Current Openings
Post-doctoral Researchers:
Position forthcoming focused on transport and transformation in hyporheic and riparian zones. Reach out if you'd like to learn more.
PhD & MS Students:
No funded positions at this time. TA-supported positions are regularly available, so reach out with your interest.
Position forthcoming focused on transport and transformation in hyporheic and riparian zones. Reach out if you'd like to learn more.
PhD & MS Students:
No funded positions at this time. TA-supported positions are regularly available, so reach out with your interest.
General Information for Prospective Group Members (articulation of expectations after Melissa Wilson-Sayres)
about O'Neill and Degree Programs
Within the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, graduate students in my group are typically working toward their PhD in Environmental Science, or MS in Environmental Science. Several joint degree programs with the MSES are offered on campus. I can also advise students in the PhD Geology, MS Geology, and PhD Intelligent Systems Engineering programs.
Post-doctoral Researchers
Post-doctoral researchers are typically appointed on a 12-month term, renewable pending performance and funding. In my group, postdocs are expected to serve collaborators with and mentors to the research group (including me). I am seeking motivated scientists who will bring their own skill-sets and ideas to the table, where collaborative research and professional development are the objectives.
My responsibilities to my post-doctoral researchers:
My responsibilities to my post-doctoral researchers:
- Assist with identification of and writing for postdoctoral fellowships
- Refinement of project ideas, including those developed and led independently by the postdoc (with the goal of taking a project with you when you move on to your future position)
- Training in methodologies and equipment used by our group
- Review and revision of professional products (manuscripts, book chapters, presentations, white papers)
- Development of a mentoring plan to achieve your career goal (academia, governmental, industry, etc... there are many valuable career paths after your work in the group is complete)
- Support travel to at least one scientific conference each year
- Regular meetings to discuss progress
- Participate in lab meetings, as a presenter and mentor to other group members
- Prepare for weekly progress meetings
- Set short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals, and revisit them regularly in our meetings
- Attend departmental seminars, meet with guest speakers
- Participate in office hours for mentoring group members
- Directly supervise one undergraduate researcher or professional MSES student working with our group
- Participate in group field campaigns
- Maintain detailed laboratory notes and electronic data set on shared group space, including a summary or inventory
Graduate Students
I'm happy you have taken an interest in the Watershed Hydrology and Engineering Lab at Indiana University. The group is part of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, and accepts students pursuing any of: (1) MS and PhD Degrees in Environmental Science, (2) dual-degree MSES-MPA, (3) Masters International MSES students. Because our work is largely interdisciplinary, students from a variety of majors fit well in our group , including geosciences, hydrology, ecology, biogeochemistry, geography, forestry, engineering, .... The graduate program in our school is very flexible, allowing students to customize their coursework and develop an expertise to complement their existing educational background and research interests. Most research in the group is centered on surface water quality, often in the context of interactions between surface waters and groundwaters. Student projects always include both field campaigns and numerical modeling - this keeps us grounded in the physical world around us, and allows us to explore a problem or parameter space more complete in a numerical sense. Funding is regularly available in the form of both Teaching and Research Assistantships. Notably, SPEA has a well-established partnership with Delft Technical University in the Netherlands, a world leader in hydrology and hydraulics (amongst many disciplines) - MS and PhD students can spend 1 semester at Delft taking coursework to supplement what is available at IU.
My responsibilities to my graduate students:
My responsibilities to my graduate students:
- Assist with identifying and writing for graduate student fellowships
- Work collaboratively to develop and execute a research project
- Discuss future career goals (e.g., do you want to teach, go into academia, continue in research?), and plan ways to facilitate these goals
- Support travel to at least one scientific conference per year, if you have research results to present
- Meet weekly to discuss progress and plans
- Develop a list of short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals
- Help you maintain work-life balance during a difficult time in life (graduate school!)
- Facilitate a positive, critical environment in group meetings where your research is shared
- Apply for at least one graduate student fellowship
- Work collaboratively to develop and execute a research project
- Attend departmental seminars, meet with guest speakers
- Maintain detailed laboratory notes and electronic data set on shared group space, including a summary or inventory
- Participate in group field campaigns
- Execute research plans
- Participate in lab meetings, including at least one presentation each semester
- Ask for help from me and other group members as needed
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate researchers are always welcome in my lab. Your work might include participation in field experiments, laboratory analysis of samples, or working with numerical (i.e., computer) models of natural systems. I have advised students from a host of disciplines, including Geoscience, Geology, Environmental Science, Geography, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering for undergraduate research. Research could be for a senior thesis, or just to gain experience if you have an interest in graduate school. I occasionally have funds to hire undergraduate researchers during the academic year and/or summer. Motivated, hard-working students with any background are welcome.
My responsibilities to my undergraduate students:
My responsibilities to my undergraduate students:
- Prepare clearly defined project scope, goals, and objectives
- Assist the student in breaking-down the project objectives into actionable items
- Meet weekly to assess progress, plan tasks for the upcoming week
- Discuss future career goals and provide mentoring to help you achieve them
- Prepare for and participate in weekly meetings to discuss progress
- Maintain detailed laboratory notes and electronic data set on shared group space, including a summary or inventory
- Participate in lab meetings, including at least one presentation each year
|
A note from Colleen Brehm, reflecting on her experience in our group:
As a Civil (Water Resources) Engineering undergraduate student minoring in Earth and Environmental Science, working with Adam was a perfect fit. Since Adam is not only a motivated academic, but also has his P.E. license and previous industry experience, he was able to guide me through all facets of what interests me about science and engineering. I found a passion for research through field, lab, and computer modeling projects in my two years working with the Ward Hydrology & Engineering Group. As a result of my research experience, I plan to continue onto graduate school in the future. Adam pushed me to become a better scientist, engineer, public speaker, and communicator by challenging me to continuously learn throughout my research project, encouraging me to participate in numerous research festivals and conferences, and showing constant devotion to my growth. Adam understood my academic objectives, was invested in my career development, and genuinely cared about my personal goals. Working with Adam as an undergraduate research assistant was the best academic experience of my time at The University of Iowa. It has truly influenced my career outlook and scientific interests, and has undoubtedly made me a better engineer. --Colleen Brehm |
Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows
Earn your graduate degree and volunteer in the Peace Corps!
The Coverdell Fellows program is a unique opportunity offered by a partnership between the Peace Corps and US Universities. Students complete their coursework on-campus, their research while on-assignment in the Peace Corps, and then return to the US to defend their thesis and graduate. Here at O'Neill, we offer opportunities in our M.S. Environmental Science, M.S. Public Affairs, and our distinctive MSES-MPA programs. Each student in this program is unique, as are their Peace Corps assignments. In general, students in this program should have the same expectations of me -- and me of them -- as "traditional" graduate students.
The Coverdell Fellows program is a unique opportunity offered by a partnership between the Peace Corps and US Universities. Students complete their coursework on-campus, their research while on-assignment in the Peace Corps, and then return to the US to defend their thesis and graduate. Here at O'Neill, we offer opportunities in our M.S. Environmental Science, M.S. Public Affairs, and our distinctive MSES-MPA programs. Each student in this program is unique, as are their Peace Corps assignments. In general, students in this program should have the same expectations of me -- and me of them -- as "traditional" graduate students.
