[ES_JOBS_NET] PhD Positions at CEE, UIUC (Fall 2026) in Sediment Transport & River Morphodynamics, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, and Hydraulic Engineering

[Hongbo Ma]

*Multiple PhD Positions (Fall 2026) in Sediment Transport & River
Morphodynamics, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, and Hydraulic Engineering at
CEE, UIUC*



Professor Hongbo Ma’s research group in the Department of Civil &
Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Illinois
Urbana–Champaign (UIUC) is recruiting:

   - *1–2 fully funded PhD students (tuition + stipend), regular Fall 2026
   semester start.*

All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled. UIUC PhD
application deadline: December 1, 2025 (University deadline). Interested
applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the advisor in advance of
application submission.
------------------------------

*About the PI and Research Group*

Prof. Hongbo Ma joined UIUC CEE as an Assistant Professor in June 2025. His
research investigates sediment-laden flows and their geomorphic
consequences, integrating:

   - sediment transport physics and fluid mechanics
   - morphodynamics of river–delta–submarine systems,
   - and river hazards & management.

Prof. Ma has published as first/corresponding author in *Science Advances*,
*PNAS*, *Nature Communications*, and over 40+ papers in leading journals.
His work has been recognized by the AGU Luna B. Leopold Early Career Award
and the AGU Robert P. Sharp Lecture Honor (2023). He currently serves as
Associate Editor of *JGR: Earth Surface* and on the AGU Earth & Planetary
Surface Processes Honors & Awards Committee.

UIUC is a top-ranked global research institution (U.S. News: Engineering
#7, Civil Engineering #1, Environmental Engineering #3). The
Urbana–Champaign community is welcoming, safe, affordable, and highly
supportive of academic life.
------------------------------

*Potential Research Areas for PhD Students*

(Research directions 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 (one or more desirable):

   - Background in fluid mechanics, sediment transport, or geomorphology.
   - Experimental research experience (flume experiments, physical
   modeling).
   - Programming proficiency (MATLAB, Python, Fortran/C++, etc.).
   - Data analysis or ML-based modeling experience.

------------------------------

*Application Instructions*

PhD Applicants: Please email the following in one PDF package to
hongboma at illinois.edu with subject line: “2026 PhD Application – Your Full
Name”: 1. CV / Resume; 2. Brief research statement (experience, skills,
interests, and goals); 3 Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable initially);
4 Contact information for 3 references. Then submit the official UIUC
Graduate College application by December 1, 2025.





Best!

Hongbo



*Hongbo Ma*
*Assistant Professor*
The Grainger College of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

2018 Civil Eng Hydrosystems Lab
301 N Mathews Ave
Urbana, IL 61801

*hongboma at illinois.edu <hongboma at illinois.edu>*

*bigmatton at gmail.com <bigmatton at gmail.com>*



*Google Scholar Citations
<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ptoijOwAAAAJ&hl=en>*

*Researchgate
<https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hongbo-Ma-2?ev=hdr_xprf>*

Associate Editor, *Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface
<https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21699011>*

Associate Editor, *ARC Geophysical Research
<https://janeway.uncpress.org/ARC-GR/>*-a Diamond Open-Access Journal




[image: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign home] <http://illinois.edu/>

*Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to
or from university employees regarding university business is a public
record and may be subject to public disclosure.*
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