Dr. Jeeban Panthi
Assistant Professor
0042 Willard Hall
jeebanp@ksu.edu
Research Lab: https://jeebanpanthi.com/
Ph.D. (2023), University of Rhode Island
Postdoc (2023-2024), Kansas State University
Dr. Jeeban Panthi’s research centers on understanding groundwater systems, particularly where groundwater is stored, how it moves through the subsurface, how it interacts with surface water and the unsaturated zone, and how natural processes and human activities influence groundwater availability and quality. He integrates numerical groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling with field observations, hydrogeophysical techniques, and satellite-based remote sensing to investigate these processes across spatial and temporal scales. Dr. Panthi's research spans groundwater–surface water interactions, groundwater recharge and storage dynamics, aquifer heterogeneity, and the transport and fate of contaminants from both anthropogenic and geogenic sources. Through this interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Panthi's group at K-State aims to improve our ability to characterize, monitor, and predict groundwater systems and advance the scientific understanding for sustainable groundwater management and protection of water resources.
(Detailed list in Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=N0VhxnWMlf0C&hl=en&oi=ao)
- Dahal, P., Shakya, A., Panthi, J. et al (2026). Characterizing Drought and Its Implications for Water Resources in Western Nepal. Earth Syst Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-026-01211-6
- Helton, A. M., Dennedy-Frank, P. J., Emanuel, R. E., Neubauer, S. C., Adams, K. H., Ardon, M., Panthi, J., et al. (2025). Over, under, and through: Hydrologic connectivity and the future of coastal landscape salinization. Water Resources Research, 61, e2024WR038720. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024WR038720
- Panthi, J., Boving, T.B., Pradhanang, S.M., Russonello, C., Kang, S (2024). The contraction of freshwater lenses in barrier islands: A combined geophysical and numerical analysis. Journal of Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131371
- Panthi, J., Boving, T., Pradhanang, S.M. and Ismail, M. (2024), Time-lapse geophysical measurements for monitoring coastal groundwater dynamics in an unconfined aquifer. Groundwater. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.13382
- Bista, S., Baniya, R., Sharma, S., Ghimire, G.R., Panthi, J., Prajapati, R., Thapa, B.R., and Talchabhadel, R. (2024) Hydrologic applicability of satellite precipitation estimates for irrigation water management in the data-scarce region. Journal of Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131310
- Panthi, J., Johnson, C.D., Pradhanang, S.M., Savage, B., Ismail, M.Y., Boving, T.B. (2023) Delineating bedrock topography with geophysical techniques: An implication for groundwater mapping. Catena, 107258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2023.107258
- Panthi, J., Pradhanang, S.M., Nolte, A., Boving, T.B. (2022) Saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers in the contiguous United States — A systematic review of investigation approaches and monitoring networks. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155641
- Panthi, J., Talchabhadel, R., Ghimire, G.R., Sharma, S., Dahal, P., Baniya, R., Boving, T., Pradhanang, S.M., Parajuli, B. (2021)Hydrologic Regionalization under Data Scarcity: Implications for Streamflow Prediction. Journal of Hydrological Engineering 26, 05021022. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0002121
GEOL 820 – Groundwater Modeling
GEOL 611 – Hydrogeology
GEOL 103 – Earth in Action
- Graduate Faculty Member
- Faculty Advisor – Williston Geology Club
- Associate Editor – Groundwater Journal, Guest Editor – Environmental Research Journal
- Active member: International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) – Groundwater Quality Commission
Dr. Jeeban Panthi’s academic and research journey has taken him across diverse hydrological environments, from the mountainous watersheds of the Himalayas to coastal aquifers in the northeastern United States and the agricultural landscapes of the Great Plains. As a hydrologist, he is broadly interested in understanding how water moves through natural systems, how human activities and environmental changes affect water availability and quality, and how scientific knowledge can help address pressing water resource challenges.
Dr. Panthi earned his Ph.D. in Geosciences from the University of Rhode Island, where he investigated coastal groundwater systems, focusing on saltwater intrusion and groundwater discharge to coastal lagoons. His doctoral research integrated field observations, geophysical investigations, and numerical groundwater modeling to understand the complex interactions between groundwater and coastal environments.
At Kansas State University, Dr. Panthi continues to explore groundwater availability, sustainability, and quality, particularly in the High Plains Aquifer. Across these different landscapes, his work is driven by a common goal: to better understand hydrological processes and translate scientific knowledge into solutions that support resilient communities and sustainable water resources.