We have an opening for a funded MS thesis project in river restoration hydrology. River restoration in the Columbia River basin is focused on recovering endangered Pacific salmon species whose lifecycles have been impacted by factors such as dam construction, mining, agriculture, invasive species, and climate change. This thesis research would involve numerical modeling of the effects of floodplain restoration design on channel and floodplain hydrology, but possibly also some field visits to the Grande Ronde River basin in eastern Oregon. The candidate should have strong quantitative skills and interest in numerical modeling. Prior modeling experience (e.g., HEC-RAS) from classes, undergraduate research, or work experience preferred but not required.

The student will be located at the University of Idaho’s Center for Ecohydraulics Research in Boise. The MS student will be co-advised by myself and Dr. Daniele Tonina. We expect funding to be available starting sometime spring semester 2025, so prefer a current graduate student that started this fall or a student planning to start graduate studies spring semester.

This project is part of a larger multi-agency effort to restore rivers throughout the Grande Ronde basin (see example recent project Bird Track Springs Fish Habitat Enhancement Project), and is funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) Tributary Habitat Program. The graduate student working on this project will form contacts with a wide range of organizations working on river restoration (and river engineering and management more generally) that will be valuable for job opportunities after graduation. Such organizations include federal agencies (e.g., USBR, the U.S. Forest Service, Bonneville Power Administration), state agencies, engineering design firms, watershed councils, and tribes.

Interested students should contact ehester@vt.edu. Please describe your interest in the project, and attach resume and transcripts.