Graduate Program in Hydrogeology

The Department of Geology offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in geology specializing in physical and contaminant hydrogeology. Current research areas include:

• Development of innovative approaches and software for contaminant transport modeling;
• Remediation design optimization and sustainable groundwater management;
• Field, laboratory, and theoretical studies of subsurface heterogeneity and its effects on solute transport behavior;
• Coupling of physical transport processes with biological and geochemical reactions for evaluation of bioremediation systems and radioactive waste disposal; 
• Investigation of abnormal fluid pressures in large sedimentary basins;

• Investigation of contaminant transport in soil and groundwater systems;

• Impact of immiscible liquid sources on chemical transport in soil and groundwater systems;

• Innovative technologies for the remediation of organic contaminants in the subsurface;

• Enhanced-solubilization agents to improve the remediation of organic pollutants in groundwater;

•  Methods to characterize subsurface heterogeneity and subsurface contamination.

Opportunities also exist for collaboration with the Alabama Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey's local office in Tuscaloosa to conduct research on local issues that affect water quality and water resources in Alabama.

The Department of Geology offers a wide spectrum of graduate courses in hydrogeology and related fields, including hydrogeology, contaminant hydrogeology, groundwater flow and transport modeling, hydrogeology field methods, groundwater restoration, aqueous geochemistry, isotope hydrology, geophysics, and geostatistics. In addition, the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Biological Sciences and Geography offer many courses of direct interest to hydrogeology students, such as surface water hydrology, water quality analysis, microbiology, and water resource management.

  Application and Admission

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