Cheng Lab | Hydro-GeoResources and Environment

Hydrogeology, Water Resources Research, Geo-Environmental Engineering, Geo-Energy, and Hazardous Waste Management

Welcome to Cheng's "Hydro-GeoResources & Environment"!

The research of my group focuses primarily on fluid flow and contaminant transport (i.e., water, oil/hydrocarbons, solutes)
in the Environment and in natural / engineered porous media over different scales (e.g., Water-Energy-Food nexus).

My graduate and undergraduate students primarily conduct field-/lab-/computer-based research that involves one or more of the following basic components: field mapping/data collection of hydrologic systems, hydro-geological data analysis, lab water and/or porous media analysis, GIS and/or numerical analysis of hdyrologic systems. Data collected serve to answer questions related to water flow and contaminant transport fate and remediation processes, groundwater-surface water interactions, and groundwater (quantity/quality) interactions with eco-systems.


Join MS Graduate Programs (OCES , AESS, CIVE)


Prospective Students

I am always looking for highly motivated students who are passionate about applied environmental geosciences and engineering (applied groundwater hydrology, contaminant transport, and environmental remediation). Numerous graduate support are available. I would love to talk to you about my active research projects or about your own research interests.

Before applying through graduate college portal, please email me for further information.

Current available positions (graduate and undergrad)
1. Water Resources and Groundwater Hydrology [PDF]
2. Environmental Remediation (soil & groundwater)
3. Climate-Smart Water Management




Dr. Chu-Lin Cheng

Associate Professor
School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences (SEEMS)
Department of Civil Engineering (CIVE) University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley Phone: 956-665-2464
Email: chulin.cheng [AT] utrgv.edu
Short CV | Faculty Profile | SEEMS Page | CIVE Page


Recent News

12-07-2022 -- Dwight will join TWDB Water Science & Conservation as a Groundwater Modeler (Hydrologist II) in Jan. Congrats.

12-05-2022 -- Dwight passed MS thesis defense. Congrats.

11-15-2022 -- Welcome Zachary to Hydro group.

11-14-2022 -- Cheng visited Trinity University and presented at Geoscience seminar.

09-01-2022 -- DOE proposal selected for funding. Congrats to Lead PI Dr. Kang and team! (link)

08-20-2022 -- Welcome Victor to Hydro group.

05-31-2022 -- Congrats to Dwight for accepting job offer (before defense/graduation). Dwight will be joining TWDB Water Science & Conservation as a Groundwater Modeler (Hydrologist II).

04-29-2022 -- Cheng visited UN-Lincoln/Omaha and presented at CEE Water Resources & Environmental Engineering graduate seminar.

03-14-2022 -- Cheng co-hosted 2022 GSA South Central Section Annual Meeting (had to move 100% online due to COVID complications)

02-23-2022 -- USDA proposal selected for funding. Congrats to Lead PI Dr. Pereira and team! (link)

12-01-2021 -- Leslie will be joining LCRA as a Water Resources Specialist. (3+ job offers; private/public sectors) Congrats.

11-12-2021 -- Leslie passed MS thesis defense. Congrats.

11-01-2021 -- Welcome Kristian to the group.

10-29-2021 -- FUTURE/SHIP-GEO/TRESS joint section hosting Dr. Charles Werth (Civil & Environmental Engineering) for UT-Austin NSF-NRT-INFEWS Scholarships (MS/PhD opportunities in Water-Energy-Food nexus).

09-15-2021 -- Syed's manuscript groundwater vulnerability modeling accepted for publication. Congrats.

08-25-2021 -- NSF GEOPATHS proposal selected for funding.

08-23-2021 -- DOE proposal selected for funding (energy & environmental remediation). Congrats Dr. Li and team!

08-16-2021 -- UTRGV 21'HAZWOPER 40-HR (UTHC-Houston) training for environmental remediation.

06-15-2021 -- Cheng presented at 2021 AAAS-IUSE Summer Labs Workshop for STEM education and diversity & inclusion.

05-09-2021 -- Syed passed MS thesis defense. Congrats. Syed will start his Ph.D. study in Civil & Environmental Engineering at University of Minnesota-Twin City.

05-03-2021 -- Congrats to Dwight for passing the FG exam and now a Geologist-In-Training (G.I.T.). (PG as the Professional Geologist)

04-20-2021 -- Congrats to Dwight for being selected for TCEQ Summer'21 Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program (MLEIP) Graduate Internship.

12-01-2020 -- Abdullah passed MS thesis defense. Congrats.

11-05-2020 -- Congrats to Abdullah for being awarded Colorado State University Walter Scott Jr. Graduate Fellowship in addition to GRA support. Abdullah will be starting his Ph.D. study in Civil & Environmental Engineering.

10-29-2020 -- SHIP-GEO/TRESS joint section hosting Dr. Charles Werth (Civil & Environmental Engineering) for UT-Austin NSF-NRT-INFEWS Scholarships (MS/PhD opportunities in Water-Energy-Food nexus).

10-15-2020 -- Congrats to Jevon for accepting Environmental Specialist position with private sector (Austin area).

10-09-2020 -- Sheng's manuscript TiO2 for water remediation accepted for publication. Congrats.

10-01-2020 -- Congrats to Leslie for winning regional competition for Graduate Research Grant (GCAGS).

08-17-2020 -- UTRGV 20'HAZWOPER 40-HR (UTHC-Houston) training for environmental remediation.

08-01-2020 -- Cheng promoted to Associate Professor.

07-25-2020 -- Welcome Dwight to the group.

05-13-2020 -- Congrats to SHIP-GEO scholar cohorts for their Summer 2020 national competitive internships/fellowships. Paola G. (SHIP-GEO scholar cohort#2), NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP). Jevon H. (SHIP-GEO scholar cohort#2), UT-Austin Environmental Science Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Program.

05-10-2020 -- Congrats to SHIP-GEO scholar cohorts for their Fall 2020 graduate school admission with scholarships or assistantships. Gladys (SHIP-GEO#1), AESS; Mia (SHIP-GEO#2), Geological Sciences, UTEP; Lilly (SHIP-GEO#2), AESS; Aaron (SHIP-GEO#3), AESS; Lauren (SHIP-GEO#4), AESS.

04-20-2020 -- Congrats to Sara (SHIP-GEO first-cohort) for her MS/PhD admission to Environmental and Water Resource Engineering at UT-Austin with INFEWS Scholars Fellowship.

04-16-2020 -- Leslie, Abdullah and Syed awarded additional scholarship. Congrats!

03-09-2020 -- Leslie and Cheng presented at GSA 2020 South-Central Section Meeting, Fort Worth, TX.

03-06-2020 -- Jevon being selected for the very competitive UT-Austin 2020 Environmental Science Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Program (with stipend, travel, and housing). Congrats!

More