Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini is a Civil Engineer and PhD in Environmental Engineering, with more than 20 years of experience in water resources. In particular: development, implementation and assessment of hydrological models.

I’m currently working as a full-time professor at the Department of Civil Engineering of the Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

Since March 2021, I’m working at the Assessment Group of Earth Sciences (Grupo de Evaluación de Ciencias de la Tierra) of the Chilean Science Foundation (ANID).

Current research interests

  • Use of satellite-based estimates of precipitation for drought monitoring and hydrological modelling.
  • Spatio-temporal analysis of droughts in data-scarce areas.
  • Global optimisation applied to hydrological models (PSO, DE, SCE-UA, SCEM, DREAM).
  • Global sensitivity analysis of hydrological models (Sobol’s, Morris).
  • Use of open-source tools for management and analysis of hydro-meteorological data (R, Qgis, Grass).
  • Development of R packages for hydrological analysis.

Education

  • 2007-2010: PhD in Environmental Engineering, Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Università degli Studi di Trento, Trento, Italy.
    Research topic: “On the effects of hydrological uncertainty in assessing the impacts of climate change on water resources”
  • Nov-Dec 2002: Diploma in Water Pollution, Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
  • Ago-Oct 2002: Diploma in Environmental Management, Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
  • 1992-1998: Civil Engineer, Faculty of Engineering, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile. Thesis title: Elaboración de un Programa en DELPHI para Modelación Unidimensional de Contaminantes en Ríos [Development of one-dimensional software modelling system for river pollutants, using Delphi language].

Awards

  • JRC IES Excellence Award, category: Support to EU Policy 2011. Given to the EFAS team in 2011.

  • Edgar Pino. Given by the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Concepción to the best degree thesis of the department in 1998.

Academic experience

  • 2014: Postgraduate courses as main professor, 4204082: Introducción al ambiente estadístico R para el análisis de datos ecológicos y ambientales, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
  • 2014: Undergraduate courses as main professor, 999035: Hidrología; 999102: Introducción al ambiente estadístico R para el análisis de datos ambientales, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
  • 2014: Undergraduate courses as collaborator, 999043: Gestión de recursos hídricos; 999075: Modelación ambiental; 999064: Hidrología avanzada, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.
  • 2005: Training on Hydrological Modelling for D.G.A., Trainer of Hydrological Modeling (surface water) to the Regional Water Directorates in Chile, Regional D.G.A.s, Chile.

Work experience

  • Nov 2018 - present: Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco (Araucanía), Chile.
  • Apr 2023 - present: Associate Researcher at the Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Research line: Water Extremes.
  • Mar 2021 - present: Member of the Earth Sciences Evaluation Group at the National Research and Development Agency (ANID).
  • May 2015 - 2022: Adjoint Researcher at the Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Research line: Climate Dynamics.
  • Mar 2015 - Oct 2018: Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco (Araucanía), Chile.
  • 2013-2014: Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
  • 2010-2013: Postdoctoral Researcher at the Water Resources Unit, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission, Ispra, Italy, Project IES-2010-301010 Improved calibration of flood simulation models and case study research in pilot river basins.
  • 2007-2010: Research Assistant on the Workpackage COMPUTE, EU RTD FP6 Aquaterra project, Università degli Studi di Trento, Trento, Italy, Project 505428 (GOCE).
  • 2005-2006: Project Engineer at the Departamento de Conservación y Protección de los Recursos Hídricos, Dirección General de Aguas, Ministerio de Obras Públicas [Water Protection Department, Chilean Water Authority, Public Works Ministry], Santiago, Chile.
  • 2000-2005: Project Engineer at the Departamento de Estudios y Planificación, Dirección General de Aguas, Ministerio de Obras Públicas [Studies and Planing Department, Chilean Water Authority, Public Works Ministry], Santiago, Chile.
  • 1999: Project Engineer at University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile. Project Modifications to the design of a hydrological model for surface water resources (original title is in Spanish).