phd in planetary science

Earth and Planetary Sciences, PhD

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences, fields of graduate study and research.

The department offers a range of fields of study covering Earth, Space and Environmental Sciences. In the past decade we have hired seven new assistant professors and two full professors spanning Planetary Sciences, Geosciences and Environmental Science. What links all of our fields of research together is a focus on treating individual processes- ranging from the formation of rocks to the distribution of organisms- as part of a system, with implications for and feedbacks from other parts of the system. The description below provides a rough grouping of the research areas involved and the faculty associated with each one. Interested applicants are urged to consult individual group web sites for more detail as well as to view presentations made as part of the department’s 50th Anniversary celebration ( https://eps.jhu.edu/events/ ). Prospective students should contact individual faculty members with whom they are interested in working. Students with interests that cross disciplinary boundaries or who use techniques found in different groups are strongly encouraged to apply as we believe that the most exciting questions to pursue in science today involve interdisciplinary research.

All Ph.D. students are expected to have a background of general biology, physics, chemistry and calculus. Deficiencies can be made up in the first semesters at Hopkins. Students take a core program of statistics, Earth history, stable isotope geochemistry, and ecology. In conjunction with the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences offers course work opportunities in aquatic chemistry, microbial ecology, geospatial analysis, and analytical environmental chemistry.

PLANETARY SCIENCES

In the last decade the department has hired four new faculty members in the Planetary Sciences who study bodies ranging from Mercury to Pluto to exoplanets. Key questions include: What role do planetary atmospheres play in the habitability of planets and the origin and/or evolution of life? (Hörst) What can we learn from the sedimentary record on Mars about what processes have shaped the evolution of that planet? (Lewis) How do planetary dynamos work? (Stanley) How can we use the wealth of spectra coming to us from new sensors to learn about planetary atmospheres? (Sing) A common thread across all of this work is the question of habitability- what sort of things need to happen in order for a planet to be able to support life, and for us to detect it? These questions are addressed using a combination of observation (ground-based telescopes and robotic spacecraft), laboratory experimentation, theoretical modeling, and Earth-analog field studies. The program requires an interdisciplinary focus, drawing from a wide variety of fields including astronomy, geosciences, physics and chemistry. Research often includes data from active planetary exploration missions. EPS faculty include members of the Cassini mission to the Saturn system, New Horizons mission to the Pluto system, and Mars Science Laboratory Rover teams, along with a number of proposed future missions to Venus, and Titan, and other worlds.

Students are encouraged to take courses in astrophysics, chemistry, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, and engineering to gain the comprehensive background necessary for interdisciplinary research. The best undergraduate preparation is a broad background in physics, applied mathematics, chemistry, or earth science. Advanced undergraduate courses in these fields (including differential equations, linear algebra, classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, organic, and physical chemistry) are strongly recommended. The EPS Planetary Science research program has close ties with the Space Department of the JHU Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), and students may be co-advised by APL researchers. Students in the department additionally benefit from the local availability of outside institutions including the Space Telescope Science Institute (co-located on the JHU campus), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the Carnegie Institution for Science, and the Smithsonian Institution.

DEEP EARTH GEOSCIENCES

This area focuses on understanding chemical and physical processes deep within the Earth and other planetary bodies. Key questions include: How do materials behave at very high temperatures and pressures, and what are the implications of this behavior for the whole planet system? (Wicks, Sverjensky) By what processes and at what rates do petrologic and tectonic systems evolve, and what are the feedbacks with the biosphere? (Viete). How is the Earth’s geodynamo changing with time - and why? (Stanley) The interdisciplinary techniques used to study these questions include X-ray scattering and laser studies of planet-building minerals at extreme conditions (Wicks), geological field work and observation, and spatially-resolved geochemical and geochronological analysis of crystalline rocks (Viete) and theoretical and laboratory studies of mineral-fluid interactions (Sverjensky).

Aqueous geochemical studies centered in the Sverjensky group focus on the role of water in the evolution of Earth through deep time, particularly the linkages between water in the deep Earth and the near-surface environment. It involves quantitative geochemical modeling of the chemistry of water-rock interactions from Earth's surface into the upper mantle. Students participate in research involving the interpretation of experimental studies of water-rock interactions in terms of fundamental properties of aqueous inorganic and organic species over extreme ranges of pressure and temperature. Developing a thermodynamic characterization of the behavior of fluids at elevated pressures and temperatures enables exciting research into topics such as the origins of diamonds, the development and evolution of the continents and the potential roles of abiogenic hydrocarbons in Earth's deep carbon cycle. Collaborations with experimental laboratories enable a wide range of training in combined theoretical and experimental studies of the role of fluids in the history of Earth and other planets

Students applying in this area will come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including class and research experience in chemistry, mechanical engineering, material science and condensed matter physics. Recommended classes, depending on the research track, include crystallography, mineralogy, petrology, and field geology, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, continuum mechanics, and mineral physics.

Research within the fields of petrology and tectonics centered in the Viete group focus on questions of length scales, time scales and drivers. It seeks to understand the tectonic processes that operate at plate margins, the nature and utility of the rock record, and interactions between the solid Earth and biosphere. Current foci include crustal heating and the tectonic significance of metamorphic rocks, scales of tectonic organization and episodicity, and petrologic records of seismicity. Student projects begin in the field, first involving mapping, measurement, observation and sampling. With field context established, geological questions are further interrogated through micro-scale structural, geochemical and geochronological analysis of sampled materials. Simple analytical and numerical modeling of processes of deformation and heat and material transfer are used to reproduce observed features and constrain processes recorded in landscapes and rocks.

Students applying in this area should enjoy field work and the outdoors and will preferably have some background and interest in chemistry, physics and/or mathematics. Recommended classes, depending on research track, may include field geology, petrology and petrography, structural geology, sedimentology, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and rock mechanics.

GEOSCIENCE IN THE SURFACE ENVIRONMENT

This area focuses on what the geological record can tell us about the evolution of life on Earth and its interaction with climate. A particular focus of this group is the use of isotope geochemistry to examine the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur cycles, and to link changes in the rock record to the actual organisms present at the time. Key questions include: What was the physical and chemical context in which the earliest complex life formed? (Smith) How do environmental conditions and/or biological communities influence geochemical signatures found in the rock record? (Gomes)

Students working in this area will learn a range of skills- including the field geology methods necessary to put samples in context, how to make isotopic measurements necessary to characterize the large-scale chemical environment, and how to use this information in conjunction with quantitative and modeling tools to investigate the coevolution of life and the Earth surface. Additionally, the Smith group has expertise in the paleontology of Ediacaran organisms and the Gomes group uses the tools of microbial ecology. Using multi-disciplinary tools, researchers in this area seek to use insight about the coevolution of life and the Earth surface to provide context to understand modern climate change and investigate the tools that can be used to search for life on other planets.

OCEANS, ATMOSPHERES AND CLIMATE

The Oceans, Atmospheres and Climate area focuses on understanding planetary-scale and regional dynamics with implications for planetary climates, including anthropogenic climate change. The philosophy underlying the department’s program is a rigorous and thorough process-based understanding of the climate system, with a grounding in fluid dynamics, energy exchange, and relevant chemical and biological interactions. Researchers in the department address these processes with theory, laboratory and numerical experiments, and study both remotely sensed and  in situ  field observations. Johns Hopkins is a member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

The best preparation for graduate study in this program is an undergraduate degree in physics, applied mathematics, mechanical engineering, or another parent science such as chemistry, oceanography, meteorology, or geology/geophysics. Prior course work in fluid dynamics, while highly desirable, is not mandatory to pursue graduate study in this area. It is strongly recommended to have a broad background in the parent sciences, specialization in one of them, and at least three years of undergraduate mathematics. Research experience is also desirable.

Research in physical oceanography (involving Profs. Haine, Gnanadesikan and Waugh) focuses on the processes that maintain the global ocean circulation and the ocean’s role in climate and global biogeochemical cycling. In particular, attention is on the role of waves, eddies, and small-scale mixing in controlling the ocean’s part in Earth’s heat and freshwater balances. We also study advection, stirring, and mixing processes in the interior ocean and their roles in dispersing atmospheric trace gases and nutrients. The research program also includes computational oceanography, with links to other Hopkins departments and centers.

Research in atmospheric dynamics, (involving Prof. Waugh) focuses on large-scale dynamics, the transport of trace constituents, and understanding the composition of the global atmosphere (e.g., distributions of stratospheric ozone and tropospheric water vapor). Current interests include stratospheric vortex dynamics, troposphere-stratosphere couplings, transport and mixing processes, and global modeling of chemical constituents.

Research in hydroclimate, including atmospheric processes that drive precipitation and terrestrial hydrology, is a focus of Prof. Zaitchik’s group. This research employs satellite image analysis, numerical modeling, and field observation to build a process-based understanding of the ways in which climate shapes landscape and vice versa. Current interests include drivers of rainfall variability in the tropics, coupled natural-human systems, seasonal forecast, and the application of hydroclimate analysis to studies of water resources, agriculture, and human health.

Research on climate and radiation is found across all of the research groups in this area and includes study of the global climate system and its response to radiative forcing due to changes in greenhouse gases and solar luminosity, the feedback effects of water vapor and clouds, and the radiative and hydrological effects of aerosols. These studies involve global and regional scale modeling, and the analysis and interpretation of satellite observations.

Additionally Prof. Gnanadesikan’s group conducts research in biogeochemical cycling, focussing on applying and developing three-dimensional computational models that can be combined with observations and remotely sensed data to characterize cycling of key elements (including carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen) in the earth system. Opportunities exist to link this work to the observational and theoretical geochemistry work done in the department as well as to simulate key periods and transitions in Earth History.

ECOLOGY: ORGANISMS, ECOSYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

This area of research involves understanding how organisms interact with each other and with the physical world, and how humans affect ecological processes and ecosystems. Questions include: How does past and present land use change affect species distribution, community assembly and biogeochemical cycles? (Avolio, Szlavecz) How does biodiversity, especially invasive species, affect the rates of soil biogeochemical cycling the production of greenhouse gasses (Szlavecz)? How do urban environments shape the ecology and evolution of plants and soil organisms within these systems (Avolio, Szlavecz)? What are the linkages between plant community composition and ecosystem function and/or services in grasslands and cities (Avolio)? How resistant or resilient are grasslands to global change drivers and what is their capacity to adapt to new environmental conditions (Avolio)? Students are invited to participate in ongoing collaborations at two Long Term Ecological Research Sites (Baltimore Ecosystem Study and Konza Prairie Biological Station), the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, or to design an original research project under the advisement of our faculty.

Graduate Programs

Requirements for admission.

The department expects applicants for advanced degrees to have completed undergraduate training in the basic sciences and mathematics. Normally this includes mathematics through at least integral calculus and coursework at least one year of coursework in physics, chemistry, and/or biology (with the exact combination depending on specialization). Further undergraduate study in one or more of these subjects or in mathematics is highly desirable for all programs in the Earth sciences; additional mathematics is essential for geophysics, atmospheric sciences, and dynamical oceanography. Extensive undergraduate work in Earth sciences is not a requirement for admission. If students lack formal training in this area or have deficiencies in the other related sciences, they may be admitted but will have to allow additional time in the graduate program to make up for deficiencies in their preparation. Students who have not attended undergraduate universities where the language of instruction is English will either be required to provide evidence of their reading, writing and speaking ability in English at level sufficient to conduct high-level scholarship. This may either take the form of a standardized test, evidence of work experience in a comparable environment, or an interview with the proposed advisor.

Requirements for Advanced Degrees

Candidates for the Ph.D. must meet requirements specified by their advisory committee. This begins with at least one year of coursework or supervised research, following by passing a comprehensive examination before a departmental committee and an oral examination administered by the Graduate Board of the university. Finally, students must submit an acceptable dissertation involving significant original research, as determined by two faculty readers, and present this research to the department. A minimum of two consecutive terms registered as a full-time student (engaged in some combination of classwork and research) is required.

The department rarely accepts candidates for the M.A. degree alone, but Ph.D. students can, with the consent of their advisors, complete a program that will qualify them for the M.A. degree at some point after their first year. Candidates for this degree must pass a comprehensive examination before a departmental committee, and must satisfy the residency requirement specified above for the Ph.D. degree. A student’s advisor may require an essay demonstrating research capability.

For further information about graduate study in the Earth and planetary sciences contact the Chair, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Financial Aid

The university makes available to the department a number of Gilman Fellowships, which provide for complete payment of tuition, together with Johns Hopkins’ fellowships and graduate assistantships that carry a nine-month stipend. Graduate assistantships cannot require more than 10 hours a week of service to the department, and all recipients of financial aid carry a full program of study and/or research. In addition, a number of special and endowed fellowships pay as much or more. The departmental expectation is that advisors will cover students’ summer stipend on grants.  In cases where this is not possible the department will backstop this support subject to availability of funds.

Applications for admission to graduate study and financial aid (including all supporting documents and, if necessary, evidence of proficiency in English) should be submitted to the department before January 1.

Earth and Planetary Sciences

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Almost every practical aspect of society—population, environment, economics, politics—is and will be increasingly impacted by our relationship with the earth. This program provides you with the flexibility to travel down the path in a specific area of the field that interests you the most. You will work with faculty to address fundamental questions about our world—from prehistoric geological processes to understanding weather patterns.

Students in the program have gone on field trips everywhere from Maine to Spain and research trips to Australia, Norway, Canada, and beyond. You will have the opportunity to use Harvard’s advanced instrumentation such as the Visualization Research and Teaching Laboratory with the Ultra High Resolution Science Observatory. Projects students have worked on include high temp geochemistry and cosmochemistry, climate dynamics, and geology, and earth history.

Graduates of the program have gone on to positions as a senior research scientist at NASA, geoscientist at ExxonMobil, and consultant at McKinsey & Company. Others have gone on to faculty positions at UC Berkeley, Columbia, and Princeton.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences .

