Our hydrogeology research program evaluates human impacts on the water cycle through changes in climate and land use, develops novel methods to characterize the aquifers that store and transmit water supplies critical to human and ecological health, and helps develop methods to clean contaminated aquifers using emerging technologies such as bioremediation.

Our research group couples novel models with high resolution field data to explore the physical, chemical, and ecological processes in natural and anthropogenically altered systems. Hydrogeology is an intrinsically multi-disciplinary field because of the critical role water plays in both human health and natural ecosystems. As a result, much of our research has been done in interdisciplinary teams that span areas of hydrogeology, geochemistry, microbiology, geophysics, civil engineering, and ecology. We have developed novel methods to evaluate spatial and temporal variations in groundwater recharge at scales that matter to land use and water managers. We have also developed methods to predict ecological health of stream systems by coupling groundwater and ecological models that simulate stream temperature along with the transport and fate of nutrients and associated ecosystem stressors such as low dissolved oxygen levels.

Graduate Student Opportunities

We have several opportunities for graduate studies and postdoctoral researchers. Enthusiastic and motivated students who are intersted in starting an M.Sc. or Ph.D project in hydrogeology, hydrology, or hydrogeophysics are encouraged to apply. Funding is available through research grants, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. If you are intersted in working towards an advanced degree in the MSU geological sciences department, contact us, scroll through the group’s research pages, or find out more about the application process.