The USGS FLOW (Future Leaders in Observation of Water) Academy is sponsored by the United States Geological Survey, organized by CIROH (Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology), and hosted by the Alabama Water Institute at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL. Access to the world-class USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) allows participants opportunities for prototyping and testing of research challenge solutions.
The 2026 program will be held from June 8 to July 23, 2026.
Participants will work in small teams to develop solutions for real-life research challenges involving water sensing technology. Through hands-on experiences in developing, building, testing, and deploying sensors and sensor technologies, students, in close collaboration with USGS scientists and industry partners, will be actively translating research to operations.
Interactive mini workshops will focus on building and enhancing skills in areas such as soldering, 3-D modeling and printing, microcontrollers, Internet of Things (IoT), and edge computing, while field excursions will hone in on sensor calibration, current measurements, robotics, and instrumentation. To best prepare participants for the program, there will be a week of online workshops before June 8 with topics including coding, solar power systems and power budgets, and history and current practices of streamflow monitoring.
The overall theme for the 2026 program will be non-contact water sensing technologies/approaches.
Examples of technologies we will be using include:
- Camera-based measurement of flow velocities and stage
- Soil moisture sensing
- Flow measurement by autonomous vehicles
- Emerging acoustic technologies for sediment sensing
Additional activities will include field trips related to water (Cahaba River) and water observing facilities (USGS, NEON, NWS), a day-long federal careers workshop, and professional development opportunities to build communication, leadership, and collaboration skills, as well as seminars and networking events where participants can interact with water observing technology experts and USGS scientists. At the conclusion of the program, participants will present their research on and solutions to the challenges they tackled at the USGS FLOW Academy Tech Showcase.
A competitive honorarium and a stipend for housing/food will be provided with housing located on the campus of The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Move-in dates will be Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5. The move-out date will be Friday, July 24.
How to Apply:
Eligible students (undergraduate or graduate students at U.S. colleges/universities) can apply here. Applications are due by January 5, 2026. Advanced undergraduate students and students early in their graduate careers are especially encouraged to apply.
As part of your application, you will need the following in a format that can be uploaded:
- A current CV/resume that includes course work, individual research, internships, apprenticeships, and employment showing your subject matter experience with hydrology, building & using sensor technologies, programming, and observations of water in the field (You do not have to have extensive experience in every subject to be considered for acceptance into the program.)
- Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts (as of time of the application)
- A personal statement of interest (1 page or less) describing your 1) experience and interest in water observing technologies, 2) experience and interest in water science, and 3) career interests in water sensing and observation
- A letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor or a professor who is able to describe your potential for success in the program
The ideal student would be one of the following:
- Engineering students working in sensor and instrumentation development who are willing to apply these skills and knowledge in water research and observation
- Water science students interested in learning instrumentation and sensor development with some programming ability and experience working with water sensors and instrumentation
For more information, contact Marie E. Wilson (AWI Education/Outreach Coordinator) at mewilson@ua.edu.
Profiles of USGS FLOW Academy Co-Leads
Lisa Davis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Geography and the Environment
The University of Alabama
Briefly describe your research.
My specialty is fluvial geomorphology, which is a branch of earth science that looks at how rivers evolve over time, space, and from environmental change. I analyze erosional and depositional processes in rivers to understand how the frequency and magnitude of extreme floods changes and use this information to help engineers conduct flood hazard assessments. I also study human impacts in rivers and how aquatic plants and animals help influence physical processes.
How would you describe the USGS FLOW Academy?
I see it as a great way to rapidly learn a lot about instrumentation used to monitor water, be able to develop programming, technical, and team work skills in a fun and interesting way, and a great way to meet other students that are interested in water systems from a wide variety of perspectives.
What inspired you to start the USGS FLOW Academy?
The University of Alabama is lucky to have the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility co-located on its campus. It is a world class testing and research facility, but it is also a training hub for the USGS. I am a big believer in experiential learning. “Doing is understanding” in my view. I really wanted students to be able to work at the HIF and with the exceptionally trained and experienced USGS personnel and be able to learn through hands on activities with real instruments and be able to help address real problems.
What was your most important takeaway from the inaugural USGS FLOW Academy which took place during the summer of 2025?
We can accomplish a lot in a matter of weeks if we work together and have a lot of fun while doing it!
What are you looking forward to as the 2026 session of the USGS FLOW Academy approaches?
We’ll be testing different instruments from last year, and some may focus on sediment and soil, which greatly interests me because of my research in those areas. I am also excited to meet students and get to learn along with them, as many of the instruments are prototypes.
Aijun Song, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
The University of Alabama
Briefly describe your research.
My research lies at the intersection of ocean acoustics, underwater wireless communications, and marine robotics. I focus on advancing sensor networks and robotic technologies to address pressing water-related challenges.
How would you describe the USGS FLOW Academy?
The USGS FLOW Academy is an eight-week summer program that introduces college students to real-world water challenges aligned with the missions of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Its goal is to attract the brightest talents to careers in water sciences and technologies. The academy fosters collaboration between the on-campus Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) and CIROH experts in water-related disciplines.
What inspired you to start the USGS FLOW Academy?
We recognized a critical need to integrate emerging technologies into water observation systems. It is also urgent to develop a future workforce skilled in next-generation water observing technologies. The USGS FLOW Academy was created to meet both needs — bridging innovation with workforce development.
What was your most important takeaway from the inaugural USGS FLOW Academy which took place during the summer of 2025?
FLOW 2025 was an energizing experience made possible through the strong support of the USGS, HIF, AWI/CIROH, and our faculty mentors. We had an extraordinary cohort of students who thrived in hands-on learning and rose to real-world research challenges. The enthusiasm and efforts from the students, mentors, and organizers made the program a true success.
What are you looking forward to as the 2026 session of the USGS FLOW Academy approaches?
I look forward to engaging a new cohort of talented students and building on the success of our first year. I am excited about exploring new research projects in partnership with USGS scientists and industry collaborators, continuing to expand FLOW’s impact and reach.