kabik (at) uark (dot) edu
kabiraj.khatiwada (at) gmail (dot) com
Contact No: +1-479-601-9380
Senior Graduate Assistant
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701
PhD candidate || Environmental Dynamics program || Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Research area: greenhouse gases, methane fluxes, climate change, data analysis, modeling
Peer-reviewed articles
Ross, S. K., Klauss, N., Miles, M., Khatiwada, K. R., El Masri, B., Runkle, B. R., Stinchcomb, G. E. & Moon, J. B. (2025). Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) Knees Are Methane Sources Controlled by Geomorphology, Climate, and Hydrologic Extremes. J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosciences 130, e2025JG008996. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JG008996
Khatiwada, K. R., Pradhananga, S., Nepal, S. (2024). Inferring the impacts of climate extremes in the Kabul River Basin. Regional Environmental Change, 24(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-023-02167-3
Nepal, S., Khatiwada, K. R., Pradhananga, S., Kralisch, S., Samyn, D., Bromand, M. T., ... & Chevallier, P. (2021). Future snow projections in a small basin of the Western Himalaya. Science of The Total Environment, Volume 795, 148587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148587
Khatiwada, K. R., & Pandey, V. P. (2019). Characterization of hydro-meteorological drought in Nepal Himalaya: A case of Karnali River Basin. Weather and Climate Extremes, 26, 100239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2019.100239
Panthi, J., Khatiwada, K. R., Shrestha, M. L., & Dahal, P. (2018). Water poverty in the context of climate change: a case study from Karnali river basin in Nepal Himalaya. International Journal of River Basin Management, 17(2), 243-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15715124.2018.1531421
Khatiwada, K. R., Panthi, J., Shrestha, M. L., & Nepal, S. (2016). Hydro-climatic variability in the Karnali River basin of Nepal Himalaya. Climate, 4(2), 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli4020017
Book chapter
Nepal, S., Shrestha, A. B., Vaidya, R. A., Wester, P., Khatiwada, K. R., Pradhan, N. S., Bastola, A., Belbase, M., Faqiryar, J. N. (2019). Module 1: Conceptual understanding of river basin drivers and their implications for Integrated River Basin Management. In S. Nepal, A. B. Shrestha, C. G. Goodrich, A. Mishra, A. Prakash, S. Bhuchar, L. A. Vasily, V. Khadgi, & N. S. Pradhan (Eds). Multi-scale Integrated River Basin Management from a Hindu Kush Himalayan perspective (pp. 1–5), Kathmandu, ICIMOD; ISBN:978 92 9115 6818 (printed).
Thapa, P. S., Ranabhat, S., Aryal, K., & Ghimire, B. Khatiwada, K. R. (2023). Integrated River Basin Management: Lessons Learned from the Nepal Himalaya. In Chapter 9 of Mountain Ecosystems and Resources Management, vol. 1, Montreal, Canada: The Grassroots Institute, M eISBN: 978-1-7778455-0-6, 149.
Training Manual
Nepal, S., Khatiwada, K. R., Pradhananga, S., Kralisch, S. (2020). Application of the J2000 Hydrological Model in the Panjshir catchment of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region, Training Manual, ICIMOD; ISBN:978 92 9115 695 5 (electronic).
