Overview: The watershed hydrology lab in the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University has an open position for qualified and motivated graduate student to conduct research on ecohydrological modeling of natural processes in the Arctic environment. The student will study the impacts of changing climate and shifting ecotone on watershed hydrology, energy/mass budgets, snow distribution, and subsurface processes in the regions of sporadic and continuous permafrost. A specific interest is on computer modeling of surface-subsurface interactions, hydrologic modeling, and forecasting.
The position is available through multi-disciplinary collaborative grant from the Navigating the New Arctic program from NSF. The anticipated start date is Spring/Summer 2023 academic semester but applications for Fall 2023 academic semester will also be considered. The student will pursue their graduate degree in Biological & Agricultural Engineering, but will also have the opportunity to collaborate with project investigators in civil/environmental engineering, computer science, biology, and other disciplines.
Responsibilities: Duties will include collection and analysis of various regional datasets and monitoring field site data, numerical modeling of heat transfer and soil water dynamics, modeling of hydrologic processes, and working with global climate models. Potential travel to field sites in the Arctic can be considered. The student is expected to participate in project team collaborations, contribute to knowledge dissemination (e.g., prepare peer-reviewed manuscripts, draft annual reports, make research presentations), and make successful progress toward a PhD degree.
Qualifications: Qualified candidates should have a MS degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences or related disciplines. Minimum requirements include excellent written and oral communication skills, previous experience related to the activities in the above project, evidence of computer programming skills (Python, Matlab, R, C++) and use of GIS, and general enthusiasm for research. Knowledge of energy budget, heat transfer, and subsurface flow equations, and numerical modeling are highly preferred. Interest in participation in summer field campaigns is highly encouraged.
To apply: The assistantship includes tuition waiver, health insurance, and stipend. Interested students may apply online at http://www.bae.ksu.edu/graduate/application/, and send their cover letter, resume/vitae, and copies of transcripts to Dr. Aleksey Sheshukov (ashesh@ksu.edu).
