My Story
Hi! I'm Valentina Ita, and I am a Hydrogeologist with the Conservation and Survey Division in the School of Natural Resources. My service area is the west-central region of Nebraska. In my role, I focus on characterizing and understanding groundwater resources in the area through research, field monitoring, and collaborations. I also provide support to the Natural Resources Districts with the goal of promoting sustainable water use and management.
My research interests center on water resources, with a particular focus on groundwater flow, solute transport, hydrogeological field methods, and hydrogeophysics. I was drawn to hydrogeology because of my passion for the critical role water plays in sustaining communities and ecosystems. As a graduate student at the University of Toledo, I worked on characterizing the multilayered aquifer system in northwestern Ohio using high-resolution geophysical imaging and hydraulic testing datasets, which deepened my interest in applied hydrogeology. I am excited to continue this kind of work at UNL's CSD where I can contribute to water resource management in Nebraska and support decision-making that benefits both people and the environment.
Outside of work, I enjoy traveling to beautiful and interesting locations. I recently visited Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which was especially memorable as a geologist getting to see the massive sandstone outcrops at the Pictured rocks. I also love listening to personal development podcasts and reading fiction just to escape reality sometimes. Moving to Nebraska is a new chapter for me, and I am looking forward to both the professional and personal growth that will come with this opportunity.