Kansas Water Institute Student Fellows

KWI fosters interdisciplinary learning and research, providing students with the tools and resources to innovate and solve real-world problems in the field of water resources. We offer a variety of opportunities to support undergraduate and graduate students, including scholarships, research grants, and experiential learning experiences.

Graduate Research Fellows

a photo of Sophia Cori Sophia Cori is a graduate student studying Agriculture Education and Communications, with a specific focus on water resources. Raised in the Salinas Valley amidst diverse agricultural environments, received her bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education and her teaching credential from the University of Idaho. Prior to her enrollment at K-State, Sophia worked for the Central Coast Water Quality Preservation Inc. (CCWQP), a non-profit organization in California's Salinas Valley funded by farmers. CCWQP acts as a third-party program to the Water Board, collaborating with them and local farmers to ensure compliance with agricultural regulations.

a portrait of Jackson Lindamood Jackson Lindamood is a graduate student in Agricultural Economics. Originally from Olathe, Kansas, he earned his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics with a specialty in Quantitative Analysis in Spring 2024. During his undergraduate studies, Jackson worked as a teaching assistant for two semesters, assisting in both a first-year introductory agricultural economics course and an advanced data optimization course. He also was an undergraduate research assistant and contributed to research on farmers' perceptions of variable rate application technology and their willingness to adopt solar energy on marginal land. Beyond the classroom, Jackson was an active member of the K-State Marching Band, serving as a section leader for multiple years.

a portrait of Grace Roth

Grace Roth is a graduate student studying Agriculture Education and Communications. Grace was raised in Western Kansas where she found her passion for the future of water in Kansas and its impact on farmers and ranchers affected by the decline of Ogallala Aquifer. She received her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications and Journalism from Kansas State University in May 2024. Before receiving her degree, Grace actively promoted water conservation, and education practices. Her dedication to advocacy and education has shaped her career path and inspired her to continue to play an active role in the state’s water resource issues.

Michael Lilley is a PhD student in Computer Science at Kansas State University, and works in the Data Semantics Lab as a graduate research assistant. His research interests include topics surrounding neuro-symbolic systems, automated theorem proving for mathematics, autoformalization, general formal methods, and computer algebra systems. Prior to his time at K-State, Michael was the lead machine vision engineer at USS Vision, Inc. in Livonia, Michigan, where he led the design and implementation of software for bespoke real-time computer vision inspection systems for use in manufacturing plants. He is a K-State graduate, with two undergraduate degrees in mathematics and computer science.

Townley Family Scholars

The Duane and Terry Townley Family Scholarship is awarded to two undergraduate students who demonstrate exemplary work and are leaders in water research. The scholarship was established to support students interested in the field of water resources, and helps to fund their work in undergraduate research.

Josiah Quinlan is a junior in the department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. His research focuses on the downstream environmental impacts of the water injection dredging process in Tuttle Creek Reservoir. Josiah’s research is part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort to investigate the effects of this unique dredging process and may help form future dredging policies at other sites.

Helen Winters is a double major in Fisheries, Wildlife, Conservation, and Environmental Biology and Biology. Her research is on big bluestem, with a focus on how this dominant prairie grass adapts to climate and responds to differing water availabilities. This work will help form conclusions about the productivity, health, and ability of an ecosystem to support grazing.

Previous Townley Family Scholars

Paul Kessinger is a 2025 Mechanical Engineering graduate from Kansas State University. During his year as a Townley Family Scholar, Paul worked in the Microfluidics Lab as an undergraduate researcher. His research was aimed at creating a triboelectric nanogenerator to power water droplet movement and using microfluidics to test for cyanotoxins in water samples. Prior to attending Kansas State University, he worked as a reporter at The Marysville Advocate and earned an associate's degree from Highland Community College in 2021. Paul currently works as a Dynamics tutor for the College of Engineering's SAS program but plans to focus primarily on research during the spring semester.

Paul plans to continue his work as a graduate student at K-State.

a photo of Sami Villasana in front of a water fountain Sami Villasana is a 2025 graduate in Geology from Kansas State University, with a secondary degree in natural resources and environmental sciences, focusing on groundwater and structural geology. Since the start of her sophomore year, Sami worked as a student researcher in a geochemistry lab, where she assisted in data collection for the Konza Biological Prairie long-term ecological study under an NSF grant. She also participated in the Kansas Groundwater Geopaths to monitor groundwater quality in private wells in south-central Kansas. Sami's senior thesis examined the driving forces for intermittent springs in the Konza prairie.

After graduating, Sami will be working for the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Undergraduate Research Fellows

The KWI Undergraduate Research Fellows Program is a two-semester program that supports K-State students who are conducting a water-related research project with a K-State faculty member. This program is designed to support juniors or seniors with their undergraduate research experiences.

Allison Ricker (Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology): Anatomical adaptations to water stress in a dominant prairie grass across a precipitation gradient.

Emma Grace Tyndall (Environmental Science): The impact of woody encroachment on soil water chemistry and isotopic composition.

Connor Albright (Chemical Engineering): Data-driven forecasting of soil water content using Kansas Mesonet and machine learning.

Prabhleen Kaur (Chemistry): Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic triblock copolymers for water purification.

Gwen VanLeeuwen (Mechanical Engineering): Onsite microplastic testing device for Kansas water.