Master Thesis
Topic proposals 2026
- Projet de captation de la source de la Bovanche – Valais
Supervisors : Prof. Philippe Renard and Anthony Salamin (BEG Géologie & Environnement SA)
Abstract topic 1 - Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) experiment
Supervisor: Prof. Benoît Valley
Abstract topic 2 - Hydromechanical coupling generating tilt signals
Supervisor: Prof. Benoît Valley
Abstract topic 3 - Quantifying Groundwater–River Exchanges in Restoration Projects Using Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (FO-DTS)
Supervisors : Prof. Clément Roques, Steve Hottinger (Canton of Geneva) and Olivier Stauffer (Canton of Neuchâtel)
Abstract topic 4 - Assessing Groundwater Recharge and Availability in Crystalline Aquifers in Switzerland
Supervisors : Prof. Clément Roques, Stefanie Wirth (OFEV) and Prof. Benoît Valley
Abstract topic 5 - Assessing Groundwater Controlled Stream Intermittency and Impacts on Riparian Vegetation
Supervisors : Prof. Clément Roques and Simon Carlier
Abstract topic 6 - Understanding PFAS transport and fate in soil and groundwater
Supervisors: Prof. Daniel Hunkeler and Dr. Ursina Morgenthaler
Abstract topic 7 - Long-term permeability decline in fractured media due to colloidal deposition and clogging
Supervisors: Dr. Filippo Miele and Prof. Veronica Morales (University of California, Davis)
Abstract topic 8 - Mud-cracks formation and their hydrological impacts in degraded wetlands
Supervisors: Dr. Filippo Miele and Prof. Clément Roques
Abstract topic 9 - Simultaneous observation of flow and thermal lag in rocks-on-a-chip media
Supervisors: Dr. Filippo Miele and Prof. Petro De Anna (UNIL)
Abstract topic 10 - Temperature sensitivity of carbon cycling and priming effects in iron-rich organic soils
Supervisor: Prof. Laurel Thomas Arrigo
Abstract topic 11 - Controls on greenhouse gas emissions along a thaw gradient in Icelandic permafrost soils
Supervisor: Prof. Laurel Thomas Arrigo
Abstract topic 12 - Groundwater (recharge) in Urban Areas
Supervisors: Prof. Mario Schirmer and Dr. Christian Moeck
Abstract topic 13 - Identifying and testing gas species as artificial hydrogeological tracers
Supervisors : Prof. Philip Brunner and Dr. Morgan Peel (EAWAG)
Abstract topic 14 - Project “Smart Drain”: Performance Evaluation of a Smart Drainage Control Model in a Highly Instrumented Agricultural Catchment
Supervisors : Dr. Hugo Delottier and Prof. Philip Brunner
Abstract topic 15 - Soil CO₂ Emissions and Water-Table Dynamics in Agricultural Systems
Supervisors : Prof. Philip Brunner, Prof. Daniel Hunkeler and Dr. Ursina Morgenthaler
Abstract topic 16 - From boreholes observations to 3D geological models of quaternary formations in the canton of Vaud
Supervisors : Dr. Ludovic Schorpp, Prof. Philippe Renard and Dr. Julien Straubhaar
Abstract topic 17 - Impact du changement climatique sur les ressources en eau stratégique du canton de Neuchâtel
Supervisors : Prof. Philippe Renard and Yves Houriet (SENE)
Abstract topic 18 - Impact du changement climatique sur la source de Glarey – système karstique de Tsanfleuron
Supervisors : Prof. Philippe Renard and Dr. Tanguy Racine
Abstract topic 19 - Electrical conductivity of karst springs
Supervisors : Prof. Pierre-Yves Jeannin and Prof. Daniel Hunkeler
Abstract topic 20 - Recognition of karst hydrographs using machine learning
Supervisors : Prof. Pierre-Yves Jeannin and Dr. Arnauld Malard (ISSKA)
