Association of Geographers Meeting. San Francisco, California. April 20, 2007.
Rengers, F. and Wohl E.E. 2005. “Overview of Particle Size Trends of Gravel Bars on the Upper Rio Chagres,
Panama.” Talk. Hydrology Days. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. March 7, 2005.
Rengers, F. Wohl E.E. 2004. “Surface Grain Size Distribution of Gravel Bars on the Rio Chagres, Panama.”
Poster. Geological Society of America Meeting. Denver, Colorado. November 8, 2004.
Burnette, L.L., Toro, J., and Rengers, F. 2004. “Geologic Mapping and Structural Analysis of the Central York
Mountains, Seward Peninsula, Alaska.” Abstract. Northeastern Section and Southeastern Section Joint
Meeting of the Geological Society of America. Washington, D.C. March 25, 2004.
Kite, J. S., Smith, J., and Rengers, F.K., 2003. “Deranged Drainage in Appalachian Headwaters Impacted by
Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation” Abstract. Geological Society of America Meeting. Seattle,
Washington. November 3, 2003.
AFFILIATIONS
Geological Society of America
American Geophysical Union
Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System
American Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (Certified Floodplain Manager)
4

Colorado Geomorphology Organization (Co-Founder; President)
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (Completed Project Leader Training)
Colorado Riparian Association
AWARDS
Invited Honoraries:
Gamma Beta Phi - Service Organization
Pi Delta Phi – French Honorary
Phi Beta Kappa-Academic Honorary
Phi Kappa Phi-Academic Honorary
West Virginia University Honors Program
Scholarships:
Geological Society of America Student Research Grant for Pressure Transducers 2010
• Scholarship Award Amount: $2000
Colorado State University College of Natural Resources Schumm Award 2004
• Scholarship Award Amount: $3000
Faltis Scholarship 2002
• Scholarship Award Amount: $1000
Eberly Scholarship 2001-2003
• Scholarship Award Amount: $1000/annum
Brozuas Foundation Award Scholarship 2000
• Scholarship Award Amount: $1000
West Virginia University Benedum Essay Award Winner 2000
• Scholarship Award Amount: $500
Mountaineer Scholarship 1999-2003
• Scholarship Award Amount: $1500/annum for four years
Greater Kanawha Valley W.P. Black Scholarship 1999-2003
• Scholarship Award Amount: $1000/annum for four years
Additional Awards:
West Virginia University Outstanding Geology Senior May 2003
West Virginia University Honors Scholar August 2003
West Virginia University Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Certificate of Achievement May 2002
Big East Cross-Country Championship Participant October 2000
Rotary Exchange Student to Belgium July 1998 - June 1999
Eagle Scout November1996
5