Academic Background

Typically, applicants will have an academic background in applied math, biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, engineering, physics, or related fields. Applicants should indicate the faculty whose research fields are closest to their interests in the Faculty section of the application for admission. For lists of faculty working in specific research areas, please browse the study and research areas of the department website.

Math Preparation

Applicants should have appropriate math preparation depending on their field of study. Students in geophysics, climate, ocean and atmospheric dynamics, and other math-intensive research areas are expected to have successfully completed applied math courses to the level of ordinary and partial differential equations. Students in less mathematically-oriented research areas are expected to have successfully completed basic college-level calculus and linear algebra at the level of Harvard’s applied mathematics or mathematics courses: Math 21A (Multivariable Calculus) and Math 21B (Linear Algebra and Differential Equations). If not, these should be taken in addition to the department's math requirement, and incoming students should be aware that this represents a significant additional commitment. Students are expected, in the course of graduate work, to complete the second and third year of college mathematics (intermediate and advanced calculus and differential equations). Students with a strong math and physics background doing theoretical work are expected to take higher-level graduate mathematics courses.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional GRE Subject: Optional

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Earth and Planetary Sciences

See list of Earth and Planetary Sciences faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Earth & Planetary Science PhD

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences offers a PhD degree in Earth and Planetary Science. The central objective of the graduate program is to encourage creative thinking and develop the capacity for independent and original research. A strong undergraduate background in the physical sciences is especially helpful, and a significant number of our graduate students have their training in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or astronomy. Graduate students are formally accepted into the Earth and Planetary Science program, and they normally work directly toward a PhD.

The department offers a one-year MA program; however, admission to the program is available only to graduates of our bachelor's degree program in Earth and Planetary Science. We do not accept applications to the MA program from other majors or universities.

Contact Info

[email protected]

307 McCone Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Earth & Planetary Science

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 4, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

Morton K. Blaustein Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences

• Funding and Fellowship Opportunities
• Graduate Courses

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences offers programs leading to the PhD degree in a wide range of disciplines, covering the atmosphere, biosphere, oceans, geochemistry, geology and geophysics, and planets. Our goal is to educate scientists who will make fundamental and lasting contributions to their fields.

The graduate program is designed to give every student the training and the tools needed for independent research and a rewarding scientific career. The PhD program is flexible so that every student has a custom experience. Course loads vary according to prior experience and research focus. Graduate-level courses include both core classes and seminars with topics that change from year to year. Students are encouraged to take classes in other JHU departments, depending on the individual’s research focus.

At the core of our program is a close working relationship between the graduate student and faculty members at the cutting edge of research, with an education and research program tailored to meet the particular goals of each student. Graduate students in Earth and Planetary Sciences are full members of our academic family. They receive financial support in the form of tuition fellowships, research and teaching assistantships, and special scholarships. They share offices in Olin Hall, have access to all laboratories and research facilities, and participate fully in seminars, field trips, and other professional and social activities. All students participate in Journal Club, in which graduate students present their latest research to the entire department in each year of their study.

Related Links

• EPS Graduate Student Handbook
• JHU Graduate Affairs & Admissions

Requirements

• Conference with your adviser and advisory committee during the second semester to review the quality of your work in courses during the year.

Second Year

• Pass the Departmental Qualifying Examination by May 15 and prepare a thesis proposal before May 1.
• Proposal must be approved by two faculty members in the department, usually the prospective readers of your thesis.
• Complete the Graduate Board Oral Examination.

Fourth Year

• Prepare a dissertation approved by two faculty members appointed by the department.
• Present the results of the dissertation to the department in a seminar of approximately 50 minutes.
• Presentation must be certified as satisfactory by a group of at least five EPS faculty members.

Graduate Student Research

Prior to applying, prospective students are encouraged to contact individual  faculty members  to learn about available research opportunities.

Journal Club

The weekly  Journal Club  provides an environment for graduate students to develop and hone a professional style of delivering research talks, plus informs the faculty of each student’s research topic and progress. 

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UCLA Graduate Programs

Graduate Program: Planetary Science

UCLA's Graduate Program in Planetary Science offers the following degree(s):

Master of Science (M.S.)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

With questions not answered here or on the program’s site (above), please contact the program directly.

Planetary Science Graduate Program at UCLA 3683A Geology Box 951567 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567

Visit the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Department’s faculty roster

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Visit the registrar's site for the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Department’s course descriptions

• Admission Requirements
• Program Statistics

(888) 377-8252

[email protected]

MAJOR CODE: PLANETARY SCIENCE

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Berkeley Berkeley Academic Guide: Academic Guide 2023-24

Earth and planetary science.

About the Program

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences offers a PhD degree in Earth and Planetary Science. The central objective of the graduate program is to encourage creative thinking and develop the capacity for independent and original research. A strong undergraduate background in the physical sciences is especially helpful, and a significant number of our graduate students have their training in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or astronomy. Graduate students are formally accepted into the Earth and Planetary Science program, and they normally work directly toward a PhD.

The department offers a one-year MA program; however, admission to the program is available only to graduates of our bachelor's degree program in Earth and Planetary Science. We do not accept applications to the MA program from other majors or universities. 

Visit Department Website

Admission to the University

Applying for graduate admission.

Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. A complete list of graduate academic departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website .

Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application can be found on the Graduate Division website .

Admission Requirements

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;

A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and

Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page . It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here .

Where to apply?

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page .

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Candidates for the PhD degree must pass the oral qualifying examination by the end of the second year and complete a thesis to the satisfaction of the appointed thesis committee. Students must have two research propositions to present at the qualifying examination, each developed under the supervision of a different professor on substantially different topics. There are no required courses for the PhD program.

Master's Degree Requirements

The master of arts degree requires 24 semester units of upper division and graduate courses with at least 12 units of graduate coursework, followed by a comprehensive oral examination. 

Research units can count toward the 24 total, but not toward the 12 grad level. 200-level seminars can only be counted toward the total 24 credits if they require active student participation in a focused topic area (e.g. pass/fail seminars in which students passively listen do not qualify).

Specifically:

EPS 255 (Department Seminar), EPS 260 (intro to faculty research for 1st-year PhD students), EPS 254 (BSL seminar), EPS 298 (BASC seminar), EPS 290 research group meetings, and similar seminars cannot be used to satisfy MA requirements.

EPS 256 (Earthquake of the Week) can be used if taken for a letter grade.

EPS 290 courses can be used only if they have a focus and title that distinguishes them from research group meetings.  E.g. in Fall 2020 Bruce Buffett taught “Computational Methods in GFD” as EPS 290, and William Boos taught “Global Circulation of Planetary Atmospheres” as EPS 290; both could be used toward the grad-level MA credits.

EPS 280 (research with a faculty advisor) can be used for up to 6 units total, but may not be counted toward the 12 grad-level credits required for the MA (they can count toward the 24 unit total).

Your faculty advisor and the graduate student services advisor will need to approve your courses for the MA.

The MA program is open only to students who have completed their undergraduate degree in our department.

Please see here for an overview of our MA program. 

EPS 200 Problems in Hydrogeology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Fall 2019 Current problems in fluid flow, heat flow, and solute transport in the earth. Pressure- and thermal-driven flow, instability, convection, interaction between fluid flow and chemical reactions. Pore pressure; faulting and earthquakes; diagenesis; hydrocarbon migration and trapping; flow-associated mineralization; contaminant problems. Problems in Hydrogeology: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Physics 7A-7B, Chemistry 1A-1B, Math 53 and 54; open to senior undergraduates with appropriate prerequisites

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Formerly known as: Geophysics C200 and Geology C200

Problems in Hydrogeology: Read Less [-]

EPS 203 Introduction to Aquatic and Marine Geochemistry 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 Introduction to marine geochemistry: the global water cycle; processes governing the distribution of chemical species within the hydrosphere; ocean circulation; chemical mass balances, fluxes, and reactions in the marine environment from global to submicron scales; carbon system equilibrium chemistry and biogeochemistry of fresh and salt walter; applications of natural and anthropogenic stable and radioactive tracers; internal ocean processes. Students participate in a one day field trip to sample and analyze waters in the vicinity of Tomales Bay and Point Reyes. 3 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of discussion week, and a 10 hour field trip. Introduction to Aquatic and Marine Geochemistry: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Chemistry 1A, Mathematics 1A, or 16A. C82 recommended

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week.

Instructor: Bishop

Introduction to Aquatic and Marine Geochemistry: Read Less [-]

EPS 204 Elastic Wave Propagation 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2012, Fall 2007, Fall 2004 Wave propagation in elastic solids; effects of anelasticity and anistropy; representation theorems; reflection and refraction; propagation in layered media; finite-difference and finite-element methods. Elastic Wave Propagation: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 104 or equivalent; 121; Physics 105

Formerly known as: Geophysics 204

Elastic Wave Propagation: Read Less [-]

EPS 207 Laboratory in Observational Seismology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 Group problem solving of current seismological topics. Analysis, inversion, and numerical modeling of seismic waveform data to investigate questions regarding the physics of the earthquake source and seismic wave propagation. Application of current developments and techniques in seismological research. Laboratory in Observational Seismology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 121 or 130 or 204 or consent of instructor

Formerly known as: Geophysics 207

Laboratory in Observational Seismology: Read Less [-]

EPS 209 Matlab Applications in Earth Science 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2011, Fall 2002 Introduction to Matlab programming with toolboxes. Applications come from Earth sciences and related fields including biology. Topics range from image processing, riverbed characterization, landslide risk analysis, signal processing, geospatial and seismic data analysis, and machine learning to parallel computation. Designed for beginning graduate students. Matlab Applications in Earth Science: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Some programming experience in any language

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of lecture and 1 hour of laboratory per week

Additional Format: One hour of lecture and one hour of computing laboratory per week.

Matlab Applications in Earth Science: Read Less [-]

EPS 210 Exploration, Ore Petrology, and Geochemistry 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2012, Fall 2011, Spring 2010 Overview of geological, petrological, and geochemical analysis of ore forming processes including sedimentary, magmatic, hydrothermal, and geothermal resources. Geochemical rock buffers and hydrothermal phase equilibria. Electro-geochemistry of near surface oxidation of primary ores related to climate change, hydrological evolution, and tectonics. Exploration for earth materials for conventional and sustainable technologies including multiple junction semiconductor photo-voltaic cells. Mass balance modeling of ore-forming systems and soils. Environmental management of exploration sites. Lab includes macroscopic and X-ray identification of ore and alteration minerals and ore microscopy. Field trips use digital GIS mapping methods for rock type, structure, mineralization, and wall rock alteration. Integration interpretation of geophysics with geology. Exploration, Ore Petrology, and Geochemistry: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 101 or 271; 100A-100B; 118 recommended

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week plus six days of field trips.

Instructor: Brimhall

Formerly known as: Geology 205

Exploration, Ore Petrology, and Geochemistry: Read Less [-]

EPS 212 Advanced Stratigraphy and Tectonics 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2011, Spring 2009, Spring 2008 Evolution of the earth in response to internal, surficial and extraterrestrial processes. Advanced Stratigraphy and Tectonics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Seminar per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: Geology 212

Advanced Stratigraphy and Tectonics: Read Less [-]

EPS 214 Igneous Petrology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2020, Spring 2017 The composition, generation, and cooling of magmas to form igneous rocks. The physical and thermodynamic properties of silicate liquids. Igneous Petrology: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 4 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and Four hours of Laboratory per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: Geology 214

Igneous Petrology: Read Less [-]

EPS 216 Active Tectonics 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2021, Fall 2018 This course is a graduate course designed to introduce students in the earth sciences to the geology of earthquakes, including tectonic geomorphology, paleoseismology and the analysis and interpretation of geodetic measurements of active deformation. While the focus will be primarily on seismically active faults, we will also discuss deformation associated with landslides, regional isostatic rebound, and volcanoes, as well as measurements of global plate motions. We will address methods and applications in paleoseismology, tectonic geomorphology, and geodesy. The course will address measurement techniques (e.g,. GPS, leveling, etc.), data analysis and inversion, and subsequent modeling and interpretation of the data. The integration of geodetic measurements with geologic and seismologic data allows an improved understanding of active processes. Active Tectonics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 116 or equivalent, Physics 7A or equivalent, or consent of instructor

Formerly known as: Geology 207

Active Tectonics: Read Less [-]

EPS 217 Fluvial Geomorphology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018 Application of fluid mechanics to sediment transport and development of river morphology. Form and process in river meanders, the pool-riffle sequence, aggradation, grade, and baselevel. Fluvial Geomorphology: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week; some fieldwork is assigned.

Formerly known as: Geology 217

Fluvial Geomorphology: Read Less [-]

EPS 220 Advanced Concepts in Mineral Physics 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2020 A combined seminar and lecture course covering advanced topics related to mineral physics. The interface between geophysics with the other physical sciences is emphasized. Topics vary each semester. Advanced Concepts in Mineral Physics: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: Geophysics 220

Advanced Concepts in Mineral Physics: Read Less [-]

EPS 224 Isotopic Geochemistry 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2021 An overview of the use of natural isotopic variations to study earth, planetary, and environmental problems. Topics include geochronology, cosmogenic isotope studies of surficial processes, radiocarbon and the carbon cycle, water isotopes in the water cycle, and radiogenic and stable isotope studies of planetary evolution, mantle dynamics, volcanoes, groundwater, and geothermal systems. The course begins with a short introduction to nuclear processes and includes simple mathematical models used in isotope geochemistry. Isotopic Geochemistry: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Chemistry 1A-1B, Mathematics 1A-1B

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks.

Instructor: David Shuster

Isotopic Geochemistry: Read Less [-]

EPS 225 Topics in High-Pressure Research 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Fall 2021 Analysis of current developments and techniques in experimental and theoretical high-pressure research, with applications in the physical sciences. Topics vary each semester. Topics in High-Pressure Research: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: Geophyics 225

Topics in High-Pressure Research: Read Less [-]

EPS 229 Introduction to Climate Modeling 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2018 This course emphasizes the fundamentals of the climate system via a hierarchy of climate models. Topics will include energy balance, numerical techniques, climate observations, atmospheric and oceanic circulation and heat transports, and parameterizations of eddy processes. The model hierarchy will also explore nonlinear and stochastic processes, and biogeochemistry. Students will build computational models to investigate climate feedbacks , climate sensitivity, and response times. Introduction to Climate Modeling: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit with instructor consent.

