Meet The Staff
Meet the NRES Staff
Dr. Laura Bowling
Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and water resources from Princeton University, and her master’s and doctorate from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle. Laura is a Full Professor with research and teaching responsibilities in the Department of Agronomy at Purdue University and has a courtesy appointment in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Laura teaches an undergraduate course in Environmental Hydrology and Hydrologic Field Skills and serves as an undergraduate advisor. She also mentors several graduate students and teaches a graduate-level course in Statistical Hydrology.
Her research interests include quantifying the hydrologic and water quality impacts of agricultural drainage practices, investigation of edge-of-field and watershed-scale conservation measures to mitigate the impacts, and evaluation of water resources sustainability, with emphasis on agricultural water use. Laura serves as a member of the Executive Committee of both the Purdue Climate Change Research Center and the Purdue Water Community, and as one of the Purdue representatives to the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI). She also serves on the University Library Committee.
Dr. Bijoychandra S. Takhellambam
Dr. Takhellambam, our esteemed Post-Doctoral Research Assistant, will take on the role of Co-Instructor for NRES 497 (Senior Capstone) and NRES 338 (Environmental Field Skills). He received his Ph.D. in Biosystem Engineering from Auburn University, with a minor in statistics, and a master's degree in Hydrology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India.
His research focuses on hydrological modeling of surface and subsurface water resources, as well as assessing the effects of hydroclimate, hydroclimatic extremes, and the use of deep learning approaches. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, and trekking and is interested in language learning
Dr. Bijoychandra Takhellambam
Mandy Chalk Marquardt
Mandy has been advising at Purdue University for over seven years. Prior to joining the NRES staff, Mandy has advised in Purdue’s Exploratory Studies program and Daniels School of Business (formerly Krannert School of Management). She earned her Bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Valparaiso University, and she earned her Master’s in Public Affairs from Indiana University South Bend. A native of Indiana, Mandy enjoys traveling, reading, ballroom dancing, and playing board games. She looks forward to helping students who are passionate about making the Earth a better place!
Cora Chavez
Cora Chavez, Administrative Assistant at NRES & OAP, brings valuable expertise in Business Administration to the team. Her primary goal is to contribute to the success of students through her dedication and support. With a passion for helping others, Cora is excited to make a positive impact and assist in any way possible.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Cora enjoys pursuing her hobbies during her free time. She cherishes moments spent with her family, appreciating the bonds they share. Exploring nature through trail walks is another activity that brings her joy and rejuvenation.