Graduate Research
Original research is a key element of the graduate school experience. Through this experience, a students learns how to define a problem, design an investigation to study the problem, conduct the investigation, analyze and interpret the results, and defend their work in a public forum and in a written document.
Below are some examples of ongoing or recently completed research projects being conducted by graduate students in the department. Additionally, the Hydrogeology Program annually recognizes two students for their research with the Outstanding Promise in Hydrogeology Research (awarded to a first year student) and the Outstanding Achievement in Hydrogeology Research (awarded to a graduating student).
Research and Publications Search
Research Projects
- Surface Water Groundwater Exchange in Low-gradient Streams
- Impacts of Human Global Change in Hydrologic Water Resource Systems
- Sediment and Nutrient Transport in Streams in an Agricultural Landscape
- Fluid Pathway Delineation in Karst Aquifers
- Constructed Wetlands for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal
- Nutrient Dynamics in Urban Streams
- Geologic Mapping and Hydrogeologic Investigation
- Spatial Variability of Exhumation along the Eastern Margin of the Rio Grande Rift
- Erosion, Discharge, and Sediment Transport in Mountain Streams
- Reservoir Modeling
Research Award Winners
| Year | Award for Outstanding Promise (first year student) | Award for Outstanding Achievement (graduating student) |
| 2016 |
Luke Lampo Dynamics of Nitrate, Phosphorus, and Suspended Sediment Transport in Two Agricultural Streams in Central Illinois |
Paula Pryor Stream Energy Impacting Sediment Transport Through Low Gradient Agricultural Streams |
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2017 |
Claire Harris Understanding 1-D Vertical Flux Dynamics in a Low-gradient Stream : An Assessment of Stage as a Control of Vertical Hyporheic Exchange |
Audrey Happel Evaluating Fault-Line Escarpment Exposure in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas and New Mexico |
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2018 |
Luis Martinez Hydrogeologic Characteristics and Groundwater Sustainability of a Deep Bedrock Aquifer System in Illinois |
Claire Harris Understanding 1-D Vertical Flux Dynamics in a Low-gradient Stream : An Assessment of Stage as a Control of Vertical Hyporheic Exchange |
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2019 |
Grace Sieggreen Correlating Nutrient Uptake and Stream Metabolism in Urban Cement-Lined Streams |
Prince Oware Capture Zone Analysis of a Wellfield to Assess Contaminant Transport |
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2020 |
Ethan Conley Isolating Locations Of Potential Episodes Of Cave Collapse And Their Relationship To Cave Level Development Through Major River System Incisions |
Grace Sieggreen Correlating Nutrient Uptake and Stream Metabolism in Urban Cement-Lined Streams |
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2021 |
Jake Riedel A Quantitative Analysis on Hyporheic Flow Dynamics Controlled by Contradicting Thermal Regimes |
Caitlyn Noseworthy Microplastic Concentrations in a Central Illinois Urban Stream |
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Alhassan Sahad Using a Tracer Test to Assess the Transport and Fate of Nitrate in a Saturated Buffer Zone |
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2022 |
Okiemute “Coco” Commander Assessment of Temporal Variations in Chloride Concentrations in an Agricultural Tile-Drained Area in McLean County, Illinois |
Jerry Komas Measuring Optical Water Quality Parameters using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) - based Multispectral Sensor, Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake |