Opportunities

1. Grant-funded Ph.D. position

Boise State Assistant Professor Kevin Roche is recruiting one Ph.D. student to join the Hydrologic Interfaces and Processes Laboratory for Fall 2025. This position is fully funded and supports student tuition, benefits, and a graduate stipend. While there is flexibility on the potential research projects, all projects focus on bacterially mediated reactive transport in confined geometries. Potential projects include:

• Using experiments and modeling to investigate the fate of pharmaceuticals and their degradation byproducts in river sediments (learn more).
• Investigating feedbacks between mass transport, microbial growth, and reactions in confined flows (e.g., groundwater, the human gut) using microfluidics (learn more).

The student will be a member of the Department of Civil Engineering and will join an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program that best suits their skills and interests. Our lab highly values diverse perspectives and welcomes applicants from a range of backgrounds. I am committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive research group whose trajectory is shaped by the unique backgrounds of its members. Click here for resources that support Boise State University’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive on-campus culture.

2. Other funding opportunities

Currently, funds are dedicated to PhD students. I welcome inquiries from potential students/postdoctoral scholars, but you must outline your funding plan in your inquiry. Potential avenues to self-funding are:

• NSF Bridges to Doctorate – Ph.D. support for students who have participated in LSAMP as undergraduates (US students)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (US students)
• NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (US students)
• Fulbright Foreign Students Program (for international PhD students to perform research over several months)

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, physics, earth sciences, microbiology, chemistry, mathematics, or a related degree with relevant quantitative coursework.
• Strong passion for learning and an eagerness for applying analytical skills to solve complex problems.
• Willingness to work both independently and in team settings on open-ended tasks.
• Written and oral communication proficiency in the English language.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. degree in engineering, physics, earth sciences, microbiology, chemistry, mathematics, or a related degree with relevant quantitative coursework.
• Prior research experience performing laboratory experiments (e.g., columns, microfluidics, biofilm growth), coding (e.g., Python, Matlab), and data analysis.
• Prior experience disseminating knowledge in written (e.g., publication) and oral formats (e.g., conference presentations).

How to inquire

Please email Kevin Roche directly before applying, and include*:

• A brief intro: Share who you are and what draws you to working in the HIP laboratory. Please explain how your relevant skills or experience align with the lab’s research goals.
• Project info: Include any specific interests and questions you have about the project themes described/linked above.
• Supporting documents: Attach your CV or resume, contact info for two professional references, as well as any additional materials that might be useful for me, such as previous conference abstracts, publications, unofficial transcripts, and theses. Please do not attach all publications to your email; instead, provide links to the journal page.

Students will join an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program that best suits their skills and interests, with program options including: Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical and Biomedical, or Geosciences. Please see the Graduate College webpage for more information including links for applying. Application due dates are program dependent. Priority given for applications received by Jan 15. I will begin reaching out to promising candidates for Zoom interviews in mid-to-late December.

*Click here for some tips on how to craft a compelling email of interest.