I joined Flinders University in 2006, after having seven-year postgraduate study and research in USA. My Masters study was on virus fate and transport in saturated porous media. My PhD study was on mountain block hydrology and mountain front recharge. One year postdoctoral research was on application of remote sensing in hydrology. Currently I am Associate Professor in Hydrology, and a chief investigator of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training in Australia. My research interests are mostly focused on water resource and environmental issues from the interface of land surface and atmosphere, through soil and vegetation, to groundwater table. My expertise lies in the fields of terrestrial ecohydrology, hydrometeorology, mountain block hydrology, and urban heat island. I am particularly interested in applications of mathematical algorithms, environmental tracers and remote sensing in solving environmental problems.

My research interests are mostly focused on water resource and environmental issues that are related to the hydrometeorological and hydrological processes occurring from the interface of land surface and atmosphere, through soil and vegetation, to groundwater table.

• Terrestrial ecohydrology, particularly on plant water use, environmental stress, drought tolerance, and water use efficiency.
• Spatial and temporal analysis of climate variables, in the context of climate variability and changes, and topographic influence
• Evapotranspiration measurement, modelling and remote sensing
• Environmental tracers, including chloride, water and carbon isotopes in the soil (groundwater)-vegetation-atmosphere continuum.
• Groundwater recharge estimation, particularly in mountainous areas, and with land cover changes
• Urban climate, Adelaide urban heat island, summer heat mitigation, and energy consumption
• Permeable reactive barriers: surfactant modified zeolite, microbial pathoghens, and heavy metals

I am working with other colleagues developing the following research projects. We welcome contribution from research students and visiting scholars.

• Monitoring and modelling ecohydrological states and processes: towards a better understanding of ecosystems responses to climate variability and changes
• Investigation of urban hydrology from aquifers to the atmosphere: toward integrated management of water, energy, and carbon in urban environments
• Advancing environmental and water research with emerging remote sensing opportunities

• Jun 2021 Ajiao Chen - Research reported on OzEWEX Newsletter
• Oct 2014 Saeedeh Gharib - The best poster award the 1st Annual RHD Conference, School of the Environment, Flinders University
• Aug 2014 Xiang Xu - AINSE grant to attend the 9th IsoEcol Conference
• Jun 2013 Zijuan Deng - AOGS Best Student Poster Award
• Mar 2013 Saeedeh Gharib - Goyder Institute PhD Supplement
• Jan 2013 Robert Andrew - Goyder Institute PhD Supplement
• Oct 2012 Zijuan Deng - Best Student Presentation Farvolden Award (National Ground Water Association, USA)