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week.

Instructor: Fung

Formerly known as: Earth and Planetary Science C229/Integrative Biology C229

Introduction to Climate Modeling: Read Less [-]

EPS 230 Radiation and Its Interactions with Climate 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2021, Fall 2019 Introduction to role of radiative processes in structure and evolution of the climate system. Electromagnetism; solar and terrestrial radiation; interactions of radiation with Earth's atmosphere, ocean, and land surface; greenhouse and runaway greenhouse effects; radiative balance of the climate system; energy-balance climate models; effects of clouds and aerosols; interactions of radiation with atmospheric and oceanic dynamics; radiative processes and paleoclimate; radiative processes and anthropogenic global warming. Radiation and Its Interactions with Climate: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Physics 105, 110A, 110B

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week, plus some laboratory work.

Instructor: Collins

Radiation and Its Interactions with Climate: Read Less [-]

EPS 236 Geological Fluid Mechanics 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 An advanced course in the application of fluid mechanics in the earth sciences, with emphasis on the design and scaling of laboratory and numerical models. Principals of inviscid and viscous fluid flow; dynamic similarity; boundary layers; convection; instabilities; gravity currents; mixing and chaos; porous flow. Applications to mantle convection, magma dynamics, atmosphere and ocean dynamics, sediment/debris flows, and hydrogeology. Topics may vary from year to year. Geological Fluid Mechanics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Continuum/fluid mechanics at the level of 108 or consent of instructor

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and Three hours of Laboratory per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: Geophysics 238

Geological Fluid Mechanics: Read Less [-]

EPS C241 Stable Isotope Ecology 5 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2016 Course focuses on principles and applications of stable isotope chemistry as applied to the broad science of ecology. Lecture topics include principles of isotope behavior and chemistry, and isotope measurements in the context of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecological processes and problems. Students participate in a set of laboratory exercises involving preparation of samples of choice for isotopic analyses, the use of the mass spectrometer and optical analysis systems, and the anlaysis of data. Stable Isotope Ecology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing

Instructors: Amundson, Dawson, Mambelli

Also listed as: ESPM C220/INTEGBI C227

Stable Isotope Ecology: Read Less [-]

EPS C242 Glaciology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2018 A review of the mechanics of glacial systems, including formation of ice masses, glacial flow mechanisms, subglacial hydrology, temperature and heat transport, global flow, and response of ice sheets and glaciers. We will use this knowledge to examine glaciers as geomorphologic agents and as participants in climate change. Glaciology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one hour of consultation per week.

Instructor: Cuffey

Formerly known as: 241

Also listed as: GEOG C241

Glaciology: Read Less [-]

EPS C249 Solar System Astrophysics 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017 The physical foundations of planetary sciences. Topics include planetary interiors and surfaces, planetary atmospheres and magnetospheres, and smaller bodies in our solar system. The physical processes at work are developed in some detail, and an evolutionary picture for our solar system, and each class of objects, is developed. Some discussion of other (potential) planetary systems is also included. Solar System Astrophysics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 149, 169, C160A or consent of instructor

Instructors: Chiang, de Pater

Also listed as: ASTRON C249

Solar System Astrophysics: Read Less [-]

EPS 250 Advanced Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2016, Fall 2014, Fall 2013 Review of recent literature and discussion of ongoing research at the interface between earth science and environmental science. Advanced Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: Geology 250

Advanced Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences: Read Less [-]

EPS 251 Carbon Cycle Dynamics 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2021, Spring 2019 In this course, we will focus on the (unsolved) puzzle of the contemporary carbon cycle. Why is the concentration of atmospheric CO2 changing at the rate observed? What are the terrestrial and oceanic processes that add and remove carbon from the atmosphere? What are the processes responsible for long-term storage of carbon on land and in the sea? Emphasis will be placed on the observations and modeling needed to evaluate hypotheses about carbon sources and sinks. Past records will be examined for clues about sensitivity of carbon processes to climate variations. Carbon Cycle Dynamics: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Six hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: Geology 219

Carbon Cycle Dynamics: Read Less [-]

EPS 254 Advanced Topics in Seismology and Geophysics 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Lectures on various topics representing current advances in seismology and geophysics, including local crustal and earthquake studies, regional tectonics, structure of the earth's mantle, and core and global dynamics. Advanced Topics in Seismology and Geophysics: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of lecture per week

Additional Format: One hour of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: Geophysics 250

Advanced Topics in Seismology and Geophysics: Read Less [-]

EPS 255 Advanced Topics in Earth and Planetary Science 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Lectures on various topics representing current advances in all aspects of earth and planetary science. Advanced Topics in Earth and Planetary Science: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5 hours of colloquium per week

Additional Format: One and one-half hours of colloquium per week.

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

Advanced Topics in Earth and Planetary Science: Read Less [-]

EPS 256 Earthquake of the Week 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Each week, the seismicity of the previous week, in California and worldwide, is reviewed. Tectonics of the region as well as source parameters and waveforms of interest are discussed and placed in the context of ongoing research in seismology. Earthquake of the Week: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of Discussion per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: Geophysics 255

Earthquake of the Week: Read Less [-]

EPS 260 Research in Earth Science 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Weekly presentations to introduce new graduate students and senior undergraduates to current research conducted in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science. Research in Earth Science: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: Geology 260

Research in Earth Science: Read Less [-]

EPS 271 Field Geology and Digital Mapping 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Geological mapping, field observation, and problem solving in the Berkeley hills and environs leading to original interpretation of geological processes and history from stratigraphic, structural, and lithological investigations. Integration of the Berkeley hills geology into the tectonic and paleo-climatic record of the Coast Ranges and California as a whole through systematic field mapping in key localities and reading of original literature. Training in digital field mapping, use of digital base maps, and use of global positioning systems. Field Geology and Digital Mapping: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 50 or equivalent introductory course for majors

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for 271 after taking 101.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 7 hours of fieldwork and 2 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Seven hours of Fieldwork and Two hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Field Geology and Digital Mapping: Read Less [-]

EPS C276 Seismic Hazard Analysis and Design Ground Motions 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Spring 2019 Deterministic and probabilistic approaches for seismic hazard analysis. Separation of uncertainty into aleatory variability and epistemic uncertainty. Discussion of seismic source and ground motion characterization and hazard computation. Development of time histories for dynamic analyses of structures and seismic risk computation, including selection of ground motion parameters for estimating structural response, development of fragility curves, and methods for risk calculations. Seismic Hazard Analysis and Design Ground Motions: Read More [+]

Instructor: Abrahamson

Also listed as: CIV ENG C276

Seismic Hazard Analysis and Design Ground Motions: Read Less [-]

EPS 280 Research 1 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Spring 2024 Individual conferences to be arranged. Provides supervision in the preparation of an original research paper or dissertation. Research: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-12 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 3-30 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 2-23 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 2-18 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: One to twelve hours of independent study per week. Two to eightteen hours of independent study per week for 10 weeks. Two to twenty three hours of independent study per week for 8 weeks. Three to thirty hours of independent study per week for 6 weeks.

Research: Read Less [-]

EPS 290 Seminar 1 - 6 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Topics will be announced each semester. Seminar: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two to six hours of lecture per week.

Formerly known as: Geology 290

Seminar: Read Less [-]

EPS C292 Planetary Science Seminar 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 The departments of Astronomy and Earth and Planetary Science offer a joint research seminar in advanced topics in planetary science, featuring speakers drawn from graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and visiting scholars. Topics will span planetary interiors; surface morphology; atmospheres; dynamics; planet formation; and astrobiology. Speakers will vary from semester to semester. Meetings will be held once a week for 1 hour each, and the schedule of speakers will be determined on the first day of class. To pass the class, participants will be required to give a 30-minute presentation, either on their own research or on recent results from the literature. Planetary Science Seminar: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-1 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Participants will be required to give at least one 30-minute presentation, either on their own research or on recent results from the literature

Also listed as: ASTRON C292

Planetary Science Seminar: Read Less [-]

EPS C295Z Energy Solutions: Carbon Capture and Sequestration 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013 After a brief overview of the chemistry of carbon dioxide in the land, ocean, and atmosphere, the course will survey the capture and sequestration of CO2 from anthropogenic sources. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of materials synthesis and unit operation design, including the chemistry and engineering aspects of sequestration. The course primarily addresses scientific and engineering challenges and aims to engage students in state-of-the-art research in global energy challenges. Energy Solutions: Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Chemistry 4B or 1B, Mathematics 1B, and Physics 7B, or equivalents

Instructors: Bourg, DePaolo, Long, Reimer, Smit

Also listed as: CHEM C236/CHM ENG C295Z

Energy Solutions: Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Read Less [-]

EPS 298 Directed Group Study for Graduates 1 - 9 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Directed Group Study for Graduates: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Occasional group meetings and individual conferences.

Grading: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.

Formerly known as: Geology 298

Directed Group Study for Graduates: Read Less [-]

EPS C301 Communicating Ocean Science 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014, Spring 2013 For graduate students interested in improving their ability to communicate their scientific knowledge by teaching ocean science in elementary schools or science centers/aquariums. The course will combine instruction in inquiry-based teaching methods and learning pedagogy with six weeks of supervised teaching experience in a local school classroom or the Lawrence Hall of Science with a partner. Thus, students will practice communicating scientific knowledge and receive mentoring on how to improve their presentations. Communicating Ocean Science: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: One course in introductory biology, geology, chemistry, physics, or marine science required and interest in ocean science,junior, senior, or graduate standing; consent of instructor required for sophomores

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2.5 hours of lecture, 1 hour of discussion, and 2 hours of fieldwork per week

Additional Format: Two and one-half hours of Lecture, One hour of Discussion, and Two hours of Fieldwork per week for 15 weeks.

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Professional course for teachers or prospective teachers

Instructor: Ingram

Also listed as: GEOG C301/INTEGBI C215

Communicating Ocean Science: Read Less [-]

EPS 375 Professional Preparation: Supervised Teaching of Geology and Geophysics 1 - 6 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019 Discussion, curriculum, class observation, and practice teaching in geology, geophysics, and earth science. Professional Preparation: Supervised Teaching of Geology and Geophysics: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing and appointment as graduate student instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of discussion per week

Additional Format: One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks.

Formerly known as: Earth and Planetary Science 300

Professional Preparation: Supervised Teaching of Geology and Geophysics: Read Less [-]

Contact Information

Department of earth and planetary science.

307 McCone Hall

Phone: 510-642-3993

Fax: 510-643-9980

Director of Student Services

Nadine Spingola-Hutton

305 McCone Hall

https://eps.berkeley.edu/

[email protected]

Print Options

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Graduate Programs

Earth, environmental and planetary sciences.

With its unique interdisciplinary research opportunities and collegial atmosphere, Brown's graduate program in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences is rated among the top programs in the world.

Students have many opportunities to work with a variety of faculty, researchers and scientists. Our department is rich in observational, experimental, and modeling methods and your experience here will reflect breadth and experience across methods and disciplines. In addition to department programming, students gain invaluable communication and teaching skills through programs at the University's Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning as well as regular meetings with their advisory committees, assisting the faculty with classes and labs, and presentations of their research during weekly informal "lunch bunches" and at national meetings.

Our internationally known faculty engage in externally supported research in four primary areas:

• Structure and dynamics of the solid Earth
• Properties and processes of geological materials
• Climate and environmental sciences
• Planetary geosciences

The Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences department is known on campus as being welcoming and collegial. Our faculty guide a diverse pool of 50–60 graduate students in a collaborative and fun learning environment. Peer units at other universities include Caltech, MIT, WHOI, Stanford, Columbia, and Washington University.

Additional support includes a variety of laboratory, field and modeling based resources:

• Environmental and Earth System studies: Field and laboratory equipment for lake sediment and soil sampling, coring and analysis; Brown Global Foraminifer and North American pollen databases; gas isotope ratio mass spectrometers for inorganic, carbonate and organic samples; gas chromatograph–mass spectrometers; accelerated solvent extractors for organic samples; CHNS analyzers; X–ray fluorescence analysis facility; Jobin ICP–ES; particle size counter, estuarine oceanography equipment.
• Planetary studies: RELAB spectroscopy database of spectra of lunar and meteoritic materials; visible to mid–IR spectroscopy (multiuser facility supported by NASA); NASA Planetary Data Center, including image data from all major planetary missions; image–processing laboratories.
• Geophysical studies: Seismic, magnetic gradiometric, and DC resisitivity instrumentation; ground penetrating radar; rotary shear apparatus to study frictional sliding; high P and T solid and gas medium deformation apparatus; optical and electron microscopy facilities including EBSD (Electron Backscatter Diffraction); multi–purpose network of UNIX workstations and minicomputers linked to local servers, central computing facility, national networks, and supercomputing facilities.
• Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology studies: Solid–source and isotope ratio mass spectrometers; electron microprobe; high temperature–high pressure deformation apparatus; ion microprobe.

Application Information

All faculty members from each of our research groups meet to consider all applications. They look at: (1) undergraduate preparation (including overall GPA, GPA trajectory, and rigor of courses), (2) letters of recommendation, (3) GRE test scores, (4) personal statement, and, if appropriate, (5) proof of language proficiency. No single factor outweighs the others; rather each group attempts to arrive at a "balanced" assessment of academic and professional promise. Please contact professors ahead of the application deadline to discuss your interests, their research group's current projects and availability for new student recruits.

Application Requirements

Gre subject:.

Not required

GRE General:

Dates/deadlines, application deadline, completion requirements.

Ten to 12 courses beyond the bachelor's degree; preliminary examination; one semester of teaching; dissertation; and oral defense.

Alumni Careers

Contact and Location

Department of earth, environmental and planetary sciences, mailing address.

