Departmental Unit № 1
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering & Hydrologic Science and Engineering (HSE)
PhD in Environmental Engineering / PhD in Hydrologic Science and Engineering
100% Full Funding Guaranteed (5 Years)
Funding Package: Full tuition fellowship + monthly research stipend (~$32,000–$37,000/yr) + health insurance package guaranteed for all admitted doctoral students through sponsored research (GRA) and teaching fellowships.
Fall Priority Deadline: December 15 (Fall Priority)
GRE Policy: Not required / Waived
English Minimums: TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5
MS in Hydrologic Science and Engineering / MS in Environmental Engineering (Thesis Option)
100% Full Funding Available for Thesis MS (Tuition + Stipend)
Funding Reality: Colorado School of Mines regularly funds incoming thesis MS students in Hydrology and Environmental Engineering on research assistantships (GRA).
Application Deadline: January 15
Admissions Advisory: If full funding is required and MS is self-funded, students are strongly advised to apply directly to the PhD track.
Vetted Matched Scholars (2 Profiles)
Prof. Christopher P. Higgins
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
In Plain Terms · What This Scholar Does:
One of the most famous scientists in the world researching PFAS 'forever chemicals'—using million-dollar ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometers to discover new toxic chemicals in water supplies and invent ways to destroy them.
Core Research Topics: Environmental analytical chemistry, PFAS bioaccumulation, high-resolution mass spectrometry, environmental fate of fluorochemicals, drinking water treatment.
Recent 2024–2026 Works & Grants: World-leading authority on PFAS occurrence, ecotoxicology, and remediation; currently leading multi-million dollar DoD SERDP and EPA projects discovering novel perfluoroalkyl ether acids and evaluating destructive electrochemical treatment technologies (DoD SERDP / EPA STAR 2024–2026).
Laboratory Instruments & Methods: Orbitrap high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRMS), LC-MS/MS, solid-phase extraction, bioaccumulation assays, wet-lab analytical chemistry.
Recruiting Context: Global giant in PFAS analytical chemistry and environmental toxicology; massive continuous federal grant portfolio.
Candidate Match:
Environmental PollutionWater QualityWet Lab Environmental TestingPFAS Contamination
Tailored Cold-Email Opening Hook:
"Discussing your interest in high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis, PFAS environmental fate and transport, and analytical chemistry in the Higgins Laboratory."
Prof. Kamini Singha
University Distinguished Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering
In Plain Terms · What This Scholar Does:
She uses underground electrical currents like an X-ray scanner to create 3D live videos showing how water and chemical contaminants seep through rock cracks beneath riverbeds without having to dig up the ground.
Core Research Topics: Hydrogeophysics, groundwater-surface water interactions, electrical resistivity imaging, hyporheic zone solute transport, contaminant mass transfer.
Recent 2024–2026 Works & Grants: Using time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and borehole geophysics to visualize invisible groundwater flowpaths and solute exchanges between streams and underlying bedrock fractures in real time (NSF Hydrologic Sciences 2024–2026).
Laboratory Instruments & Methods: Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), ground-penetrating radar (GPR), hydrogeochemical tracer testing, reactive transport modeling, Python.
Recruiting Context: University Distinguished Professor and Darcy Lecturer; top world authority in hydrogeophysics.
Candidate Match:
HydrologyHydrogeologyWater QualityEnvironmental Modeling
Tailored Cold-Email Opening Hook:
"Discussing your interest in hydrogeophysical imaging (ERT), stream-groundwater solute exchange, and fractured rock contaminant hydrology in the Singha Lab."