Conference presentations
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Year 2026
- Khatiwada, K. R., Desai A., Domec J., King J., El Masri, B., Mitra B., Moon J., Noormets A., Oikawa P., Stinchcomb, G., Rongyun T., Williams M., Runkle B.; Towards a generalized model to represent the complexities of methane flux processes in forested wetlands. In American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, December 9, 2026, San Francisco, CA, USA [View at AGU website] [Print Abstract]
- Khatiwada, K. R., Runkle B.; Unlocking the comlexities of greenhouse gas sources and sinks in forested wetlands. In American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Arkansas Section meeting, October 2, 2026, Fayetteville, AR, USA [View Poster] [Print Program Details]
- Khatiwada, K. R., Janssens I., Richter A., Runkle B., Stahl C., Brechet L.; Testing vertical influences on greenhouse gases fluxes (CO2, CH4 and N2O) along tropical tree stems In European Geosciences Union (EGU) EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, May 04, 2026, EGU26-6055, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6055 [View at EGU website] [View Presentation] [Print Abstract] Year 2025
- Khatiwada, K. R., Moon J.B., El Masri, B., Stinchcomb, G. E., Runkle B.; Extreme environmental conditions and their role in carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in forested wetlands. In American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, 16 December 2025, New Orleans, USA [View at AGU website] [View Poster] [Print Abstract] Year 2024
- Khatiwada, K. R., Rongyun T., El Masri, B., Moon J.B., Stinchcomb, G. E., Runkle B.; Towards a generalized model to represent the complexities of methane flux processes in forested wetlands. In American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, 12 December 2024, Fayetteville, AR, USA [View at AGU website] [View Poster] [Print Abstract]
- Khatiwada, K. R., Rongyun T., El Masri, B., Moon J.B., Stinchcomb, G. E., Runkle B.; Understanding the role of environmental drivers in determining methane flux in forested wetlands . In American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Arkansas State Section meeting, 4 October 2024, Fayetteville, AR, USA [View Poster] [Print Program Details] Year 2023
- Khatiwada, K. R., Runkle B., Moon J.B., Stinchcomb, G. E., El Masri, B.; Modeling forested wetland methane dynamics: insights from 5 flux towers and observations . In American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, 13 December 2023, San Francisco, CA, USA [View at AGU website] [View Poster] [Print Abstract]
- Khatiwada, K. R., Runkle B., Moon J.B., Stinchcomb, G. E., El Masri, B.; Modeling methane dynamics in a bottomland hardwood wetland . In Department of Energy's Environmental System Science (ESS) PI Meeting, May 16-17, 2023, Bethesda, MD, USA [View at US DoE website] [View Poster] [Page 11 at ESS-PI meeting abstracts] Year < 2022
- Khatiwada, K. R., Pandey V.P.; Characterization of hydro-meteorological drought in Nepal Himalaya, case studies from Nepal, In International Conference on Sudurpaschim Studies, 12 December 2022, Online, Nepal [View Presentation] [View Program Details] [Page 25 at abstract booklet]
- Khatiwada, K. R., Nepal S., Pandey V.P.; Hydro climatology of Karnali River Basin, Nepal, The 4th International Conference on Mountains in the Changing World, October 18-19, 2019, Kathmandu, Nepal (Oral)
- Khatiwada, K. R., Pandey V.P.; Assessment of meteorological drought using different approaches in the Karnali River Basin, Nepal; Eight Asian Regional Conference (ARC) organized by Nepal National Committee of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (NENCID), 2-4 May 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal [View Presentation]
- Khatiwada, K. R., Nepal S., Dhamala M.K.; Understanding climatic variability and its impact on the hydrology of Karnali river basin, Nepal Himalaya using J2000 hydrological model; Third International Conference on Mountain Hydrology and Meteorology for the Sustainable Development, 10-11 April 2017, Kathmandu, Nepal [Page 70 at Proceeding]
- Khatiwada, K. R., Panthi J., Shrestha M.; Hydro-climatic trends in Karnali river basin of Nepal Himalaya; International Conference on Climate Change Innovation and Resilience for Sustainable Livelihood, 12-14 January 2015, Kathmandu, Nepal [View Presentation]
Award
- Recipient of the 2025 FLUXNET Secondment Program award (Total amount: $7598 which inludes award: $4914 + flight: $2684), from FLUXNET Coordination Project. (More at FLUXNET website) [Print Blog]
Grant
- Total amount: $2000
from Travel Grant from Graduate School and International Education (GSIE) {$1500}, and
from Travel Grant from Graduate & Professional Student Congress (GPSC) {$500}, University of Arkansas,
for American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, December 2025.
- Total amount: $1100
from Travel Grant from Graduate School and International Education (GSIE), University of Arkansas,
for American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, December 2024. - Total amount: $1850
from Travel Grant from Graduate School and International Education (GSIE) {$1100}, and
from Travel Grant from Graduate & Professional Student Congress (GPSC) {$750}, University of Arkansas,
for American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, December 2023.