• Program Faculty
• Program Handbook
• Graduate School Handbook

Graduate Program

Main navigation, welcome to the department of earth and planetary sciences (eps).

Graduate studies in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) involve academic coursework and independent research. Students are prepared for careers as professional scientists in research or the application of the earth sciences to mineral, energy, and water resources. Programs lead to the M.S., Engineer, and Ph.D. degrees. Course programs in the areas of faculty interest are tailored to the student's needs and interests with the aid of their research adviser. Students are encouraged to include in their program courses offered in other departments in the Doerr School of Sustainability as well as in other departments in the University.

Applications for Autumn 2024-2025 are now closed.

If you have additional questions, contact  [email protected] . More university information and application system questions can be found on  Stanford's Graduate Admissions website and the online application .

Stanford's graduate application

Start your application online on  Stanford's graduate application page here .

Graduate degrees in Earth and Planetary Sciences

• Masters of Science

Our Department's Values

Our community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni is committed to  a supportive training culture to provide  a safe, inclusive, supportive, diverse, and equitable environment that respects all cultures and backgrounds. Our students arrive with different backgrounds and perspectives that are essential to the success of our department's scholarly and scientific strides. We aim to attract a broad talent pool to the field of Earth and Planetary Sciences and encourage applicants whose life experiences offer unique contributions to the Earth's sustainability and our Stanford campus. 

When evaluating graduation applications holistically, we are guided by the following principles:

• We recognize that students applying for Earth and Planetary Sciences hail from many backgrounds, but they all share common threads: an insatiable curiosity and a passion for science.
• We have committed to a holistic admission strategy, evaluating scientific merit and intellectual curiosity while considering life experience,  perseverance, and the context in which applicant pursued their academic goal.
• We are committed to fostering positive advisor-advisee experience
• We are committed to broadening participation in field-based science through virtual field trips and laboratories
• We are committed to cultivating students' research skills and creative thinking as well as providing an environment that develops scholars, educators, and leaders who are guided by equity, access, and inclusion.

Application Information

Explore our program

Admission FAQs

For more information...

...about Earth and Planetary Sciences courses and degrees, contact Anjani Varma .

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Undergraduate

Research and course work in the Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) department encompass a broad range of science disciplines, technology, and applications to environmental and economic endeavors. These studies involve students in the development and application of new tools and technologies, state-of-the-art computational modeling of a wide range of Earth planetary processes, and field work in remote and challenging settings.

Almost every practical aspect of society—population, environment, economics, politics—is and will be increasingly impacted by our relationship with the Earth. Graduate study and research within Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) are diverse, and include geology, geobiology, geochemistry, geophysics, physics and chemistry of climate, planetary science, tectonics, and more. In addition to the collaborative exchange with other Harvard departments and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, students may supplement their studies by cross-registering in other Harvard graduate schools or at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

Ph.d. graduate program.

The  Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences  is a small program within a large research university with opportunities for scholarship in many  research areas  that lead to a Ph.D. degree. These include geobiology (e.g. microbiology, paleolimnology), geophysics (e.g. mineral physics, seismology, tectonics), geochemistry (e.g. sedimentary chemistry, stable and radiogenic isotope chemistry, stratigraphy), and planetary science, to name a few. As a Northwestern graduate student you will join a disciplinarily diverse community. You will have the opportunity to explore various subdisciplines through your course and fieldwork, and through conducting research in the department's state-of-the-art  analytical,  computational, and observational facilities , including the  Integrated Labs for Earth and Planetary Sciences  (ILEPS). Due to the modest size of our department, you will have access to, and work with internationally renowned  faculty , including your dissertation advisor. You will also have opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary programs, such as  IDEAS  and live in a vibrant community in close proximity to  Chicago . To learn more about our program and the application process, please read through this web page using the links to the left and the menus at the top. We welcome your inquiries. Please contact directly any  faculty members  whose research activities are of interest to you, or write to either our Director of Graduate Admissions,  Prof. Yarrow Axford  or our Program Assistant at  [email protected] .

PhD Program

The  Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering  PhD Program is an integrated study designed to give students first a broad base of knowledge in atmospheric, space and planetary sciences followed by more in-depth, concentrated studies in specific areas. The Climate and Space doctoral program is small, and all PhD students are fully supported by faculty research and/or fellowships. There is no guessing as to the research or faculty as students are paired with a faculty member upon admission.

Research and Faculty

For more than 60 years, Climate & Space has been contributing to the development of atmospheric and space sciences, through research sponsored by NASA, NSF, DoD and other governmental and non-governmental agencies. This support has contributed to the education of the next generation of scientists, engineers and managers that the nation needs to continue being the “leaders and the best” in the future.

Areas of Research in  Atmospheric  and  Space Sciences  are far-ranging. The proven blending of these disciplines has put Climate & Space faculty and students at the forefront of the necessary movement in climate and space research to understand the Earth, atmosphere, planets, solar system, and space weather in a whole systemic view, rather than individual components.

The Climate & Space distinguished body of senior faculty, internationally renowned in their fields of study, have been recognized by their peers with numerous honors. Their illustrious reputations have attracted some of the most talented junior faculty to the department where they are involved in cutting edge atmospheric and space research.

General Program Requirements

The Climate & Space PhD Program is an integrated study program designed to give students first a broad base of study in atmospheric, space and planetary sciences followed by more in-depth, concentrated studies in specific areas.

Pre-Candidacy

• Students are expected to carry a course load of 9-12 credit hours (3-4 courses excluding seminar courses) each semester until the dissertation work is begun.
• During their first two years, students are expected to complete departmental core courses: CLIMATE/SPACE 551 Advanced Fluid Dynamics (4 credits), CLIMATE/SPACE 532 Radiative Transfer (4 credits), a total of two terms in seminar course CLIMATE/SPACE 747 (1 credit each) and a total of two terms in seminar course CLIMATE/SPACE 749 (1 credit each).
• Students report to the Graduate Committee during the first two years of the program and should consult with research advisors concerning elective second-year courses before registering.
• During their first two years, students must satisfy the cognate requirement by taking a minimum of 4 credits of graduate courses in one or more other departments. These must not be seminar courses and must not be courses that are cross-listed with CLIMATE/SPACE.
• Most students begin research soon after beginning their program. No later than upon achieving candidacy, they focus on dissertation research under the guidance of an advisor.
• Students are not expected to take courses during the summer term, as these months are primarily used to gain research experience.
• Students should discuss any questions regarding course selection with their research advisor and with the Graduate Program Chair. Refer to the complete  list of department graduate courses  for additional information.
• There are no foreign language requirements.

Advancing to Candidacy

• Each student must take a qualifying examination in order to be advanced to Ph.D. candidacy. Typically, the exam is taken within the first two years. Except for case-by-case exception and approval, Rackham graduate school requires students to achieve Ph.D. candidacy no later than the end of third year. 
• The College of Engineering’s  Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarships workshops  must be completed prior to taking the exam.
• The minimum GPA required to advance to candidacy is 3.3 (B+) on Rackham’s 4.3 point scale, where 4.3 is an A+.
• All doctoral students are required to complete the Departmental Core Courses specified above before taking the qualifying exam for candidacy to the Ph.D.
• A PDF file describing the procedure and exam is available here:  Qualifying Exam Procedures  (updated September 2023).  

Candidacy and Dissertation

• Upon passing the qualifying exams, and having completed the cognate hours and required Rackham fee hours (see the Rackham Graduate Student Handbook ), the guidance of the student becomes the responsibility of the research advisor.
• Although the Graduate Committee will still be available to the candidate, academic selections and thesis guidance will be the responsibility of the research advisor.
• It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all Rackham requirements have been fulfilled for the doctorate. Information is contained in the Rackham Graduate Student Handbook linked above.

Financial Aid

• Graduate student research assistantships (GSRA’s), graduate student instructorships (GSI’s) and several fellowships are available. All forms of financial aid offer a monthly stipend, tuition and insurance for the academic year, which consists of fall and winter terms (eight months). Employment on research projects is generally available for students remaining on campus during the summer months.
• You may also apply for need-based funding which is usually a student loan, through the University’s Office of Financial Aid , (734) 763-6600. There are application materials required to complete this process.

The Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences

Graduate program.

Welcome to the Yale EPS graduate program!

Earth science is one of the broadest and most interdisciplinary of all sciences. It involves the interaction of chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics and geology in the ongoing effort to explore Earth’s interior, atmosphere and oceans, and to understand the environment in which we live, the causes for global climate change, and the history of life and climate on Earth. The Graduate Program in Yale’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences offers students the opportunity to study and do research in a wide range of cutting-edge and cross-disciplinary areas. The department accepts applications for our Ph.D. program (note that we have no Masters program) from various fields and majors. In addition to geoscience majors, we are interested in students from various disciplines including physics, chemistry,  biology, mathematics, astronomy and engineering.  If you are a prospective applicant who is interested in our graduate program, please check out this list of Frequently Asked Questions.

You can also click on any of the links in the above navigation bar to learn more about the graduate program. Applications can be found through the  Admissions link ;  a complete description of the program requirements can be found through the Handbook link. 

    EPS Graduate Handbook

    Graduate Advising Guidelines

   Information Toolkits for International Students 

Available Graduate Research Programs

    Atmosphere, Oceans, Climate Dynamics

    Biogeochemistry, Paleoceanography, Paleoclimate

    Geochemistry

    Lithosphere and Surface Processes

    Paleontology, Evolution

    Solid Earth Geophysics

Funding Opportunities

    External Funding Sources for Graduate Education

Dana Club: Website

EPS Graduate Prize Recipients

Let your curiosity lead the way:

Apply Today

• Arts & Sciences
• Graduate Studies in A&S

EEPS Graduate Program

Are you passionate about unearthing the secrets of our planet and beyond.

Join us at Washington University's Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences.  Your curiosity is the key to unlocking mysteries that span billions of years and traverse the solar system. Immerse yourself in a vibrant academic community dedicated to understanding our dynamic Earth, its intricate environmental systems, and the other celestial bodies that populate our solar system. Whether you're decoding the impact of climate change, investigating the complexities of geological processes, exploring the potential of life on distant planets, or working with data from the latest space mission, our Department will empower you to shape the future of scientific discovery.

Your journey begins here.

Click the link below and provide us your contact information to receive information about our program, its resources, and the steps you need to take to apply. We will not share your contact information outside of our Department.

Request Information

EEPS Graduate Program Overview

Phd program.

Join our highly acclaimed, fully-funded five-year Ph.D. program in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences and kick-start your research career with specialized technical and professional training.

Your first year in the program sets the foundation. You’ll identify a research mentor, embark on advanced coursework, initiate your research, form your Research Advisory Committee, and execute a first-year research project in your field of interest.

You’ll continue into your second year with more comprehensive courses, advanced research, and committee meetings. At the end of the second year, successfully passing your qualification exam will demonstrate that you’re capable of independent research. At this point you’ll be awarded a master’s degree.

In years three to five, you’ll immerse yourself in cutting-edge research in your chosen field, culminating in a dissertation defense at the end of your fifth year.

Throughout your journey, you’ll benefit from mentorship, research funding, and opportunities to travel for fieldwork, research, and presenting your findings at international conferences.

A detailed description of program requirements can be found here .

Post-baccalaureate program

Our two-year fully-funded post-baccalaureate program is tailored for exceptional individuals transitioning to graduate school with a vision to eventually pursue a Ph.D. In this program you’ll engage in a carefully selected array of undergraduate and advanced courses to achieve academic excellence and boost your future research potential. Successful completion of two years qualifies you for a master's degree and potential invitation to apply to our Ph.D. program.

Graduate Application Requirements

Transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate programs

Three recommendation letters

Resume or C.V.

Responses to application questions

Applications for Fall 2025 will open in September 2024

Research That Pushes Boundaries

Want to know more about the labs and facilities where you'll be doing your research? Our Research page lists all of our research groups by concentration area, and you can also explore the cutting-edge facilities we have in the department as well as others around WashU.

Browse Labs and Facilities

Resources at Your Fingertips

Here are a few resources to help you get started. Don't see what you're looking for?

Visit the Resources page to find a list of all graduate student resources.

Student Resources & Forms

browse departmental and university student forms

The Graduate Center

meet, connect, and engage with other graduate and professional students

The Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences

learn about applying, school-wide policies, and governance

More Application Information

You can find answers to common questions about applications in our Graduate School FAQ For those choosing to submit GRE scores, please use WashU's school code 6929 and the department code 0806. However, please note that GRE scores are optional. If you're submitting official TOEFL scores, please send them through ETS using WashU's school code 6929 and the TOEFL department code 71. For inquiries about application fee waivers, please email [email protected]

Graduate Program Contacts

For general inquiries, contact Erin Marshall . For questions about the application process and requirements, contact Mike Krawczynski , Graduate Admissions Coordinator. For questions about the graduate academic program, contact Alex Bradley , Director of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Education

• Degree Information
• Financial Aid
• Graduate Exam Information (pdf)
• EPSS Alumni, where are they now?

Graduate Programs in Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences

The Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences offers four graduate programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees.

The Geochemistry program offers study in biogeochemistry, cosmochemistry, crystal chemistry, experimental petrology, isotopic studies of stable and radioactive elements, marine geochemistry, meteorite research, planetology, and lunar geochemistry.

The Geology program offers study in geomorphology, micropaleontology, mineralogy, organic geochemistry, paleobiology, petrology, paleontology, remote sensing, sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and tectonophysics.

The Geophysics & Space Physics program offers study in Earth's interior (seismology, gravity, thermal regime, geomagnetism, tectonics), geophysical fluid dynamics (turbulence, rotating systems, stability, hydromagnetism), nonlinear dynamics, planetology (orbital dynamics, planetary interiors, surfaces and atmospheres, solar-system origin), and space physics (magnetosphere, radiation belts, solar wind, magnetic fields, cosmic rays).

