Graduate Opportunities for River and Wetland Engineering Research at
Virginia Tech
The departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Biological
Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech have openings for several highly
qualified and motivated graduate students interested in stream, wetland, and
river science and engineering beginning August 2009. We study the
interaction among stream, wetland, and river hydrology, geomorphology,
biogeochemistry, and ecology and their application to aquatic ecosystem
restoration and watershed planning. Depending on interests and
qualifications, students would work with one or more of the following faculty:
Panos Diplas, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Baker Environmental
Hydraulics Laboratory, [EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.hydraulicslab.cee.vt.edu/:
Potential projects include: 1) Bridge foundation scour, 2) Incipient
particle movement under turbulent flow conditions, 3) Impact of unsteady
river flow on bank erosion, 4) Wetland hydrodynamics, 5) Hyporheic flows, 6)
In-stream flow control structures
W. Cully Hession, Biological Systems Engineering, [EMAIL PROTECTED],
http://twosweet.bse.vt.edu/Cully: Potential projects include: 1)
understanding linkages between channel morphology and aquatic
habitat/ecosystem health; 2) quantifying the influence of streamside
vegetation on stream channel morphology; and 3) developing constructed
wetlands for stormwater runoff control.
Erich Hester, Civil and Environmental Engineering, [EMAIL PROTECTED],
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/ehester/website/index.html: Potential projects
include 1) evaluating how channel morphology, hydraulics, and vegetation
patterns control inundation patterns, surface water-groundwater (hyporheic)
exchange, light, and temperature in streams and rivers, 2) evaluating the
impact of human-caused temperature change on river organisms, and 3)
developing techniques to reduce human temperature impacts. Work will entail
field work, numerical modeling, and possibly lab work.
Durelle Scott, Biological Systems Engineering, [EMAIL PROTECTED],
https://filebox.vt.edu/users/dscott/web/: Examples of current opportunities:
Coupled carbon and nitrogen cycling within forested watersheds, Impacts on
riverine export in response to hydrologic variability (e.g. flood magnitude
& frequency), Water and nutrient export across a gradient in watershed
glacier coverage, Engineering enhancement of in-stream nutrient retention
within stream networks. All projects involve a combination of fieldwork,
laboratory experimentation, and numerical modeling.
Tess Wynn, Biological Systems Engineering, [EMAIL PROTECTED],
http://twosweet.bse.vt.edu/Tess/index.asp: A current opportunity exists to
develop a wetland water budget model for use in wetland creation/restoration
design. This is a collaborative project with soil scientists and
geologists; the student would be responsible for developing and testing the
surface water component and assisting with field work in support of the
modeling project. Other potential projects include investigating the role
of roots in streambank erosion and exploring the interaction between
hydrology, carbon sources, and microbial communities in stormwater
bioretention cells (aka rain gardens).
Students should have a B.S. in a relevant engineering or science field by
the start date (M.S. preferred for Ph.D. program). Highly developed
quantitative skills (numerical methods, modeling, fluid dynamics, computer
programming) are preferred for modeling projects. Students capable of
rigorous field work are necessary for the field studies, and field or
laboratory experience is preferred. Interest, motivation, and writing
skills are also important. Openings are available for both M.S. and Ph.D.
students, depending on the skills, background, and interests of the student.
Those without engineering backgrounds may need to take a number of
undergraduate math or engineering courses either before enrolling or at
Virginia Tech as part of the graduate program. Interested students should
contact those faculty whose projects most closely match their interests (see
email addresses above), and include a CV, statement of research interests,
reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, and contact info for at least 2
references. Please include GPAs, summary of relevant courses, and GRE
scores (including percentiles) on your CV, or include a pdf of your
transcript(s).
Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg VA in the Blue Ridge Mountains of
southwestern Virginia. It has a small town feel and great access to outdoor
activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, etc. See
http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/index.html for more information.
Erich T. Hester, PhD, PE
Assistant Professor
Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Virginia Tech
220-D Patton Hall, Mail Code 0105
Blacksburg, VA 24061
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/ehester/website/index.html
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
