My Story
Hi, I'm Chandan Kumar, a PhD student at School of Natural Resources with a major in Hydrological Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. My research focuses on nitrate contamination in Nebraska’s groundwater. I’m particularly interested in how nitrate moves and transforms into the deep vadose zone under different irrigation and fertilizer practices. In our lab, we use a combination of greenhouse experiments and modeling approaches to better understand reactive nitrogen dynamics and inform sustainable groundwater management.
Before starting my PhD, I earned my master's degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India. There, I developed a stochastic rainfall generator to model extreme rainfall events, which are becoming more frequent. I completed my undergraduate studies in civil engineering at C.V. Raman Global University in Odisha, India, where I was awarded the Department Gold Medal for academic excellence.
Professionally, I've had the opportunity to work on a range of water-related challenges. As a Project Associate at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research (ICWaR) at IISc, I contributed to projects that bridged science and policy. Following that, I worked as a Civil Engineer with the Delhi Jal Board under the Government of NCT of Delhi, where I was involved in the rehabilitation and construction of sewage treatment plants. This role deepened my appreciation for the complexity of urban water infrastructure and its critical role in public health and environmental protection.
I enjoy working with data and modeling tools and have hands-on experience with R, Python, MATLAB, RZWQM and spatial analysis software like QGIS, ArcGIS, and Google Earth Engine. My academic background covers a broad set of topics, including vadose zone processes, groundwater and surface water hydrology, water quality modeling, and remote sensing.
Outside the lab, I love to cook, explore local farmers markets, and take long walks, whether it’s a mountain trail or just around the neighborhood. I'm passionate about using science and technology to create practical solutions and make our world a more resilient and livable place.