The Planetary Science program addresses the formation and evolution of planetary bodies, their physical and chemical properties, their dynamical interactions, their geology, their climate, and their habitability. Components of interest include the interiors, surfaces, atmospheres, and magnetospheres of planetary bodies. Processes of interest include accretion, differentiation, heat production and transport including radioactivity, conduction, convection, and radiative transfer, dynamos, impact cratering, volcanism, tectonism, erosion, atmospheric dynamics and climates, tidal interactions, interactions between planetary layers, interactions with the host star. The field complements and overlaps with some aspects of Astronomy, Meteoritics, Geochemistry, Geology, Geophysics, Mineral Physics, and Plasma Physics, and employs a range of research approaches including theory, numerical modeling, experimental and observational studies using Earth and space-based telescopes and planetary spacecraft missions.

Ph.D. Program

Our graduate thesis degree programs are customized to individual student interests, strengths, and academic background.

Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences faculty conduct multi-disciplinary research projects among many of Rice's science and engineering departments, in particular, Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Computational and Applied Mathematics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. In addition, EEPS hosts the collaborative research center, the Center for Computational Geophysics, and collaborates with other interdepartmental research centers, such as the Energy and Environmental Systems Institute, the Institute for Biosciences and Bioengineering, the Center for the Study of the Environment and Society, the Shell Center for Sustainability, the Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology, and the Center for Lunar Science Exploration.

Program Requirements

Ph.D. students must complete either 60 or 90 credit hours, depending on whether or not they are entering the program with a relevant master’s degree. In the first year, candidates will develop an individualized program of study with their advisors. Doctoral students are also required to take a written preliminary exam covering general earth science knowledge in their second semester. At the end of the second year, students will complete an oral qualifying exam consisting of two projects: one that will become the main thesis, and another that demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct original science. The doctoral thesis must include at least three manuscripts that have been submitted to a recognized peer-review journal with the student as lead author, and at least one of the manuscripts must be in press or published at the time of the thesis defense.

More specific details can be found in the guidelines .

Full-time Ph.D. students receive tuition waivers and a competitive stipend for the duration of their course of study. These are funded through some combination of the school’s substantial endowment, endowed fellowships for graduate students, faculty research grants and teaching assistant appointments. Many of our graduate students also win nationally competitive fellowships.

https://ga.rice.edu/programs-study/departments-programs/natural-sciences/earth-environmental-planetary-sciences/earth-science-phd/

Apply to the Graduate Program

Any student with a strong interest in the geosciences is encouraged to apply. Many of our faculty received their undergraduate training outside of the geosciences (e.g., physics, chemistry, math, etc.), so we recognize the value of these fundamental disciplines in our field. Unsure if your background is a good fit? Feel free to contact faculty members directly to learn about their research programs.

We do not require GRE scores as part of our application package. However, we believe in allowing every applicant to showcase their academic and research success in whatever form that may take. Your academic record, interests and objectives, and letters of recommendation will be evaluated holistically. Students are encouraged to prepare a thoughtful expression of their goals and prospective plans of study as part of the application form or in an attached letter.

A complete application includes the following:

• A completed application form. Click here to create a user account and begin the application process .
• Transcripts of all previous college or university work.
• TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for foreign students whose language of instruction was not English. The Rice university code is 6609.
• Three letters of recommendation .
• An application fee of $85. We recognize that this fee can inadvertently discourage competitive applicants from applying, so please reach out to the Graduate and Academic Program Administrator to request a waiver.

All of the above application materials must be received for your application to be considered complete. Missing materials may result in delayed consideration, so we strongly encourage applicants to complete their application before the deadline. Decisions for admission and fellowships begin in October for Spring semester admission and in January for Fall semester admission.

The deadline for spring 2025 applications is October 27th, 2024 (10:59 p.m. CST/11:59 p.m. EST). The deadline for fall 2024 is January 5th, 2024 (10:59 p.m. CST/11:59 p.m. EST).

For more information please contact the Academic and Graduate Program Administrator, Meagan McKellar ([email protected])

Guidelines for Advanced Degrees in Dept of Earth Science [Click HERE ]

For more information, please contact

Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences – MS 126 Rice University P.O. Box 1892 Houston Texas 77251-1892

Phone: Fax: 713-348-5214 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: https://eeps.rice.edu

You can also click here to apply

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Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences

Astrophysical & planetary sciences.

Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

Image Credit: NASA/STScI

Fall 2024 applications are now closed. Applications for fall 2025 will re-open in July 2024. 

Check out our Prospective Students page for more information about applying to the APS Ph.D. program!

The Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences is one of the few programs that combines both astrophysics and planetary science, providing a unified view of space sciences; the solar system and comparative planetology; stellar and galactic astronomy; and cosmology. Students are given hands-on experience with telescopes, optics, instrumentation, and computer image processing and modeling. 

The department’s general astronomy track lends itself to a career in education, science journalism, science policy, information technology, science management, or technical work where a graduate degree is not required. The more math-intensive astrophysics/physics track is intended for students who wish to do research and continue on to graduate work in astronomy or planetary sciences. This track also lends itself well to a career in technical work related to the field. Our Ph.D. program allows graduate students to practice teaching, assist in cutting-edge research, and begin to take part in the larger professional astrophysics community.

• The APS department recognizes our scientific and educational missions are strengthened by contributions from diverse perspectives. We aim to promote a fair , inclusive , and supportive environment for all .  As a member organization of the American Astronomical Society, our department adheres to their Code of Ethics and encourages all our faculty, students, and staff to do the same. If you feel we have failed in this goal, or if there are any issues or areas of concern that the APS Executive Committee should be aware of, please use the Anonymous Issue Form .

If you have suggestions for the website, please fill out the Suggestions Form .

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PhD in Astronomy and Planetary Science

Current faculty expertise.

Current faculty members use ground-based and space-based telescopes to study small bodies in the Solar System and the formation and evolution of other planetary systems; spacecraft imagery to study planetary surfaces; and a state-of-the-art laboratory to study astrophysical ice analogs. We also carry out research in exoplanet science, astrochemistry, astroinformatics, astronomical instrumentation, and terrestrial analog studies throughout the southwestern United States and in Antarctica. NAU faculty members have close research collaborations with scientists at local institutions including Lowell Observatory , the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center , and the United States Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station .

Superb access to large telescopes

Faculty members and their PhD students have full competitive access to facilities run by the University of Arizona including the 2 x 8.4-meter Large Binocular Telescope, the 6.5-meter Magellan Telescopes, the 6.5-meter MMT telescope, the2.3-meter Bok telescope, the 1.8-meter Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, and the 1.5-meter Kuiper Telescope.  In addition, NAU researchers have access to the 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope, 1.8-meter Perkins telescope, and 0.8-meter NURO telescope through partnerships with Lowell Observatory. Faculty and students also have access to the 0.5-meter Lutz telescope on the NAU campus.

Cutting edge research on planetary surfaces

Faculty members and their students work with data obtained from landers and orbiters across the solar system, especially Mars.

NAU researchers have operational roles on active missions including the Mars Science Laboratory and analyze imaging, topographic, spectral and thermal data from a host of spacecraft based instruments in the solar system including the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA), Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), Context Camera (CTX), and High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE). Active research areas in the department include the compositional and thermophysical properties of planetary surfaces from orbital and landed assets that provide insights into past and present day processes, the analysis of impact craters to constrain the distribution of subsurface volatiles and age-date planetary surfaces, and the role of climate change on Mars. NAU researchers are also developing spaceflight hardware as well as testing new prototype instruments for space-based applications.

PhD students in the program will build skills and knowledge through formal class work and an original research project.

Students will take eight classes during their first two years in the program. Four of these core classes will focus on the development of essential skills PhD astronomers and planetary scientists need upon entering the workforce in an academic or industrial setting (instrument design and fabrication, optical design, computational physics, big data, and techniques of observational  astronomy). Four classes will be electives that focus on advanced topics in astronomy and planetary science that students need for a solid foundation upon which to build their own postdoctoral research (formation and evolution of solar systems, atmospheres, interiors, and surfaces of planetary bodies, astro-chemistry, exoplanet science, and special topics). Students will perform their own original research, write a dissertation, and make an oral, public presentation of their results. In the original research component, students will learn how to collect and analyze data, write up their results, and communicate their results to others in a manner consistent with professional standards in the astronomical and planetary science communities.

Current NAU Course Catalog information about this program.

Additional information

Financial support.

Students in the program typically receive full-tuition waivers, a stipend as either a graduate teaching assistant or a graduate research assistant, and health insurance.

Graduate students are also eligible for Professional Development grants. The grants program provides financial support to cover expenses for graduate students attending (in-person or digitally) conferences, workshops, trainings, or any other research-related events. Requests for research-related supplies costs will also be considered.

Admission requirements and procedures

Prospective students apply through the NAU Graduate College admissions website . Please be sure to select “Doctoral Degree” and “Astronomy and Planetary Science.” Application materials are submitted electronically, and must include:

• A statement of interest (maximum two pages);
• A scientific/technical writing sample (e.g., a laboratory report, class paper, or scientific-style publication);
• Contact information for three references;
• A current Curriculum Vitae.

Using the submitted materials, applicants are evaluated across all of: GPA, prior research experience, research interests, scientific writing, professional references, commitment to diversity and equity, and experience in education and outreach. Critically, the statement of interest should address how an applicant’s research background complements existing scientific efforts in the department and/or how an applicant’s research interests align with core departmental research areas. General and subject GRE scores are not required for application and are not considered in the admissions process

The deadline for submission of all application materials is December 1.

NAU is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or genetic information. Additional details regarding this policy can be found here .

Admission fee waivers are available for students with financial hardship. Please email [email protected] to receive an admission fee waiver code.

Further information

Please address questions about the PhD program to [email protected] or phone us at (928) 523-2661.

Contact the Astronomy graduate student coordinator

Grad-Student Handbook (V1.1-1  - September, 2023)

Professional Development Grants

Current Course Syllabi

Astronomy and Planetary Science

Mailing address, social media.

Planetary Sciences Graduate Track Handbook

Version 4.0; June 8, 2022

NOTE: (i) A PDF-version of this document can be downloaded from the Department’s website . (ii) You may see older versions in other UCF or department websites; the content is largely the same but we have corrected typos, updated information, and clarified some points, and in general the latest version is the appropriate version. (iii) We try to keep the correct links on this page, but if you notice something odd, let us know . (iv) In case of conflicting info, the Graduate Catalog supersedes anything written here.

1.0 Introduction

This handbook provides supplemental information and guidelines to the Department of Physics Doctoral and Master’s degree handbooks and contains information that is unique to the Planetary Sciences Track. The UCF Graduate Catalog descriptions in effect when a student was admitted take precedence over either handbook. This handbook is guidance, not a contract. Ultimately, the judgement of the advisor, Supervisory and Dissertation Committees, Planetary Graduate Committee, and Planetary Graduate Coordinator take precedence. However, major departures from the procedures outlined here require the concurrence of the advisor, Supervisory or Dissertation Committee, and Planetary Graduate Committee.

1.2 Introduction to the Program:

Our goal is to foster a vibrant Planetary Sciences research environment that can attract top students, researchers, and faculty and contribute significantly to the exploration of space. The Planetary Sciences Graduate Ph.D. and Master’s Tracks are designed to prepare students to be competitive in the global planetary sciences research community.

1.3 Admission to the Planetary Sciences Track:

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog and the Physics Master’s/Doctoral Handbook . Applicants must apply online .

Information about admission to the Planetary Sciences track itself can be found in the Graduate Catalog’s pages about the Ph.D. and M.S. programs. [Ed.– You may have to scroll down to the bottom of those pages to see the track-specific info.] There is information also on the Physics Department website and on the Planetary Sciences Group website.

Note that students must be specifically admitted to the Graduate Planetary Sciences track. External applications and petitions to switch from the existing Physics graduate program are considered by the Planetary Graduate Committee.

2.0 Curriculum

2.1 Ph.D. Requirements:

The Graduate Catalog gives information on the Ph.D. program requirements, which we summarize here. We require a minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree or 42 hours beyond the Master’s degree. This includes completion of 6 core courses (18 hours) listed below, 5 electives (15 hours) of regular coursework selected in consultation with the student’s Supervisory Committee, a minimum of 15 hours of dissertation (AST and PHY 7980), and the remaining 24 hours of appropriately selected research, dissertation, and elective courses. Courses must be selected so that at least one-half of the 72 hours are at 6000 level or higher. No more than 12 hours of independent study (AST and PHY 6908) may be credited toward the Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. includes a Candidacy Exam to be taken after the completion of the core courses, a written dissertation, and a dissertation defense before the student’s Supervisory Committee.

2.2 Master’s Requirements:

The Graduate Catalog gives information on the M.S. program requirements, which we summarize here. Master’s requirements include at least 33 hours of graduate course work as directed by the student’s Supervisory Committee. This must include at least 15 hours of courses from the planetary core listed below and 6 hours of Thesis Preparation (PHY and AST 6971) with the remainder being electives and directed research classes chosen in consultation with the student’s Supervisory Committee. At least half of the total credits must be at the 6000 level. No more than 6 hours of independent study (AST and PHY 6908) may be credited toward the M.S. degree. The Master’s Degree in planetary sciences includes a thesis and its defense. There is no non-thesis Master’s degree in the Planetary Sciences Track.

2.3 Planetary Sciences Core:

The core is designed to give students a broad foundation in the planetary sciences and a rapid training in the data analysis techniques that will be necessary for a successful research and publications.

• AST 5151: Physics of Planetary Processes. Provides an overview of the physical basis of molecular spectroscopy, radiative transfer basics, thermodynamics and condensed matter physics from the perspective of planetary science.
• AST 5154: Advanced Planetary Geophysics. The physics of planetary evolution, planetary interiors, and planetary surface processes.
• AST 5263: Advanced Observational Astronomy. Design of scientific observing programs, acquiring astronomical data sets, applied astronomical data reduction, analysis of sources of observational error, publication of results.
• AST 5765C: Advanced Astronomical Data Analysis. Techniques for processing astronomical data including programming approaches for data analysis, probability, statistics, error propagation, astronomical detectors and their calibration, model fitting.
• AST 6165: Planetary Atmospheres. The physics and chemistry that govern the behavior of the atmospheres of Earth and other planets including atmospheric dynamics, vertical chemistry, radiative transfer, gas spectroscopy, and cloud microphysics.
• PHY 6246: Classical Mechanics. Variational principles. Lagrange, Hamiltonian, and Poisson bracket formulations of mechanics. Hamilton’s principle of least action. Hamilton-Jacobi theory. Perturbation theory. Continuous systems. Chaos.

