Dr. Jeeban Panthi

Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Dr. Jeeban Panthi is an Assistant Professor of Hydrogeology in the Department of Geology at Kansas State University, where he joined in the fall of 2025. His research focuses on the interactions between groundwater and surface water, particularly how these dynamic processes are influenced by human activities, climate variability, and land use change. He seeks to address critical questions related to groundwater quantity and quality, with a focus on the High Plains Ogallala Aquifer. His research integrates a diverse set of tools, including numerical modeling, geophysical techniques, satellite remote sensing, and data-driven methods. At K-State, he teaches Hydrogeology, Groundwater Modeling, Hydrogeophysics and Earth in Action.

Dr. Panthi earned his Ph.D. in Geosciences from the University of Rhode Island in 2023, where he investigated the spatial and temporal extent of saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers by integrating numerical models with geophysical techniques. His work explored how the delicate balance between freshwater and saltwater is affected by drought and climate variability. Following his Ph.D., he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Kansas State University in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, where he worked on developing integrated models for watershed and lake water quality.

Before beginning his doctoral studies, Dr. Panthi spent five years in Nepal conducting research on mountain hydrology and climate, including glacier vulnerability assessments. As a first-generation college student born in a remote village in Nepal, he earned both his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Environmental Science from Tribhuvan University. His lived experiences have shaped his understanding of the impacts of environmental change, water scarcity, and water pollution on vulnerable communities.

You can explore Jeeban’s publications Google Scholar.

Learn more about Jeeban’s research through his Personal Website.