I am a geoscientist whose research focuses on the physics of flow and reactive transport in porous and fractured media. One of my favorite quotes is, “Thinking is the hardest thing a man can do, probably the reason so few of them do it.” by Henry Ford. I frequently remind myself of this quote so that I can constantly challenge myself to become a better person and a more creative scientist.

I am a McKnight Land-Grant Assistant Professor and the Gibson Chair of Hydrogeology in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota. I received my MSc (2010) and PhD (2014) in Civil & Environmental Engineering at MIT, and I obtained BSc at Seoul National University with summa cum laude in 2008.

I currently teach the following courses: Fluid Earth Dynamics (ESCI 3202), General Hydrogeology (ESCI 4702), Field Hydrogeology Field Camp (4971W/5971), and Fractured Rock Hydrogeology (ESCI 5980).

Honors and Awards

• McKnight Presidential Fellow Award, University of Minnesota, 2023
• George Taylor Career Development Award, University of Minnesota, 2023
• Chin-Fu Tsang Coupled Processes Award, CouFrac 2022
• NSF CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 2021
• McKnight Land-Grant Professorship, University of Minnesota, 2021
• ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator (DNI) Award, American Chemical Society, 2021
• 3M Non-tenured Faculty Award (NTFA), The 3M Company, 2019
• Best paper award from Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment, 2016
• MIT Carroll L. Wilson Award for a biosand filter project in Tanzania and Nigeria, 2014
• MIT Martin Family Society of Fellows for Sustainability, 2013
• New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) scholarship award, 2013
• Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE SCGF) award, 2010-2013
• Outstanding Student Presentation Awards (OSPA) from AGU Fall meeting, 2010, 2011

Proverbs 29:23 Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

Contact: pkkang@umn.edu