2.4 Planetary Sciences Electives: 

• AST 5145: Advanced Asteroids, Comets, and Meteorites. An advanced study of physical, chemical, mineralogical and orbital characteristics of asteroids, comets, and meteorites, with an emphasis on the origin of our solar system.
• AST 6112: Origin and Evolution of Planetary Systems. Formation of planetary systems beginning with the proto-stellar clouds, collapse, condensation, particle-disk interactions, accretion models, formation of satellites, what has been learned from observations of extra-solar planets, and the physics of magnetic fields generated by planetary bodies.
• AST 5334: Extra-Solar Planets and Brown Dwarfs. An advanced course on the physics of substellar-mass objects, their formation, evolution, dynamics, detection, and environments. This includes the gravitational collapse of molecular clouds, the dynamics of planetary evolution in extrasolar systems, the evolution of Brown Dwarfs, and the habitability of extrasolar worlds.
• AST 5038: Astrobiology. Interdisciplinary branch of science that deals with the origins, development, and fate of life on Earth and in extraterrestrial environments.
• AST 6156: Current Topics in Planetary Sciences. Also known as “Planetary Astronomy Seminar.” Review and analyze current advances in planetary science, particularly science results from recent discoveries. The focus of the course will vary depending on current discoveries. This course may be repeated for credit; it may be used in the degree program a maximum of 3 times.
• AST 5937 or AST 6938: Special Topics. Advanced, topical, seminar course focused on major new developments in planetary astronomy including recent results from NASA/ESA missions. This course would be taught with a new topic each time. This course may be repeated for credit.

2.5 Other Potential Electives:

A range of graduate physics, chemistry, optical sciences, and mathematics courses useful for the student’s area of research can be taken as electives. Electives should be chosen with the advice and consent of the student’s advisor and Supervisory Committee.

2.6 Other Planetary Science Academic Activities:

Integral to becoming a professional Planetary Scientist are a range of related academic activities outside the classroom that are essential to developing the broad background, critical thinking, and public speaking skills required for success in this field. These include Journal Club, the CLASS/FSI seminar, outreach events, and the Physics Department Colloquium. Attendance and active participation at these events is either mandatory or strongly encouraged for students.

• Planetary Seminar/Journal Club: A weekly forum that provides students with the opportunity to hone their skills while helping everyone keep current with the latest research. [Note: The following updated language about PSJC was approved by the planetary faculty in April 2024 to help clarify expectations. –Ed.] Typically, a graduate student picks an interesting recent scientific paper and presents the research outlined. Journal clubs are also often used by faculty and visiting scientists to present current research results. Lively discussion and critical questions are journal club traditions. Attendance is mandatory.
• CLASS/FSI Seminar: An international forum that brings some of the leading researchers in planetary science to UCF. The seminar is usually broadcast, and speakers are often in remote locations, so students can participate remotely as well. Participation is strongly encouraged.
• Department Colloquium: The Physics Department sponsors weekly colloquia, some of which are focused on planetary science, geophysics, or astrophysics topics. Attendance is strongly encouraged for these colloquia.
• Outreach: Part of planetary science is active outreach to the general community to communicate the excitement of planetary exploration to the taxpayers who make it possible. Graduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in such outreach events. For example, Robinson Observatory organizes periodic public and private stargazing events (e.g. “Knights Under The Stars”). Graduate students can also propose new outreach ideas and carry them out.

3.0 Committees and Defenses

3.1 Supervisory Committee:

Within the first half-semester of admission to the Planetary Sciences Track, each student must select, by mutual agreement, a faculty advisor and at least two other faculty members to serve on the Supervisory Committee. A quorum for Supervisory Committee meetings is three faculty members. UCF faculty (including teaching and research faculty) and non-UCF planetary scientists who are qualified to be Graduate Faculty Scholars are eligible to serve on Supervisory Committees. Scientists in other disciplines are also eligible to serve if they bring relevant expertise (and are qualified to be a Graduate Faculty Scholar). Creation of and changes in the membership of a Supervisory Committee must be approved by the Planetary Graduate Committee. The advisor is expected to meet regularly with the student. The full Committee shall meet with the student at least once per year to review and make recommendations regarding the student’s academic progress. Refer to Section 3.7 for guidelines on meetings.

3.2 Master’s Defense:

The Planetary Sciences Track Master’s requirements include a written thesis and its oral defense after the completion of the Master’s course work and research. The thesis is a journal-level research paper. The oral defense is in two parts: (1) A public presentation of the research contained in the paper; and (2) private questioning on the detail of the presented research as well as the topics covered in the student’s preparation and course work. The written and oral components will be administrated by the student’s Supervisory Committee. A student must submit the written thesis to the Supervisory Committee 14 calendar days before the scheduled oral defense. Committee members are expected to read it and give a preliminary indication to the Committee chair as to its acceptability four days after receipt. The preliminary indication of acceptability for a written examination paper is noncommital. Rather, it is intended to avoid obvious failures. By the start of the eighth day before the examination, the official version of the thesis is due, and the Committee must decide whether to allow the oral defense to proceed. If the defense does not proceed, either due to decision of the Supervisory Committee or that of the student, the student is deemed not to have defended. If the defense will proceed, the student must then post notices of the presentation through the Departmental Program Assistant, following departmental procedures. The following outcomes are possible for the defense:

• Pass conditioned on revisions and/or additional coursework
• Retake after additional coursework

Passes conditioned on revisions are handled as follows: all Committee members sign the appropriate paperwork except the advisor. The advisor signs the paperwork when satisfied with the revisions. Students may only retake a defense once, and must do so within one year, or immediately after the next offering of a required course, whichever occurs later. If the student fails examination a second time or fails to retake the examination within the specified period, the student is dropped from the program. Refer to Section 3.7 for guidelines on the defense.

3.3 Ph.D. Candidacy Exam:

The Planetary Sciences Track requires a Candidacy Exam to be taken after the completion of the core courses. Ideally, this exam will be taken at the end of second year in the Planetary Graduate program, and no later than the end of the third year.

[Note: The following updated language about PSJC was approved by the planetary faculty in April 2024 to help clarify expectations. –Ed.] The student must have given a minimum of two full-length (i.e., hour-long) Planetary Sciences Journal Club presentations (or other hour-long scientific presentations in other relevant contexts) before the Candidacy Exam. These generally should be about published, peer-reviewed journal papers that the student is not otherwise involved with, should discuss each paper’s science results, and should include time for discussion led by the student.

This exam is composed of a written component and an oral exam. The written component is a journal-level original research paper that has either been accepted for publication or submitted for publication. The student must be the first author of the paper. The Supervisory Committee may allow an exception for a paper that is ready for submission but not yet submitted for a reason beyond the student’s control (e.g., there is a co-author who has promised but not delivered comments). A substantial portion of the paper must be wholly original with the student (including any underlying software), so that the Committee may evaluate whether the student can produce original work for the Dissertation. The oral component is in two parts: (1) A public presentation of the research contained in the paper, including the traditional question and answer period of a scientific presentation; and (2) private questioning on the detail of the presented research as well as the topics covered in the student’s preparation and coursework. The written and oral components will be administrated by the student’s Supervisory Committee. The following outcomes are possible for either examination:

• Pass conditioned on revisions or additional coursework
• Fail with option for Master’s Degree
• Fail without option for Master’s Degree

Passes conditioned on revisions are handled as follows: all Committee members sign the appropriate paperwork except the advisor. The advisor signs the paperwork when satisfied with the revisions. Students may only retake an examination once, and must do so within one year, or immediately after the next offering of a required course, whichever occurs later. If the student fails examination a second time or fails to retake the examination within the specified period, the student is dropped from the program. Refer to Section 3.7 for guidelines on the Candidacy Exam.

3.4 Candidacy Status and Dissertation Committee: 

After passing the Candidacy Exam, completing all required pre-candidacy coursework (including the minimum number of elective credits), and assembling an acceptable Dissertation Committee, the student is declared a PhD Candidate. Candidates may register for Dissertation Research credits and are required to take fewer credits to maintain continuous registration (i.e, full time status). Additional courses may still be taken as a candidate, in consultation with the Dissertation Committee and advisor. It is thus desirable to be designated as a candidate as soon as possible after passing the Candidacy Exam.

As the Examination is frequently taken immediately before a new semester begins, students are advised to look at the requirements closely and do as many tasks as possible in advance of the Examination. This includes identifying Dissertation Committee members, getting the program’s approval for the proposed Committee, collecting the CVs of members who are not yet UCF Graduate Faculty Scholars, and registering them as such with Graduate Studies.

Generally, the Dissertation Committee consists of the Supervisory Committee plus a planetary scientist outside of UCF who has a substantial and creditable research record. This is a program requirement that satisfies the Graduate Studies requirement for a member outside the UCF Planetary Sciences Graduate Field. Scientists in other disciplines are also eligible to serve if they bring relevant expertise (and are qualified to be a Graduate Faculty Scholar). The Dissertation Committee Chair is the research advisor; co-chairs are allowed. The Committee must have at least four members. Sometimes more members are valuable, but note that scheduling meetings and satisfying members becomes increasingly difficult with more members.

The Dissertation Committee should meet at least annually, fulfilling the duties and following the procedures of Supervisory Committees. In addition, career mentoring and post-degree plans should be part of the Committee’s and advisor’s discussions with the student.

3.5 Dissertation Proposal:

The Dissertation Proposal may be presented immediately after the Candidacy Exam or in a separate meeting not more than one semester thereafter. It is presented to the Dissertation Committee; all members must attend (in person or remotely). The Dissertation proposal is not formally an examination in the Planetary Sciences Track. The Committee may direct any form of presentation it desires and may question the student. Before substantial work is done on the dissertation, the Dissertation Committee must approve the proposal and must also assess whether additional coursework is necessary to begin the dissertation. Such coursework should be completed at the earliest opportunity. The Dissertation Proposal should be approximately 15 pages and shall contain the following:

• The student’s name and degree program.
• An abstract.
• A listing of the Supervisory Committee identifying the advisor, chair (generally the same person as the advisor, unless the advisor is external to UCF), and external member (by affiliation).
• The scientific background of the proposed work. This should include work already done by the student prior to Candidacy.
• A listing of science questions to be addressed. [Ed. — modified August 2022 to mean “A listing of broader overarching science questions that the dissertation will pertain to.”]
• A statement of scientific objectives. [Ed. — modified August 2022 to mean “A statement of specific scientific objectives that will be achieved by the particular work of the dissertation.”]
• A dissertation outline that includes a list of chapters along with a brief summary of the chapter contents and the status of the work that will be included in that chapter (i.e. complete, in progress, TBD).
• A work plan that includes methods, data or computational requirements, schedule, and proposed defense date.
• List of the candidate’s relevant publications and scientific presentations.
• Cited references.

3.6 Ph.D. Dissertation Defense:

The following outcomes are possible:

• Approval of the dissertation
• Approval subject to revisions to be approved by the advisor
• Required re-defense

A re-defense must occur within one year. At the second defense the re-defense option is replaced by options for a Master’s Degree or failure and removal from the program without a conferred degree. Refer to Section 3.7 for guidelines on the dissertation defense.

3.7 Committee and Defense Procedures:

3.7.1 General Meeting Procedures:

• Students should present the following information to the Committee during annual meetings: program of study form, listing of publications, listing of presentations and scientific meetings attended, schedule of courses to be taken.
• Students should present an overview of their research program and a work plan for achieving their research goals. This plan should include a schedule of the work and a list of planned publications.
• Students should briefly present the results and progress of their research since their last Committee meeting. The Committee members are expected to give advice and direction for the student’s research, coursework, and other experiences in graduate school.
• Be SURE that the presentation actually runs on the computer/projection system in the meeting room.
• Be SURE that the plots and presentation materials are easily visible and of publication quality.
• Be SURE that the spelling, punctuation, and grammar are of publication quality.
• Be SURE to have a working pointer, working markers and eraser, and necessary presentation materials.
• Be SURE to have the necessary paperwork for Committee signature.
• If you have a “remote” Committee member, be SURE to reserve a room where such remote access will be feasible. Note that there are often setup and connection issues that need to be resolved, so plan on starting the connection process at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the exam/meeting.
• The student should review the timeline presented at the previous meeting and show how planned work has translated into progress.
• Students in post-candidacy status should present a dissertation plan that includes the chapters of their proposed dissertation. They should also outline their plans for 1-2 years beyond the PhD for the work, if any portion of it is to carry beyond the PhD defense, and for employment. The Committee members are expected to give career advice. Following this advice is at the discretion of the student and will not affect the decisions of the Committee.

