Dr. Mauricio E. Arias, PhD, PE
Dr. Mauricio E. Arias, PhD, PE
Dr. Mauricio E. Arias is an environmental engineer whose life and work reflect a deep commitment to understanding how water sustains ecosystems and communities across tropical and subtropical regions. Originally from Colombia, he developed an early appreciation for the complexity of river systems and the ways human activity can reshape them, a perspective that later guided his academic training and professional trajectory. After advancing into graduate research focused on hydrology and aquatic ecosystems, he began working extensively in Southeast Asia, where the Mekong River Basin and Tonle Sap Lake became defining anchors of his scientific career. His research in these systems revealed how hydropower development, climate variability, and changing land use alter ecological productivity, fisheries, sediment budgets, and food security, establishing him as a leading voice in the study of coupled human–water–ecosystem systems.
As an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida, Dr. Arias leads the Coupled Water Systems Lab, where he integrates hydrologic modeling, ecological engineering, biogeochemical analysis, remote sensing, and climate‑driven forecasting to investigate how water moves through watersheds, how ecosystems respond to hydrologic change, and how engineered infrastructure—from dams to stormwater ponds—reshapes natural processes. His work spans Florida’s most challenged aquatic systems, including Lake Okeechobee, the St. Lucie Estuary, and nutrient‑loaded urban stormwater ponds, where he develops predictive models and nature‑based solutions to mitigate harmful algal blooms, restore degraded ecosystems, and support sustainable water‑resource management. Across his career, Dr. Arias has remained committed not only to advancing interdisciplinary science but also to mentoring students, fostering international collaboration, and ensuring that water‑resource decisions are informed by rigorous research and a deep respect for the ecosystems and communities that depend on them.