Fully Funded MS Positions in Groundwater Hydrology at Kansas State University Kansas State University in United States

Kansas State University’s Department of Geology is recruiting two fully funded M.S. students to join Dr. Jeeban Panthi’s Panthi HydroSystem Lab starting Summer or Fall 2026. The research group focuses on groundwater-surface water interactions, water availability, and water quality in Kansas, the High Plains region, and beyond. Research themes include vadose zone modeling and hydrogeophysics using soil moisture observations and remote sensing, as well as groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling for Kansas Groundwater Management Districts. Students will have opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with the Kansas Water Institute and fieldwork involving groundwater sampling from private and public wells.

Funding is provided through Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) or Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), offering competitive stipends and potential summer funding. The program is designed for students in their final undergraduate year or recent graduates in geology, geoscience, or related fields. Application materials include a CV (max 2 pages) and a 1-page research statement. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a Zoom interview and then encouraged to apply to the K-State Graduate School. There is also a possibility of transitioning to a Ph.D. program in the future.

For more information about the research group, visit Dr. Panthi’s academic page. The application process begins with a pre-application form available online. Kansas State University is a public land-grant research university located in Manhattan, Kansas, classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – very high research activity.” The Kansas Water Institute supports high-priority water research and facilitates communication of research results among water professionals.