Imagine standing in the vast tallgrass prairie of the Flint Hills, where deep roots of grasses and encroaching shrubs quietly dictate how every drop of rain moves through soil, influences streams, and sustains entire ecosystems under a changing climate. What if your graduate research could reveal how vegetation shapes water availability for communities, agriculture, and wildlife across the Great Plains? The Ecohydrology Lab at Kansas State University is seeking two motivated graduate students for fully funded MS and PhD positions in grassland ecohydrology, with start dates in Spring (January) 2027 or Fall (August) 2027. These fully funded MS and PhD positions in grassland ecohydrology offer a unique chance to tackle pressing questions at the intersection of ecology, hydrology, and soil science while building a collaborative research career.
These grassland ecohydrology graduate opportunities at Kansas State University stand out because they combine rigorous fieldwork with flexible, student-driven projects in one of North America’s most iconic remaining tallgrass prairie landscapes. Under the guidance of Dr. Rachel Keen, whose research has illuminated how woody plant encroachment alters water yield and subsurface processes, students will join a supportive lab environment designed to foster skill development, peer networks, and long-term mentoring relationships. K-State’s location in Manhattan, Kansas, places researchers steps away from the Konza Prairie Biological Station, a premier Long-Term Ecological Research site with nearly five decades of vegetation, climate, soil moisture, and stream data.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: USA
- Host University: Kansas State University
- Scholarship Type: MSC Scholarships/PhD Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Scholarship Benefits: Full tuition fee, Living stipend, etc.
- Application Deadline: September 15, 2026 (for Spring 2027 start); December 15, 2026 (for Fall 2027 start); overall review continues on rolling basis up to these dates
Why Grassland Ecohydrology Matters Now More Than Ever
Grasslands, savannas, and shrublands cover vast areas of the planet and play outsized roles in the global water cycle. Vegetation acts as a living pipeline, linking atmosphere to subsurface water pools. Changes in land use—such as woody encroachment by shrubs and trees, conversion to agriculture, or shifts in fire and grazing management—can dramatically alter root distributions, soil structure, preferential flow paths, and ultimately local water yield. In the central United States, woody expansion has already been linked to declining streamflow despite stable or increasing precipitation in some watersheds. Understanding these dynamics is essential for managing water resources amid droughts, extreme rainfall, and climate variability.
The Ecohydrology Lab focuses precisely on these interactions. Research combines plant ecophysiology, ecology, hydrology, and soil science to examine how vegetation influences water movement and critical zone function. Projects remain flexible and can be tailored to individual interests, provided they align with one or more core themes. This approach allows students to develop independent research while contributing to broader scientific questions with real-world implications for land management, water security, and ecosystem resilience.
Three Core Research Themes Ready for Exploration
The first theme examines subsurface impacts of land-use and land-cover change. How do woody encroachment, agricultural conversion, and management practices reshape root systems and soil structure in ways that control water fluxes? What are the consequences for local water yield and groundwater recharge? Students might dig soil pits, map root distributions, install sensors for soil moisture and matric potential, or use modeling tools to predict hydrological outcomes under different vegetation scenarios. These questions build directly on emerging evidence that woody plants create macropores and alter preferential flow, with cascading effects on the water budget.
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The second theme investigates plant water-use strategies and coexistence in water-limited ecosystems. Differences in rooting depth and water uptake strategies influence competition between grasses, forbs, and woody species during drought and other extremes. How do these strategies affect community resilience and ecosystem function? Field and laboratory approaches—stable isotope analysis of plant and soil water, gas exchange measurements, or manipulative experiments—can uncover mechanisms that determine which species thrive and how ecosystems respond to climate stress.
The third theme explores drivers and consequences of preferential flow. Root systems and rainfall intensity or duration interact to create rapid pathways that bypass the soil matrix. These flows influence nutrient and pollutant transport, microbial activity, and carbon cycling. Students could quantify preferential flow occurrence using tracers or sensors and link it to ecological outcomes, providing insights critical for predicting solute movement and biogeochemical processes under changing precipitation regimes.