Abstract topic 21
Archives – Master Thesis Topic Proposals
- Investigating agricultural threats to groundwater quality and innovative solutions using vadose zone modelling
Supervisor : Dr Landon Halloran
Abstract topic 1 - Alpine groundwater monitoring using combined geophysical and hydrological methods
Supervisor : Dr Landon Halloran
Abstract topic 2 - Understanding the interplay between geomechanics and hydraulic properties of bedrock: a 3D geomechanical modeling of the Poschiavino catchment
Supervisors : Dr Clément Roques, Ronny Figueroa and Dr. Larissa de Palézieux (ETHZ)
Abstract topic 3 - Emanation of dissolved noble gases associated to rock deformation
Supervisors : Dr Clément Roques, Valentin Gischig (ETHZ) and Rolf Kipfer (EAWAG)
Abstract topic 4 - Etude du fonctionnement hydrogéologique de la Grande Cariçaie
Supervisors : Prof. Philippe Renard and Robin Voland
Abstract topic 5 - Effet du changement climatique sur les débits de sources stratégiques du canton de Neuchâtel
Supervisor : Prof. Philippe Renard
Abstract topic 6 - Evaluation des phénomènes de tassement dans le canton de Neuchâtel sous l’influence du changement des conditions hydrodynamiques
Supervisors : Prof. Benoît Valley, Prof. Philippe Renard, Giona Preisig (canton de Neuchâtel) and Prof. Pierre-Yves Jeannin (ISSKA)
Abstract topic 7 - Prospection géothermique à moyenne profondeur dans le nord vaudois
Supervisors : Prof. Benoît Valley and Dr. Reza Sohrabi (Grisoni)
Abstract topic 8 - Far field response to excavation in clay rocks
Supervisors : Prof. Benoît Valley and Martin Schoenball (nagra)
Abstract topic 9 - Thermique de l’anticlinal de Chaumont
Supervisors : Prof. Benoît Valley and Pierre-Olivier Aragno (ville de Neuchâtel)
Abstract topic 10 - Understanding PFAS transport mechanisms in soil and groundwater
Supervisors : Prof. Daniel Hunkeler and Francesco Scattolini
Abstract topic 11 - Iron minerals as driver of carbon release during permafrost thaw
Supervisor : Prof. Laurel Thomas Arrigo
Abstract topic 12 - Effect of river revitalization on groundwater quantity and quality
Supervisor : Prof. Daniel Hunkeler
Abstract topic 13 - The effect of using different potential evaporation methods on the estimation recharge and groundwater levels
Supervisor : Dr. Raoul Collenteur et Prof. Mario Schirmer
Abstract topic 14 - Sécheresses et gestion de l’eau en milieu alpin
Supervisors : Dr Landon Halloran and Dr. Marie Arnoux (CREALP)
Abstract topic 15 - The Seeland projects: Hydrogeology, soil and agriculture
Supervisors : Prof. Philip Brunner, Prof. Daniel Hunkeler, Dr Clément Roques and Alex Kobayashi
Abstract topic 16 - How did the “Great Karst Spring of Mesopotamia” dry up: Impacts of climate change or groundwater over-exploitation
Supervisors : Dr Landon Halloran, Saeed Mhanna and Prof. Philip Brunner
Abstract topic 17 - Evaluation et caractérisation de la ressource en eau de Mawana Game Reserve
Supervisors: Prof. Philip Brunner, Prof. Daniel Hunkeler and Prof. Vetrimurugan Elumalai (UniZulu)
Abstract topic 18
- Climate, crops & contamination: Mapping nitrate leaching risk across Switzerland
Supervisors : Dr Landon Halloran and Dr. Alejandro Romero-Ruiz
Abstract topic 1 - Groundwater controls on stream intermittency in headwater catchments
Supervisors : Dr Clément Roques and Markus Noak (HKA)
Abstract topic 2 - Interaction épikarst-cryosphère en milieu alpin et caractérisation de la recharge de l’aquifère de Tsanfleuron
