Principal Investigator

Elli Papangelakis, PhD

Dr. Elli Papangelakis is an Assistant Professor and the Fairley Gadsby Research Chair in Fluvial Geomorphology in the School of Earth, Environment & Society at McMaster University. 
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Education
  • PhD - Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo (2019)
  • MSc - Geography, University of British Columbia (2015)
  • BSc - Physics and Physical Geography (double major), University of Toronto (2013)
Research Interests
  • Sediment transport processes
  • River monitoring technologies
  • Urban river management and restoration
  • Wood dynamics in streams
  • Citizen science in geomorphology
  • Geomorphic applications of UAV-based surveying technology

Research Team

Priyanka Hire 
PhD Student

Priyanka has completed BSc and MSc degree in Geography. She grew up asking "What makes the rivers flow this way?" - no wonder her research interest lies in Fluvial Geomorphology! Priyanka is pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Dr. Papangelakis. Her project focuses on erosion risk assessment for watersheds in Toronto in collaboration with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Nicole Carson
MSc Student

Nicole is a MSc student researching Operator Bias in River Assessment Procedures and Geomorphic Techniques with Dr. Papangelakis. She is a young professional currently working in environmental consulting who has returned to school as a part-time student to expand her horizons and learn more about geomorphic processes.

Kate Pearson
MSc Student

Kate is a MSc student working with Dr. Papangelakis' group examining the long-term performance of river restoration projects across southern Ontario. She is also helping both in the lab to support ongoing research projects on restoring salmon habitats in rivers in British Columbia.  Kate enjoys hiking and collecting rocks along the way! 

Thomas Nucci
BSc Student

Thomas is currently pursuing a BSc in Integrated Science and Environmental Science and working as a summer research assistant in the lab. Thomas completed an Independent Project in the lab during Winter 2025, examining how surficial geology affects the accuracy of regional curves in predicting stream channel dimensions. In Fall 2025, Thomas will begin his undergraduate Thesis, investigating how streams are classified as urban versus rural, and which geomorphic variables best differentiate disturbed streams from undisturbed streams in urban environments.

Olive Thomas
MSc Thesis Student

Olive is a MSc student with the research group who started in the Fall of 2025 under the supervision of Dr. Papangelakis.  She is working towards developing a geomorphic classification system for waterfalls along the Niagara Escarpment. The aim to contribute to the understanding of how erosion along the escarpment face affects watersheds and ecosystems that they are a part of.

Alumni

Flora Sun - BSc Honours Thesis Student
​Theo Collins - BSc Honours Thesis Student
Keira Hum - BSc Honours Thesis Student
Nisreen Al-Ghorani - Postdoctoral Fellow
Shelby Grohn - MSc Student
Shania Ramharrack-Maharaj - BSc Honours Thesis Student

Elli Papangelakis, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Fairley Gadsby Research Chair in Fluvial Geomorphology

Office: General Science Building, 231
Email: [email protected]

Google Scholar - ResearchGate

​School of Earth, Environment & Society
McMaster University 
1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON