Faculty

Research Interests

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Hydrodynamics and morphology of coastal regions; Numerical modeling; Coastal flooding and natural hazards; Vulnerability of coastal infrastructure; Erosion and sedimentation processes; Estuarine circulation; Geospatial analysis of remotely sensed data.

Education & Training

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• Ph.D., Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, 2018
• M.Sc., Earth Science, Universidad EAFIT, Medellin, Colombia, 2013
• B.S., Civil Engineering, Universidad EAFIT, Medellin, Colombia, 2011

Professional Experience

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• Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, US Naval Academy
  • Assistant Professor, 2019 - Present
• North Carolina State University 
  • Postdoctoral Research Scholar, 2018 – 2019
  • Graduate Research Assistant, 2013 – 2018
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2013 
• Moffatt & Nichol
  • Summer Engineering Intern, Raleigh, NC, 2016
  • Summer Engineering Intern,  New York, NY, 2015
• Universidad EAFIT
  • Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, 2012 - 2013 

Professional Memberships & Registration

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• Associate Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 
• Member, American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA)

Awards

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• Student Educational Award, American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA), 2017. 
• Southeast Climate Science Center Global Change Fellowship, U.S. Department of the Interior and NC State University, 2014 – 2015.
• Scholarship for Master’s Studies, Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Colombia – COLCIENCIAS and Universidad EAFIT, 2011 – 2013.
• Scholarship for Undergraduate Student of Civil Engineering in recognition of Academic Excellence, Universidad EAFIT, 2009

Research & Publications

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• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Wargula, Anna,Tomiczek, Tori, Sciaudone, Elizabeth, Smyre, Elizabeth. Modeling the hydrodynamics of a tidal inlet during bay-side storms. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 280, 2023.
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Wargula, Anna, Nangle, Jessica, Sciaudone, Elizabeth, Smyre, Elizabeth, Tomiczek, Tori. Hydrodynamics of a tidal inlet under gray to green coastal protection interventions. Frontiers in Earth Science, (Volume 10), 2022.
• Tomiczek, Tori, Sciaudone, Elizabeth, Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Smyre, Elizabeth, Wargula, Anna. Investigation of barrier island highway and marsh vulnerability to bay-side flooding and erosion. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 10(6), 2022.
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Davies, Alexander R., Guth, Peter, Tomiczek, Tori, Laun, Alexander, Wargula, Anna, Henderson, Gina, Steppe, Cecily, Wallendorf, Louise. The Oktober Flut: An anomalous extreme high-water event in Annapolis, MD, USA, October 2021. Shore & Beach, (Volume 90, issue 1), 2022.
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Sciaudone, Elizabeth J., Harrison, Rebecca, Overton, Margery F. Land cover changes on a barrier island: Yearly changes, storm effects, and recovery periods. Applied Geography, (Volume 135), 102557, 2021.
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Sciaudone, Elizabeth J., Smyre, Elizabeth, Overton, Margery F. Vulnerability Indicators for Coastal Roadways Based on Barrier Island Morphology and Shoreline Change Predictions. Natural Hazards Review, Volume 22, Issue 2, 2021.
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Overton, Margery F., and Sciaudone, Elizabeth J. Natural and anthropogenic-induced changes in a tidal inlet: Morphological evolution of Oregon Inlet. Geomorphology, (Volume 350), 2020.
• Sciaudone, Elizabeth J. and Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana. Coastal Observations: Beach and dune impacts due to Hurricane Florence in Dare County, North Carolina. Shore & Beach, (Volume 87, issue 2), 2019. 
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Sciaudone, Elizabeth J., Overton, Margery, F. Response of Oregon Inlet to Pea Island Breaching. In: Proceedings of the 36th International Conference on Coastal Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA. July 30- August 3, 2018.
• Sciaudone, Elizabeth J., Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Overton, Margery F., Smyre, Elizabeth. [2018]. Long-Term Shoreline Monitoring and Prediction, Pea Island, NC. In: Proceedings of the 36th International Conference on Coastal Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA. July 30- August 3, 2018.
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Sciaudone, Elizabeth J., Mitasova, Helena, Overton, Margery F. Observation and modeling of the evolution of an ephemeral storm-induced inlet: Pea Island Breach, North Carolina, USA. Continental Shelf Research, (Volume 156), 2018.
• Escobar, Carlos and Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana. Modeling the sediment dynamics in the Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean Sea. Ocean Engineering, (Volume 147), 2018.
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana and Overton, Margery F. [2017]. Impacts of seasonal forcings on the hydrodynamics of Oregon Inlet, NC. In: Proceedings of Coastal Dynamics, Helsingor, Denmark. June 12-16, 2017.
• Sciaudone, Elizabeth J., Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Smyre, Elizabeth A. and Overton, Margery F. Coastal Observations: Spatial and temporal variability in dune field: Pea Island, North Carolina. Shore & Beach, (Volume 84, issue 2), 2016.
• Karanci, Ayse, Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Paniagua-Arroyave Juan F., Adams, Peter N. and Overton, Margery F. Beach management practices and occupation dynamics: an agent-based modeling study for the coastal town of Nags Head, NC, USA. In Botero, Camilo M., Cervantes, Omar and Finkl, Charles W. (Ed.), Beach Management Tools - Concepts, Methodologies and Case Studies, Coastal Research Library 24, Springer, p. 373-395, 2016.
• Velasquez-Montoya, Liliana, Sciaudone, Elizabeth, Mitasova, Helena, Overton, Margery.  Multi-temporal geospatial analysis of the evolution and closing of Pea Island Breach, NC. In: Proceedings of Coastal Sediments 2015. San Diego, California, USA, May 11 – 15, 2015.
• Escobar, Carlos, Velasquez, Liliana and Posada, Federico. Marine currents in the gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean Sea. Journal of Coastal Research, (Volume 31 issue 6), 2015.