Supervisor : Prof. Philippe Renard, Dr. Tanguy Racine and Manon Trottet
Abstract topic 3 - Far-field response to tunnel excavation
Supervisors: Prof. Benoît Valley and Martin Schoenball (Nagra)
Abstract topic 4 - Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) experiments and numerical simulations
Supervisor: Prof. Benoît Valley
Abstract topic 5
Past Master Thesis
- Auberson Nathan: Heat storage in a fractured limestone aquifer: Experimental protocol’s proposals based on field experiement and numerical simulations. Encadrants: Prof. Benoît Valley et Dr. Reza Sohrabi
- Belloni Céleste: Tidal characterization of the Liappey fractured aquifer, Bagnes (VS). Encadrants: Prof. Benoît Valley et Dr. Clément Roques
- Gay Nicolas: Étude de l’hydrogéologie et de la stabilité du glissement de Valtschiel, Muntogna da Schons (Grisons). Encadrants: Prof. Benoît Valley et Dr. Clément Roques
- Louis Cyprien: Hydrological significance and dynamics of active rock glacier under climate change: a case study from the Val d’Ursé, Bernina Range, Switzerland. Encadrants: Dr. Landon Halloran et Dr. Clément Roques
- Marmy Elisa: Réseau hydrogéologique qui alimente l’habitat d’une fougère rare aux falaises de Saint-Aubin-Sauges (NE). Encadrants: Prof. Daniel Hunkeler et Dr. Landon Halloran
- Vontobel Martin: Fracture Network Characterisation for Hydrothermal Projects: Application to the AGEPP Project in Lavey-les-Bains, Switzerland. Encadrants: Prof. Benoît Valley et Dr. Reza Sohrabi
- Chopard Yves: A groundwater model to evaluate the effects of pumping on the Kundelfingerhof spring. Encadrants: Prof. Philip Brunner et Prof. Daniel Hunkeler
- Gremaud Fabian: Deciphering the fate of PFAS in groundwater at HMAS Albatross, NSW, Australia. Encadrants: Prof. Philip Brunner & Prof. Daniel Hunkeler
- Menetrey Jonathan: Micropollutants as tracers for hydrogeological processes: turning a problem into an opportunity. Encadrant: Prof. Daniel Hunkeler
- Monnard Robin: Étude hydrogéologique du glacier rocheux Bonnard (VS) et possibles implications pour le déclenchement des laves torrentielles. Prof. Daniel Hunkeler et Dr. Giona Preisig
- Berdat Eléonore: Etude des dynamiques d’écoulement et du stockage des eaux souterraines en milieux alpins. Vallon de Réchy, Valais, Suisse. Encadrant: Prof. Daniel Hunkeler
- Bergamin Silvan: An open source approach on groundwater potential mapping. Encadrants: Prof. Philip Brunner et Prof. tit. Ellen Milnes
- Choffat Kevin: Modélisation d’écoulement dans le karst à l’aide de MODFLOW-CFP et FloPy: exemples et tutoriels. Encadrant: Prof. Philippe Renard
- Modoux Loïc: Etude hydrogéologique de la zone de faille de la Lance, identification des écoulements profonds et des interactions entre les failles et le karst. Encadrants: Prof. Benoît Valley et Dr. Giona Preisig
- Sahli Valentin: Comportement hydrogéologique des glissements de terrain : Étude de la rupture de tourbière de la Vraconnaz (VD). Encadrant: Dr. Giona Preisig
- Schorpp Ludovic: Etude de la sensibilité des nappes plio-quaternaires du Roussillon aux changements climatiques. Encadrant: Prof. Philippe Renard
- Trottet Manon: Characterization of the Isiolo-Nyambeni (Kenya) aquifer. Encadrant: Prof.Daniel Hunkeler
- Tschannen Eliane: Hydrogeologische Untersuchung des Grundwasserleiters im Muotathal. Encadrants: Prof. Philip Brunner et Prof. Daniel Hunkeler