Access to the Konza Prairie Biological Station elevates every project. This 3,487-hectare native tallgrass prairie preserve, jointly managed by The Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University, features long-term watershed-scale experiments manipulating fire frequency and grazing. Researchers benefit from extensive historical datasets and the opportunity to expand work across Kansas or the broader Great Plains. Public nature trails and interpretive resources also make the site an inspiring place for both science and outreach.
Comprehensive Funding and Support for Success
These fully funded MS and PhD positions in grassland ecohydrology provide strong financial security. Students receive an annual stipend of $30,771, paid bi-weekly, plus full coverage of tuition and university fees. Eligibility for a university-subsidized health insurance plan further reduces barriers. The positions are full-time (40 hours per week) and designed to support focused research progress. The supportive lab culture emphasizes collaboration, skill-building, and work-life balance, creating an environment where students can thrive academically and professionally while forming lasting networks of peers, collaborators, and mentors.
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Who Should Apply for Fully Funded MS and PhD Positions in Grassland Ecohydrology at Kansas State University and What Background Helps?
Applicants need an undergraduate degree (or higher) in ecology, biology, earth sciences, hydrology, or a related field by the start date. Strong oral and written communication skills are essential, along with willingness to conduct outdoor fieldwork in hot weather and a valid driver’s license. Previous research or field experience and coding skills in R are preferred but not required. PhD applicants often benefit from prior master’s-level training, yet motivated candidates with bachelor’s degrees are encouraged to apply. The lab seeks individuals enthusiastic about ecohydrology and grassland or savanna ecosystems who can work both independently and as team members while respecting safety protocols.
Kansas State University’s Division of Biology offers a robust graduate environment with research spanning molecular to ecosystem scales. All admitted biology graduate students receive financial support for the duration of their degree pending satisfactory progress, and the program emphasizes individualized coursework and research training. Students will also complete official university application processes in parallel with lab recruitment.
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Clear Application Process and Key Deadlines
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is advantageous. Prepare a single PDF containing a brief (one-page) personal statement outlining academic background, research experience, reasons for pursuing graduate study, specific interests, and alignment with at least one research theme; a current CV; informal undergraduate transcripts (and master’s transcripts if applicable); and contact information for three references. Email the packet to Rachel Keen at rkeen@ksu.edu with the subject line “Ecohydrology Lab graduate application.” Selected candidates will be invited for a virtual interview.
Key deadlines are:
- Spring 2027 start (January): applications accepted no later than September 15, 2026
- Fall 2027 start (August): applications accepted no later than December 15, 2026 (or December 1 according to some postings; confirm with the lab)
For the most current details on application materials and ongoing projects, visit the lab website: https://rleasey.wixsite.com/keenecohydrology/join-the-lab. The original posting appears on the Natural Resources Job Board: https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu/view-job/?id=117881. Additional information about the Konza Prairie Biological Station is available at https://kpbs.konza.k-state.edu/ and the Konza LTER program at https://lter.konza.ksu.edu/. Explore the Division of Biology graduate programs at https://www.k-state.edu/biology/academics/graduate-programs/.
Building a Career with Lasting Impact
Graduates from programs like this emerge prepared for careers in academia, government agencies, environmental consulting, conservation organizations, and water resource management. Skills in field methods, data analysis, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scientific communication transfer across sectors. Working at the interface of ecology and hydrology positions students to address challenges such as sustainable land management, drought resilience, and the protection of remaining grassland ecosystems. The collaborative atmosphere and access to long-term data and experimental infrastructure provide a strong foundation for high-impact publications and professional networks.
These grassland ecohydrology graduate opportunities at Kansas State University represent more than funding and a degree. They offer the chance to contribute original knowledge about how plants control water in one of the world’s most important biomes while growing as scientists in a fun, supportive setting. If the idea of uncovering how roots, soil, and rainfall interact to shape water futures resonates with you, now is the time to prepare your application materials.
Reach out to Dr. Rachel Keen at rkeen@ksu.edu with questions. The rolling review means strong applications submitted early stand the best chance of securing one of these two positions. The tallgrass prairie is waiting—bring your curiosity and help reveal the hidden water pathways that sustain it.