Kennedy O. Doro, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Ph.D. University of Tuebingen, Germany 2015
M.Sc., University of Tuebingen, Germany 2012
B.Sc., Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria 2003
419.530.2811
Research
The shallow subsurface environment with depth ranging from a few to tens of meters below the surface is characterized by a high level of heterogeneity from pore to geologic scale. This results in high variability in spatial and temporal distribution of properties and processes within it. The implication of this is that the ability to predict the distribution of soil moisture and nutrients, groundwater flow, the fate and transport of chemicals, the engineering properties of soils as well as the location of ancient structures and buried objects within the shallow subsurface is limited. This is a constrain on the understanding, use and sustainable management of the shallow subsurface and its resources.
Our research at the Hydro- & Environmental Geophysics Lab (UToledo HEG-Lab) focuses on advancing the use of geophysical methods in combination with In-Situ (Direct-Push & Direct Sensing) and hydrological methods for improved characterization of shallow subsurface heterogeneities as well as monitoring the state and processes within it; with applications for:
- soil and hydrological processes investigation and management;
- monitoring biogeochemical processes and contaminated sites;
- investigating engineering, archaeological and forensic sites
- and other environmental applications.
We combine both numerical and laboratory studies with field experimental implementations to obtain images of the shallow subsurface and estimates the needed hydraulic and biogeochemical parameters for developing and calibrating an integrated system’s model. Available facilities include geophysical equipment for electrical resistivity, induced polarization, self-potential, electromagnetics, ground penetrating radar, gravity, magnetics and seismic measurements; computational and inversion facilities as well as a modern laboratory and field hydro-geophysics test sites.
Recent Publications
View Dr. Doro's Google Scholar page
Rod, K. A., Doro, K. O., Patel, K. F., Kemner, K. M., Wilson, S. J., Megonigal, J. P., Ward, N. D., Weintraub, M. N., Bailey, V. L. (2026). Alternating salt and freshwater floods of coastal soils impact soil structure, hydraulic properties, and oxygen dynamics. Vadose Zone J. Accepted.
Adebayo, M. B., Bailey, V. L., Ehosioke, S., Emmanuel, E. D., Hopple, A. M., Regier, P., Rod, K. A., Chen, X., Ward, N. D., Megonigal, J. P., Doro, K.O. (2026). Capturing soil moisture and salinity changes in flooded coastal forests using electrical resistivity and induced polarization. Vadose Zone J. Accepted.
Otchere, N., Aizebeokhai, A. P., Martin-Hayden, J., Doro, K. O. (2026). Assessing subsurface heterogeneity and infiltration capacity at a restored wetland using geophysical imaging and infiltration tests. Wetlands 6, 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-025-02020-9
Doro, K. O., Kolapkar, A. M., Emmanuel, E. D. (2025). Combined self-potential and electromagnetic imaging provide insights into the spatial variation of wetland soil hydro-biogeochemical properties. Environ Earth Sci, 84, 617 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-025-12638-x
Ward, N. D., Megonigal, J. P., Weintraub, M. N., Pennington, S. C., Regier, P., Peixoto, R. B., Bond-Lamberty, B., Chen, X., Doro, K. O., Kemner, K. M., Machado-Silva, F., McDowell, N., Myers-Pigg, A., Sandoval, L., Patel, K. F., Thornton, P. E., Wilson, S., Bailey, V. , Rich, R. (2025). A Synoptic System for Capturing Ecosystem Control Points Across Terrestrial-Aquatic Interfaces. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 130, e2025JG009335. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JG009335
Patel, K. F.,Malhotra, A., Norris, C. G., McKever, S. A., Fields, D. A., Musci, J. I., Bandopadhyay, S., Bond-Lamberty, B., Chen, X., Day, D. J, Doro, K. O., Fluet-Chouinard, E., Garcia, M., Kemner, K. M., Machado-Silva, F., McDowell, N., Morris, K. A., Myers-Pigg, A., O’Loughlin, E. J., O’Meara, T., Peixoto, R. B., Pennington, S. C., Regier, P., Rich, R., Rod, K. A., Sulman, B., Thornton, P., Ward, N. D., Wilson, S. J., Weintraub, M. N., Megonigal, J. P., Bailey, V. L. (2025). Transition zones at the changing coastal terrestrial-aquatic interface. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 130, e2025JG008978. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JG008978
Regier, P., Bond-Lamberty, B., Ward, N., Bailey, V., Peixoto-Bittencourt, R., Machado-Silva, F., Mcdowell, N., Morris, K., Myers-Pigg, A., Pennington, S., Rahman, M., Rich, R., Smith, R. W., Wilson, S., Woodward, S. C., Stearns A., Day, D., Doro, K. O., Emmanuel, E. D., Ogunsola, O., Patel, K., Megonigal, J. P. (2025). Experimental flooding impacts soil biogeochemistry but not aboveground vegetation in a coastal forest. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(41), e2511756122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2511756122.
