Kevin Urbanczyk, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water
Professor of Geology
Sul Ross State University
Dr. Kevin Urbanczyk is a Professor of Geology at Sul Ross State University and serves as Senior Research Scientist for the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water. He has been a member of the Sul Ross faculty since 1991 and brings more than three decades of teaching, research, and applied experience focused on the geology and water resources of the Trans-Pecos.
Urbanczyk earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Sul Ross State University before completing his Ph.D. at Washington State University. His research interests span both fundamental geologic processes and applied environmental questions, with a particular emphasis on groundwater and surface water systems in West Texas.
Much of his work focuses on understanding the sources of baseflow and groundwater flow paths that sustain large desert spring systems, including the San Solomon Springs complex and springs feeding the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande. He has also conducted extensive research on the hydrogeology and water resource potential of the region’s igneous aquifers, as well as long-term monitoring of groundwater levels and precipitation patterns across the Big Bend area.
Urbanczyk integrates field-based studies with advanced mapping and analysis techniques, including LiDAR, unmanned aerial systems, and multispectral imagery. His work in geomorphology and remote sensing has helped document changes in riparian vegetation and river systems, providing valuable insights into watershed health and restoration outcomes.
At the state level, Urbanczyk has contributed to the development of Groundwater Availability Models for the Texas Water Development Board and served on expert science teams for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. He also serves as one of the Directors of the Brewster County Groundwater Conservation District and is actively involved in binational research and conservation efforts along the Rio Grande/Bravo.
Through his research and leadership, Urbanczyk plays a central role in advancing the scientific foundation of the Meadows Research Institute’s work on desert water systems.