About the Role
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, snow distribution, and freeze/thaw subsurface processes in the regions of sporadic and continuous permafrost. A specific interest is on hydrologic modeling with a hydrologic model, time-series analysis, and short/long-term forecasting.
The position is available through a multi-disciplinary collaborative grant from the Navigating the New
Arctic program from NSF. The anticipated start date is Spring 2024 but the funding is available immediately. 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 from several US and European
universities.
Responsibilities: Duties will include collection and analysis of various regional datasets and monitoring field site data, modeling of hydrologic processes in catchment and watershed scales, and working with global climate models. Potential travel to field sites in Norway can be considered. The student is expected to participate in project team collaborative meetings, contribute to knowledge dissemination (e.g., prepare peer-reviewed manuscripts, draft annual reports, make research presentations), and make successful progress toward a MS/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 hydrologic and watershed modeling, working with remote sensing datasets and GIS software, evidence of computer programming skills (Python, Matlab, R, C++), and general enthusiasm for research. Knowledge of machine learning approaches, seasonal freeze/thaw dynamics, and use of GIS (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) software are highly preferred. Interest in participation in summer field campaigns and the ability to travel internationally are 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 reach out directly to Dr. Aleksey Sheshukov (ashesh@ksu.edu) for more information. The required documents include a cover letter, vitae, and copies of transcripts. Funding is available immediately.
Contact person:
Dr. Aleksey Sheshukov, Associate Professor
Carl & Melinda Helwig Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Kansas State University
1016 Seaton Hall, 920 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Manhattan, KS 66506