Current Projects

Featured Project: Past Fire Regimes in the Northern Great Plains

Status: Currently recruiting graduate research assistants

This research project investigates historical fire regimes in the Northern Great Plains using sediment cores from prairie pothole locations. By analyzing key indicators such as charcoal, stable isotopes, and pollen, students will reconstruct past fire activity to understand how fire has influenced regional ecosystems.

Pollination Services in the Northern Great Plains

This project examines pollination services to both native and crop species in the Northern Great Plains. Students will study pollinator communities and native shrubs while working in the field. High preference will be given to individuals interested in work involving both native plants and crop species relevant to the U.S. Northern Great Plains region, as well as to those interested or experienced in nocturnal pollinators.

Glacial Research Projects in the Northern Rocky Mountains

We are recruiting incoming on-campus master's or Ph.D. graduate students to join a variety of research projects focused on snow and ice as water resources in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Research topics include wind-snow-glacier interactions, glacier area delineation analysis for quantifying glacier changes, and water chemistry analysis for modeling glacial streamflow. High preference will be given to individuals interested in work involving both computer-based analysis and field-based measurements.

Physics-Informed Machine Learning and Deep Neural Architectures for Mapping Permafrost Extent and Thaw Hazard Along the Dalton Highway Corridor, Alaska (CRREL)

To predict permafrost thaw along Alaska's Dalton Highway, this project will develop and test machine learning and deep learning models to estimate permafrost presence and ground temperature using remote sensing data combined with in situ measurements from Alaska permafrost monitoring networks.

Flood Forecasting and Modeling

This project aims to advance flood forecasting and modeling by working with industry partners to test innovative hydrologic models and develop flood inundation mapping techniques. The goal is to enhance prediction accuracy and develop resources that support decision-making and public awareness of flood risks.

Inland Flooding and Risk Assessment

This research explores compound inland flooding driven by predecessor rain events, emphasizing their role in increasing flood risk. By collaborating with forecasting agencies, the research aims to improve hazard mapping and translate complex data into actionable risk assessments for vulnerable communities.

Monitoring and Mitigating Harmful Algae Blooms in the Northern Prairie and Lowlands Region

This research couples satellite imagery with advanced geospatial hotspot analysis to identify algal bloom development patterns over time in the lakes studied.