The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) invites applications for 1–2 fully funded PhD positions in Sediment Transport & River Morphodynamics, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, and Hydraulic Engineering under the supervision of Professor Hongbo Ma in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE).
These positions are fully funded (tuition + stipend) and will begin in Fall 2026.
About the Research Group
Professor Hongbo Ma joined UIUC CEE as an Assistant Professor in June 2025. His research focuses on sediment-laden flows and their geomorphic consequences, integrating:
- Sediment transport physics and fluid mechanics
- Morphodynamics of river–delta–submarine systems
- River hazards and management
Prof. Ma has published in top journals such as Science Advances, PNAS, and Nature Communications. His work has earned prestigious recognitions, including the AGU Luna B. Leopold Early Career Award and the AGU Robert P. Sharp Lecture Honor (2023).
Potential Research Areas
(Topics may be tailored to student interests)
- Hydraulics & River Morphodynamics
- Sediment-laden and Two-phase Environmental Fluid Mechanics
- Water Resources Systems & River Management
- Data-driven and Scientific Machine Learning in Geophysical Systems
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Strong motivation, curiosity, and commitment to research
- B.S. or M.S. in Civil/Environmental/Water Resources Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Earth/Geosciences, Physics (mechanics), or related fields
- Experience in experiments, numerical modeling, and/or scientific programming
Preferred Qualifications:
- Background in fluid mechanics, sediment transport, or geomorphology
- Experimental or physical modeling experience
- Programming proficiency (MATLAB, Python, Fortran, C++, etc.)
- Data analysis or machine-learning-based modeling experience
Application Instructions
Interested applicants should compile the following into one PDF file and email it to hongboma@illinois.edu with the subject line:
“2026 PhD Application – [Your Full Name]”
The PDF should include:
- CV or Resume
- Brief research statement (experience, skills, and interests)
- Transcripts (unofficial copies accepted initially)
- Contact information for 3 referees
UIUC PhD Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
About the Institution
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a top-ranked global institution (U.S. News: Engineering #7, Civil Engineering #1, Environmental Engineering #3). The Urbana–Champaign community offers a welcoming, safe, and affordable environment with a strong academic culture.
Source: Prof. Hongbo Ma – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (CEE Department)