(More at University of Arkansas News) - Total amount: ~$1250
from Student Travel Award from Department of Energy's Environmental System Science (ESS) Program,
for annual Principal Investigators (PI) Meeting, May 2023.
Education background
- Ph.D. Environmental Dynamics (in progress)
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
(Fall 2022 -- Present)
Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Runkle
- M.Sc. Environmental Science with specialization in Climate Change
Central Department Of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University (TU)
(2011-2016) Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Master’s dissertation: Climatic Variability and its impact on hydrology of the Karnali River Basin, Nepal, 2016
Advisor: Dr. Santosh Nepal - B.Sc. Environmental Science
Tri Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University (TU)
(2008-2010) Ghantaghar, Kathmandu, Nepal
Work experience
- Graduate Research Assistant (Aug 2022 -- Present)
- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
- - Modeling carbon dynamics
- Water Resources Analyst (Dec 2018 -- July 2022)
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
- - Developed the glacio-hydrological model, in river basin of Himalayan region, for water balance assessment
- - Analyzed the future climate scenario and extreme events for the study area
- - Operationalized Multi-scale Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) approach for water resouce management
- Hydrological modeller, Consultant (April -- Nov 2018)
- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
- - Conducted Training on hydrological modelling using JAMS/J2000 hydrological model from 25 October to 4 November 2018 in New Delhi, India, for professionals and academics.
- - Prepared training manual and materials for the hydrological modeling
- Research Associate (Feb 2018 -- Nov 2018)
- The Small Earth Nepal (SEN)
- Developed the algorithm for the Aakaashepani mobile application which supports in decision making on the rainwater harvesting, for APN project
- - Analyzed the observed meteorological data, compared the reanalysis data, for NAST project
- - Co-developed a training curriculum on watershed management practices for different geographical regions, for PAANI project
- - Co-developed the proposals, for the different opportunities
- Consultant (May 2016 -- June 2018)
- Freelance consulting
- - Prepared climate adaptation and disaster risk management plans for Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Gaunpalikas in Provinces 1 and 3, Nepal
- - Explored drought dynamics of western Nepal
- Research Intern (Aug 2014 -- Oct 2015)
- The Small Earth Nepal (SEN)
- - Analyzed hydro-climatic data of the Karnali river basin, for Runoff Scenario and Water Based Adaptation Strategies in South Asia
- - Calculated the water poverty index for Karnali river basin.
Thesis supervision
- Co-supervisor, Prabesh Dhungana, M. Sc. thesis 2019, Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Tribhuvan University.
Thesis title: Contributions of snow and ice melt in the flow regime of Khumbu catchment, Mt. Everest region - Co-supervisor, Bashudev Neupane, M. Sc. thesis 2018, Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University
Thesis title: Water Availability and Impacts of Landuse Landcover change study in Marshyangdi River Basin
Guest lecture
- The application of hydrological model J2000 in context of changing climate and water resource management in the Himalayan Basin”, at Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University,during February 2019/20 at GoldenGate College on April 2019/20
Trainings and certifications
- Science and training workshop on Climate Change over the High Mountains of Asia Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune (8-12 October 2018).
Acquainted with the climate modeling and regional downscaling - APHRODITE Data Interpolation Training (Nov 2017).
Experienced on how locally available station data are integrated in APHRODITE algorithm to make robust interpolation - Graduate Course on Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction in South Asia (Nov 2016).
Versed the soil water interaction, their engineering properties, and applicability of different surface-groundwater models
Tools and applications
- R (Beginner)
- Python (Intermediate)
- JAMS/J2000 glacio-hydrological model (Intermediate)
- QGIS/ArcMap (Beginner)
- Linux environment (Beginner)
Vote of thanks:
Date of last update: 25 October 2026
Oh wow, you really dug all the way to the bottom of my CV. Impressive!
Thanks to Yen-Chia's (template) :)
I look forward to hearing from you.