3.7.2 Candidacy Exam Procedures:

• Meeting procedures in 3.7.1 apply to Candidacy exams.
• A student must give the written examination paper to the Supervisory Committee 14 calendar days before the scheduled oral examination. Committee members are expected to read it and give a preliminary indication to the Committee chair as to its acceptability four days thereafter. The preliminary indication of acceptability for a written examination paper is noncommital. Rather, it is intended to avoid obvious failures. By the start of the eighth day before the examination, the official version of the paper is due, and the Committee must decide whether to allow the oral examination to proceed. If the examination does not proceed, either due to decision of the Supervisory Committee or that of the student, the student is deemed not to have taken either part of the examination. If the exam will proceed, the student must then post notices of the presentation through the Departmental Program Assistant, following departmental procedures. Both the written and oral Candidacy examinations are deemed to take place at the time of the oral examination. The committee must decide on the result of the exam at the end of the exam. If there are comments to the student and/or conditions for the student to satisfy, they must be delivered to the student within three days after the exam.
• The student is responsible for all scheduling and logistical arrangements for the exam. The student must reserve a room for the exam for no less than 3 hours. Notices of the public portion of the exam detailing the time, place, and title must be posted through the department 1 week and 1 day in advance, through the department manner similar to that for a departmental colloquium which includes e-mails to the department list. Note that these notices should be sent to researchers in the Florida Space Institute and at Arecibo Observatory as well. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they are notified.
• The Supervisory Committee will question the student on any of the topics covered in the student’s course work. This questioning should be at least 15 minutes from each member of the Committee.
• It is the job of the Committee to determine whether the paper, the research done by the student, the presentation, the responses to questions, and their experience with the student sufficiently demonstrate that the student is prepared to conduct independent research at the PhD level. Journal acceptance or rejection and the content of reviews may inform the Committee’s decision, but the ultimate decision rests with the Committee.
• A substantial component (20% or more by some measure, as assessed by the Supervisory Committee) of the Candidacy paper must represent original, master’s-level, creative work of the student that is not merely repetitive of work done by someone else in the same research group. Successful examples include: writing original data analysis code, doing new theoretical or predictive calculations, writing or extending a theoretical model, converting a large analysis code between languages (including testing, documentation, and description in the paper), and making a discovery and following up its implications. The Committee will assess the student’s capacity to do independent scientific research, and thus the likelihood of a successful dissertation. Students, advisors, and Supervisory Committees should discuss and assess how this requirement will be satisfied throughout the pre-candidacy period.

3.7.3 Thesis and Dissertation Defense Procedures:

• Meeting procedures in 3.7.1 apply to defenses.
• The Dissertation Defense is the final requirement for the PhD and consists of a public presentation of the dissertation, typically lasting 60 minutes including the traditional question and answer period of a scientific presentation, followed by private questioning by the Dissertation Committee (lasting another 60-120 minutes). Revisions to the dissertation may be required as part of the defense.
• The Thesis Defense is the final requirement for the M.S. and consists of a public presentation of the Thesis, typically lasting 45-60 minutes including the traditional question and answer period of a scientific presentation, followed by private questioning by the Supervisory Committee. Revisions to the thesis may be required as part of the defense.
• There are specific university deadlines related to the final semester and the dissertation defense listed in the College of Graduate Studies’ Thesis/Dissertation website . The critical deadlines are the format deadline, the defense deadline, and the final completion date. It is the student’s responsibility to meet all of Graduate Studies’ requirements and deadlines.
• It is the responsibility of the chair of the Dissertation/Supervisory Committee to have the dissertation/thesis reviewed through Turnitin.com in conformance to Graduate Studies requirements.
• The defense version of the dissertation/thesis must be presented to the Dissertation/Supervisory Committee 14 calendar days before the scheduled defense. Committee members are expected to read it and give a preliminary indication to the Committee chair as to its acceptability four days after receipt. The preliminary indication of acceptability for a dissertation/thesis is noncommital. Rather, it is intended to avoid obvious failures. By the start of the eighth day before the defense, the official version of the dissertation/thesis is due, and the Committee must decide whether to allow the oral defense to proceed.
• If the defense does not proceed, either due to decision of the Committee or that of the student, the student is deemed not to have defended.
• If the defense will proceed, the student must then post notices of the presentation through the Departmental Program Assistant, following departmental procedures. The committee must decide on the result of the defense at the end of the defense. If there are comments to the student and/or conditions for the student to satisfy, they must be delivered to the student within three days after the defense.
• The dissertation/thesis must comply with all Graduate Studies style requirements. Any subsequent revision, no matter when presented, must be accompanied by a list of all changes (including trivial corrections of spelling, etc.) made since the prior official submission to the Dissertation Committee. A separate electronic “redline” version of the dissertation is acceptable for this purpose (deletions are indicated by red or strike-through text; green or boxed text indicates insertions; and marginal change bars indicate lines containing changes, to help find small alterations that might otherwise be missed). Committees will generally not accept revisions between the defense submission and the defense itself, but may choose to do so in exceptional circumstances.
• The student is responsible for all scheduling and logistical arrangements for the defense. The student must reserve a room for the defense for no less than 3 hours. Notices of the public portion of the defense detailing the time, place, and title must be posted through the department 2 weeks, 1 week, and 1 day in advance, through the department manner similar to that for a departmental colloquium which includes e-mails to the department list. Note that these notices should be sent to researchers in the Florida Space Institute and at Arecibo Observatory as well. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they are notified.
• The student is responsible for bringing to the defense the “Thesis and Dissertation Approval form” for the Committee’s signature.
• Students should present the following information to the Committee at the defense: Degree audit showing that all requirements up to the defense have been satisfied, listing of publications, listing of presentations, and scientific meetings attended.
• The possible outcomes are listed in 3.2 and 3.6. In the case of decision of re-defense of a Ph.D. dissertation, the re-defense must occur within one year. At the second defense, if it is not successful, the Committee will decide if the student may be given the option for a Master’s degree or failure and removal from the program without a conferred degree.

4.0 Participating Faculty

• Chief Scientist Space Medicine and Life Sciences Dr. Esther Beltran (FSI)
• Assistant Associate Professor Dr. Christopher Bennett
• Associate Scientist FSI Director Dr. Julie Brisset (FSI)
• Pegasus Professor Dr. Daniel Britt
• Pegasus Professor Dr. Humberto Campins
• Pegasus Professor Dr. Joshua Colwell
• Associate Lecturer Dr. James Cooney
• Assistant Associate Professor Dr. Kerri Donaldson Hanna
• Associate Professor Emeritus Dr. Joseph Donoghue
• Assistant Associate Professor Dr. Adrienne Dove
• Professor Dr. Yanga Fernandez
• Pegasus Professor Dr. Joseph Harrington
• Lecturer Dr. Richard Jerousek
• Assistant Professor Dr. Theodora Karalidi
• Associate Scientist Research Professor Dr. Philip Metzger (FSI)
• Associate Scientist Research Professor Dr. Noemi Pinilla-Alonso (FSI)
• Observatory Scientist Research Professor Dr. Flaviane Venditti ( AO FSI )
• Observatory Scientist Dr. Anne Virkki (AO)
• Assistant Research Professor Dr. Sean Marshall (FSI)
• Assistant Researcher Dr. Dhaka Sapkota (FSI)
• Research Professor Dr. Pedrina Santo (FSI)
• Research Professor Dr. Christiano Brum (FSI)
• Associate Scientist Dr. E. Todd Bradley (FSI)
• Assistant Scientist Dr. Estela Fernandez-Valenzuela (FSI)
• Assistant Scientist Dr. Mario de Pra (FSI)
• Assistant Scientist Dr. Charles Schambeau (FSI)
• Scholar/Scientist/Engineer Dr. Anish Roshi Damodaran (FSI)
• Research Professor/IPTA Project Scientist Dr. Joris Verbiest (FSI)
• Possibly others at FSI; check with the grad program coordinator.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

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Discover more about postgraduate research

PhD/MPhil Planetary Science / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent) OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent).

Other combinations of qualifications and research or work experience may also be considered. Please contact the admissions team to check.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

In your application you’ll need to include:

• The name of this programme
• Your research project title (i.e. the advertised project name or proposed project name) or area of research
• Your proposed supervisor’s name
• If you already have funding or you wish to be considered for any of the available funding
• A supporting statement (see 'Advice to Applicants' for what to include)
• Details of your previous university level study
• Names and contact details of your two referees.

Find out how this programme aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals , including learning which relates to:

Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

Goal 13: climate action, goal 14: life below water, goal 15: life on land, programme options, programme description.

Research in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences covers three main research themes ; earth and planetary science, environment and society, and life on earth.

Planetary Science applies a fundamental knowledge of isotopes and chemistry together with new observations to understand natural systems. Together with a strong history of designing and building many of its own instruments, group research interests extend from extraterrestrial systems and early solar system processes to addressing some of the key resource and environmental problems society faces today.

We work on precious samples from the moon, mars, rare meteorites and samples returned by NASA missions. Research includes understanding the processes forming the solar system starting material, the rate and timing of the formation of meteorites and early solar system bodies leading to the formation of the terrestrial planets.

We have projects that study how the Earth's mantle works and those that reveal the workings of volcanic systems in place like Iceland.  We use isotopes to trace ocean circulation and climate change, investigate safe carbon dioxide sequestration and understand drinking water contamination processes that can affect millions.

Visit our research projects page to browse our range of currently available projects.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Band A £4,786; Band B £7,000; Band C £10,000; Band D £14,500; Band E £24,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A £28,000; Band B £30,000; Band C £35,500; Band D £43,000; Band E £57,000
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Band A £2393; Band B £3,500; Band C £5,000; Band D £7,250; Band E 12,250 International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A £14,000; Band B £15,000; Band C £17,750; Band D £21,500; Band E £28,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The programme fee will vary depending on the cost of running the project. Fees quoted are fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for Home students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit the postgraduate fees page .

Always contact the Admissions team if you are unsure which fees apply to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards at university, faculty and department level to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers.

To be considered for many of our scholarships, you’ll need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor. Therefore, we’d highly recommend you discuss potential sources of funding with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and make sure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more information about our scholarships, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's call to action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At The University of Manchester, we address the SDGs through our research and particularly in partnership with our students.

Led by our innovative research, our teaching ensures that all our graduates are empowered, inspired and equipped to address the key socio-political and environmental challenges facing the world.

To illustrate how our teaching will empower you as a change maker, we've highlighted the key SDGs that our programmes address.

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Contact details

Our internationally-renowned expertise across the School of Natural Sciences informs research led teaching with strong collaboration across disciplines, unlocking new and exciting fields and translating science into reality.  Our multidisciplinary learning and research activities advance the boundaries of science for the wider benefit of society, inspiring students to promote positive change through educating future leaders in the true fundamentals of science. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Environmental Sciences

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

UCL Astrophysics Group

PhD Projects: Planetary / Exoplanetary Science

Exploring Jupiter's Outer Magnetosphere

This project will focus on the outer regions of Jupiter's magnetosphere, where spacecraft observations often reveal a transition between the periodically oscillating plasma sheet / magnetodisc of Jupiter, and a region known as the 'cushion' which is comparatively devoid of a continuous plasma sheet, but for which observational evidence suggests it is a region where individual blobs of plasma are detaching from the outer edge of the plasma disc.

On the modelling side, the project will focus on improving outer magnetodisc structure of our in-house UCL Magnetodisc model, by looking at different methods for 'shielding' the magnetic field inside a model of the magnetospheric boundary.

The improved model will then be used as a tool to look at outer magnetospheric passes from spacecraft such as Galileo (mission completed and data archived) and Juno (still active), in order to answer questions such as:

• where, how and how often does the cushion region appear?
• what does the modelling of the data tell us about the corresponding distribution of plasma and magnetospheric currents, and the role of the 'bracing' of the field by the magnetopause boundary?

The project thus represents an opportunity to learn more about interpretation of magnetometer and plasma data from spacecraft, and the use of mathematical models, based on MHD equilibria, in interpreting such data.

Contact: Prof Nick Achilleos ( nicholas.achilleos AT ucl.ac.uk )

The Planetary X-rays Revolution

For decades, the X-ray waveband has been significantly underutilised in the study of planetary systems, yet it provides vast untouched scientific opportunity. X-rays offer unique and essential insights into the composition of planetary atmospheres and moons (important for habitability and formation), planetary aurora and magnetic fields (critical for protecting planets from the stellar winds of their partner star), and the energetic environment surrounding planets.  

Overlaid Chandra X-ray (purple) and Keck IR observation of Uranus. X-ray: NASA/CXC/UCL/W.Dunn et al, IR: Keck

UCL are the world-leaders in the X-ray study of the outer planets systems. To address the shortages of planetary X-ray studies, the NASA and ESA flagship observatories (Chandra and XMM-Newton) have awarded our group the largest dataset of planetary X-ray observations ever acquired. This includes: the first X-ray observation of an interstellar comet; 1000+ hours of X-ray observations of Jupiter and its moons, coordinated with the Juno spacecraft (including the first ever spatially resolved Jupiter XUV observation) and 120 hours of X-ray observations of Uranus planned contemporaneous with JWST and Hubble (dwarfing our previous few-hour observation that was reported in the international media last year). Most of this data is untouched and rich with potential for new and transformative discoveries and our group has a strong track record for publishing in Nature and Science journals.

The observations above were acquired with Earth-orbit X-ray observatories. However, recent developments in X-ray instrumentation mean that lightweight X-ray instruments can now be flown to the planets. This planetary X-ray revolution begins in 2025 with the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury and the ESA-CAS SMILE mission for Earth observation. We are currently working with partners at NASA, ESA and CAS to define and lead the first X-ray instrumentation to the outer planets and their moons. We also led the planetary working group for the new ~$bn X-ray probe, the Line Emission Mapper , which is currently in phase 1 consideration by NASA. If selected, we will be ideally positioned to obtain the first planetary observations with the telescope.

Students will have the opportunity to take key roles in developing the science for future NASA/ESA/CAS mission concepts and proposals (currently: LEM; COMPASS and Tianwen-4 spacecraft proposals). In conjunction with this, we have very strong collaborations in the US, Europe and Asia, so that students will work as part of a global space science community.

Contact: Dr William Dunn ( w.dunn AT ucl.ac.uk )

Refining interpretability of machine learning models for exoplanet characterization via improved uncertainty estimation

Machine learning (ML) algorithms are driving innovation across domains, exoplanetary science among them. Two important yet often overlooked aspects are  model interpretability  and  uncertainty quantification . Most popular ML algorithms (e.g. deep neural networks, ensembles), are notorious for being 'black boxes', but several  model interpretability methods  (of various degrees of reliability) have been developed to allow us to understand their inner workings, to uncover hidden biases in the models (or the data), to increase trustworthiness and adoption, to inspect when and how they fail, or to uncover new domain knowledge. Similarly, popular ML algorithms are also known to suffer from poor uncertainty estimation -crucial for cost-sensitive applications and for prioritizing objects for further analysis. Regression models often fail to provide cohesive confidence intervals and classification models often ignore class membership probabilities -or obtain systematically unreliable estimates thereof. Techniques to address these issues include  conformal prediction  and  probabilistic calibration .

