Prospective Students

Interested in joining our research group?

I am always interested in having motivated students join my research group. In general, I am looking for students who: 

• are passionate about studying fluvial, hydrologic, and earth surface system processes and interactions

• have quantitative and geospatial skills, and enjoy applying them

• enjoy spending time outside in the field 

If you're interested in applying, please email me with:

• your general research interests or a specific project/idea you're interested in pursuing

• your academic background (unofficial transcripts)

• your CV

• any previous research/fieldwork experience

• why you're interested in pursuing a graduate degree at UT

The Geography & Sustainability Department at the University of Tennessee has graduate programs leading to MS and PhD degrees in Geography. One of our strengths is the opportunity to largely design your own program with interdisciplinary coursework and research. In addition to courses offered through the Geography & Sustainability Department, there are many good supporting courses offered through the departments of geology, civil engineering, ecology, history, computer science, and statistics. We have excellent field sites close at hand ranging from headwater streams Appalachian Mountains to large low-gradient rivers of the Southeast.  We also have excellent flume facilities, if you are interested in experimental geomorphology.

Financial support for graduate students in my research group takes two basic forms: (1) teaching assistantships (TA) are awarded competitively to students with sufficient background to teach lab sections in introductory physical geography among other undergraduate courses; (2) research assistantships (RA) are awarded on the basis of research grant funds – that is, if I have research grant funding available for a student, then you may receive this funding, with the understanding that your thesis/dissertation research would be based on some portion of the originally proposed research. 

In addition, if you have interest in applying for fellowships to attend graduate school, for example the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship or others, I’m happy to help craft proposals or provide feedback pending student motivation and interest. 

I strongly encourage you to contact me by November of the year before you hope to be admitted into the program. The graduate school website contains a lot of very good information about the application process, fees and costs associated with the university and deadlines. Information can be found here: gradschool.utk.edu.