Doro, K. O., Olabode, P., Adeniran, M. A., Oladunjoye, M. A. (2025). Understanding complex hydraulic heterogeneities in crystalline basement aquifers used as drinking water sources. Geosciences, 15(7), 239. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15070239
Fisher T. G., Aden, D. J., Parrick, B. D., Doro, K. O., Sasowsky, I. D., Norris, T. A., Chartolani, N. G. (2025). Subtle relict channels associated with large dolines in an area formerly beneath the Laurentide Ice Sheet northern Ohio, USA. Boreas, https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.70016. ISSN 0300-9483.
Adeniran, M. A., Oladunjoye, M. A., Doro, K. O. (2024). Assessing the use of electrical resistivity for monitoring crude oil contaminant distribution in unsaturated coastal sands under varying salinity. Geosciences, 14 (11), 308. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14110308
Cristino, K., Doro, K. O., Armstrong A.+, Forbes, S., Ribereau-Gayon, A., Bank, C-G. (2024). Electrical resistivity tomography of simulated graves with buried human and pig remains. Forensic Science International, 364, 112248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112248
Adeniran, M. A, Oladunjoye, M. A., Doro, K. O. (2024). Electrical resistivity imaging of crude oil contaminant in coastal soils – A laboratory sandbox study. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 230, 10556. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15622
Armstrong A., Doro, K. O., Cristino, K.+, Ribereau-Gayon, A., Forbes, S., Wadsworth, W. T. D., Bank, C-G. (2024). Comparison of GPR signals over simulated clandestine graves with domestic pigs (Sus Scrofa domesticus) and human remains. Journal of Forensic Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15622
Machado-Silva, F., Weintraub, M. N., Ward, N., Doro, K. O. Regier, P. J., Ehosioke, S., Thomas, S. P., Peixoto, R. B., Sandoval, L., Forbrich, I., Kemner, K. M., O’Loughlin, E. J., Stetten, L., Spanbauer, T., Bridgeman, T. B., O’Meara, T., Kenton, A. R., Patel, K., McDowell, N. G., Megonigal, J. P., Rich, R. L., Bailey, V. L. (2024). Short-term groundwater level fluctuations drive subsurface redox variability. Environmental Science & Technology, 58, 14687–14697. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c01115
Ehosioke, S., Adebayo, M. B., Bailey, V., Pioxoto, R. B., Emmanuel, E. D., Machado-Silva, F., Regier, P. J., Spanbauer, T., Thomas, S. P., Ward, N. D., Weintraub, M. N., Doro, K. O. (2024). Geophysical methods reveal the soil architecture and subsurface stratigraphic heterogeneities across land-lake interfaces along Lake Erie. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 24, 2215 – 2236, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-024-03787-w
Patel, K. F., Rod., K. A., Zheng, J., Regier, P., Machado-Silva, F., Bond-Lamberty, B., Chen, X., Day, D. J., Doro, K. O., Kaufman, M. H., Kovach, M., McDowell, N., McKever, S. A., Megonigal, J. P., Norris, C. G., O’Meara, T., Rich, R., Thornton, P., Kemner, K. M., Ward, N. D., Weintraub, M. N., Bailey, V. L (2024) Time to anoxia: Observations and predictions of oxygen drawdown following coastal flood events. Geoderma, 444, 116854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.116854
Emmanuel, E. D., Slater, L. D., Doro, K. O (2024). Exploring the induced polarization and surface conductivity relationship: The influence of varying soil physicochemical properties. GEOPHYSICS, 89 (2), 1 – 19. https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2023-0345.1. 1st Quartile Journal in discipline (H1=200; IF=3.3)
Teaching
I embrace a relationship-based approach to mentoring students and a holistic and adaptive approach to teaching general and applied geoscience-related subjects, particularly Fundamentals of Geology, Applied Geophysics, Environmental Geophysics, and Hydrogeology. As a geoscience teacher, I will continue to improve on a balanced use of experimental, qualitative, and quantitative approaches to understanding geo-environmental processes, occurrences, and applications, integrating current research and industry-related examples.
As a growing research group, we are actively looking for graduate and undergraduate research students. For potential projects, contact Dr. Kennedy Doro via kennedy.doro@utoledo.edu