In this project, we will investigate if these two weaknesses are connected and by addressing one, we improve upon the other. ‘ Can we make machine learning models more interpretable by improving how they quantify uncertainty over their predictions? ’ We will explore this and related questions in the context of ML models for inferring atmospheric parameters from spectra obtained from extrasolar planets ( exoplanet characterization ). 

Contact: Dr. Nikolaos Nikolaou ( n.nikolaou AT ucl.ac.uk )

NEXOS: Non-LTE spectroscopy of exoplanetary atmospheres

Exoplanet research is a rapidly expanding field that offers a fascinating glimpse into the diversity of celestial bodies in our universe.  The study of exoplanetary atmospheres is particularly intriguing as it sheds light on complex properties such as 3D effects, climates, weather, and chemical non-equilibrium, including non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) effects. While much of the research on exoplanet atmospheres assumes local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), non-LTE effects have been detected in Earth's atmosphere, the atmospheres of other solar system planets, stars, comets, and the interstellar medium. The non-LTE effects can be crucial in the middle and upper atmospheres of (exo-)planets and influence strongly the absorption and especially the emission emerging from these layers. However, despite the importance of non-LTE effects, their modelling remains a challenging field of research and currently the interpretation of the exoplanetary atmospheric  observations do not account for deviations from LTE.

The STFC funded project NEXOS aims to initiate and advance the non-LTE studies of exoplanetary atmospheres by developing a comprehensive solution for characterisation and detection of non-LTE effects in atmospheric spectra of exoplanets. Specifically, NEXOS will focus on integration of non-LTE modeling of molecular spectroscopy into mainstream exoplanetary retrieval codes as a self-consistent solution of the statistical equilibrium and radiative transfer equations.  NEXOS will fill the critical gaps in the provision of the molecular opacities required for adequate non-LTE solutions, for the key molecules of the modern exoplanetary atmospheric applications using advanced molecular quantum mechanical methods. Through forward modelling of atmospheric spectra of exoplanets, it will test non-LTE scenarios for known exoplanets and those that will be discovered in the future and identify most promising manifestations of non-LTE both in ground based and space exoplanetary observations.

Contact: Prof. Sergey Yurchenko ( s.yurchenko  AT ucl.ac.uk )

Spectroscopy of Exoplanets

Thousands of exoplanets have been discovered in the recent years. These newly-discovered planets are generally unlike those in our Solar System. Some of the rocky super-Earths are evaporating with complex atmospheric compositions. These planets have a lot in common with the young Earth; the massive amounts of water in their atmospheres can melt rocks and put their constituents into the atmosphere. Similar processes are expected in the atmospheres of the post-impact planets. A prerequisite for advances to be made is the availability of the fundamental atomic and molecular data necessary for interpreting new observations. The unusual conditions found on most known exoplanets, involving elevated temperatures and high fluxes of stellar radiation, means the required data are missing and not readily measurable in the laboratory.

This PhD project will aim to produce comprehensive molecular opacities specific to lava-planets using advanced molecular quantum mechanics allied to high-performance computing in response to the modern challenges of exoplanetary models and retrievals.  The results will be incorporated into exoplanet models developed at UCL and made available to the scientific community via the ExoMol database . These models will enable the interpretation of present and future spectroscopic studies of rocky super-Earths. Exactly these types of hot solid planets will be the likely targets of NASA's JWST or ESA's Ariel.

The ExoMol team at UCL is the world leader in providing spectroscopic data for the characterisation and modelling of exoplanets and other hot atmospheres, see  http://www.exomol.com . The ERC-funded ExoMolHD project is dedicated to providing high quality spectroscopic data. We have an open position to work on one of the following tasks:

1. Generation of molecular line lists for astronomical studies; 2. Providing precise wavelengths for key molecules applicable for use in high resolution spectroscopic studies performed by telescopes using high resolution instruments; 3. Predicting accurate spectroscopic data on key isotopically-substituted species; 4. Providing temperature-dependent pressure shifts and pressure broadening parameters; 5. Computing photodissociation cross sections and photolysis rates both in and outside thermodynamic equilibrium; 6. Developing appropriate database structures, including detailed opacities, k-tables and precomputed atmospheric models.

We will act to ensure the widest possible utilisation of the data.

Contact: Prof. Sergey Yurchenko ( s.yurchenko  AT ucl.ac.uk ) and Prof. Jonathan Tennyson ( j.tennyson  AT ucl.ac.uk )

Pandemonium in the planetary graveyard

Defying the notion of the silent graveyard, planetary systems refuse to go quietly into the long night. Instead, a significant fraction show one or more signs of dynamical reanimation, with strong indications of general mayhem during the final stages of stellar evolution. These rejuvenated planetary systems manifest as irregular and complex transit events, transient optical emission features, and variable infrared fluxes from dust production and destruction.  Ultimately, all leave their detailed chemical signatures on the surface of the white dwarf stars they orbit, and provide powerful insight into the masses and geochemical structures of the planetary bodies. At UCL, we are leading the study of these evolved planetary systems in the infrared via their dusty debris disks, in the optical via transiting events, and in the ultraviolet where elemental abundances can be measured from the polluted stellar surfaces.  The project will involve at least two observational approaches, including but not limited to: studies of available transit data, infrared data that track debris disk variability, and importantly bulk compositions for minor and major planetary bodies.

Contact: Prof Jay Farihi ( j.farihi AT ucl.ac.uk )  

Unveiling the nature of super-Earths with current and future observatories

Super-Earths, i.e. planets lighter than ten Earth masses, appear to be the most common planets in our galaxy. Being absent in our Solar Systems, their nature is rather mysterious: from their densities we gather there is a large variety of cases, ranging from big rocky planets to small Neptunes or more exotic types. The chemical composition and state of their atmospheres, can be used as a powerful diagnostic of the history, formation mechanisms and evolution of these planets. In the past fifteen years, the UCL exoplanet team led by Prof. Tinetti has worked at the forefront of the spectral/photometric measurements of exoplanet atmospheres and their interpretation, with molecular species being detected in the atmospheres of giant planets and super-Earths (e.g. extremely hot 55 Cnc-e and habitable-zone K2-18b). As part of the PhD, the student will have the opportunity to work in collaboration with Prof. Giovanna Tinetti, Dr. Angelos Tsiaras and Dr. Yuichi Ito on a number of aspects connected with the observations and modelling of super-Earths’ atmospheres with current and future observatories (HST, JWST) and dedicated space missions (ARIEL). 

Contact: Prof Giovanna Tinetti ( g.tinetti AT ucl.ac.uk , also cc e.dunford AT ucl.ac.uk )  

Planetary chemical composition and its origins in protoplanetary disks

In the 2020s, exoplanet studies are increasingly focussing on planetary chemical composition and its origins in protoplanetary disks. Some of the key goals are to link planetary elemental abundances to their formation location and migration history in a disk, and to establish the origins of habitable chemical compositions. Of particular interest are the astro- and biochemically important elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur (CHNOPS). Questions also abound concerning the potential chemical diversity of Earth-like worlds, or the origins and nature of various types of planets such as hot Jupiters or super-Earths. To tackle the above problems, we must study the composition, structure, and processes in planet-forming environments. In my group, we mainly focus on studying protoplanetary disks, using our own observations and models (e.g. Kama et al. 2016; Keyte et al. 2022; Chen et al. 2023), but also contributing in large, international ALMA programmes such as DECO which provide a wealth of data on protoplanetary disk composition. We are also a partner in the EXOHOST project, which studies disk- and planet-hosting stars (see e.g. Jermyn & Kama 2018; Kama et al. 2019, 2023), and involved in the upcoming Ariel mission. Ariel is led from UCL and will launch in 2029 to characterise the composition of ~1000 planets. PhD projects are available in my group to work on planet formation science using revolutionary instruments such as the ALMA interferometer or JWST; on the physical-chemical modelling of planet formation processes and environments; and on the connections between planetary systems, their natal disks, and their host stars. 

Contact: Dr Mihkel Kama  ( m.kama AT ucl.ac.uk) `

Research Groups

• Astronomical Instrumentation
• Cosmoparticle Initiative
• (Exo)Planetary Systems
• Extragalactic Astrophysics
• Galactic Astrophysics

Thinking of postgraduate study?

• MSc in Planetary Science
• The London NERC Doctoral Training Programme
• Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science

NASA Recognizes 5 Early Career Planetary Scientists

NASA has selected five early-career scientists for its 2023 Planetary Science Early Career Award (ECA) based on their demonstrated leadership, involvement in the planetary science community, and potential for future impact.

The ECA program supports exceptional early-career scientists who play a meaningful role in the planetary science community to pursue professional development in areas relevant to NASA’s Planetary Science Division. The goal of each proposal is to identify a need in the community and propose a project to address that need. Each project is facilitated by a grant of up to $200,000 to each of the selected principal investigators.

The selected projects span the full breadth of planetary science research, and the principal investigators are based at U.S. universities and research institutes:

Emily Costello , University of Hawai’i at Manoa: Dr. Costello’s project, “Navigating by Moonlight: The Art of Planetary Science,” will link planetary science and art to the local indigenous culture native to Oahu, Hawai’i.

Christopher Fowler , West Virginia University in Morgantown: Dr. Fowler’s project, “Bringing Planetary Science to West Virginia,” will increase the visibility of and capacity for planetary science research at West Virginia University and engage underserved high school students in West Virginia with planetary science data sets and NASA missions.

Peter James , Baylor University in Waco, Texas: Dr. James’ project suite of research tasks, “Origins of porosity on rocky planetary surfaces,” will address the creation and evolution of porosity in the crusts of rocky planets. This project will also involve the development of a cratering workshop (“Crater Bootcamp”) with undergraduate students at the University of Texas Permian Basin in Odessa and outreach talks through Mayborn Museum in central Texas.

Kelly Miller , Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio: Dr. Miller’s project, “Carbon-Based Connections: From Earth to the Outer Solar System,” will establish carbon-based connections across the solar system and will include outreach efforts with middle schools in San Antonio.

Laura Rodriguez , Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston: Dr. Rodriguez’s project, “Supporting Planetary Science and Mission Work with the Astrobiology Spectral Database,” will create an Astrobiology Spectral Database to house and facilitate exploration of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy data.

Individuals interested in applying for NASA’s ECA program must have a funded ROSES (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science) award from the past two ROSES cycles and must be within 10 years of receiving their terminal degree. Proposals for ECA-2024 are due Dec. 5, 2024.

For more information about NASA’s planetary science, visit:

https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-science/

Karen Fox / Charles Blue Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1257 / 202-802-5345 [email protected] / [email protected]

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Sarah Millholland , an assistant professor of physics at MIT and member of the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, is the 2024 recipient of the Vera Rubin Early Career Award for her wide-ranging contributions to the formation and dynamics of extrasolar planetary systems. The American Astronomical Society’s Division on Dynamical Astronomy (DDA) recognized Millholland for her demonstration “that super-Earth planets within a planetary system typically have similar masses, that the statistics of compact multi-planet systems are consistent with a smooth inclination distribution, and that resonances trapping obliquities to high values may enhance the tidal evolution of planetary orbits.”

The citation noted that her work “is distinguished by thoughtful analyses of 3D dynamical processes in planetary systems and by effective use of observational data to constrain dynamical models.” Millholland is invited to give a lecture at the 56th annual DDA meeting in spring 2025.

“I am incredibly honored to receive the DDA Vera Rubin Early Career Prize, and I am especially grateful to my advisors and mentors within the dynamical astronomy community,” says Millholland. “The DDA means a lot to me, and I look forward to continuing to be a part of it for years to come.”

Millholland is a data-driven dynamicist who studies extrasolar planets, including their formation and evolution, orbital architectures, and interiors/atmospheres. She studies patterns in the observed planetary orbital architectures, referring to properties like the spacings, eccentricities, inclinations, axial tilts, and planetary size relationships. She specializes in investigating how gravitational interactions like tides, resonances, and spin dynamics sculpt observable exoplanet properties.

Millholland obtained bachelor’s degrees in physics and applied mathematics from the University of Saint Thomas in 2015. She earned her PhD in astronomy from Yale University in 2020, and was a NASA Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University until 2022, when she joined MIT.

The Vera Rubin Early Career Prize was established in 2016 in honor of the late Vera Rubin, a longtime DDA Member and galactic dynamicist.

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Department of Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences

Student research stories: ayushman choudhury.

Ayushman Choudhury ’25 is a rising senior studying Applied Mathematics-Computer Science and Music and a research assistant in the Mara Freilich Lab, where he investigates ocean flux dynamics in the Southern Ocean. In our third Student Research Story, Ayushman emphasizes his passion for using computer science and mathematical modeling to improve our understanding of climate change and help fight the climate crisis.

What’s something you’ve learned from your work?  

Last winter, the Freilich Lab sent an underwater autonomous glider on a mission to collect oceanographic data with the goal of investigating carbon fluxes in the Southern Ocean, a historically under-observed region. My job for the past few months has been to take that data, highlight interesting features, and identify scientific phenomena that might explain the patterns we’ve observed. As I head into my senior year, I’ll be taking that information and using it to update and revise models of Southern Ocean dynamics. I’ve learned a lot about the process of oceanographic data collection using sensors and robots, as well as the mechanics behind ocean processes. Take the formation and behavior of eddies, for example. This work has so many broader implications; it has the potential to impact how people in the region interact with the ocean and how we approach climate change mitigation. Right now, though, my primary contribution is knowledge gathering.

What do you hope to do after you graduate?

In the long term, I’d like to have a career where I can dedicate my APMA-CS skillset to climate-related causes; I intend to pursue a PhD in Applied Mathematics with a climate-focused lens. I see this project and the work I’ll be doing senior year as preparation for that path, in terms of understanding the research process as well as the science. One of my favorite things about my current work is diving into a data set and seeing what information I can gather from it; I find it personally enriching. 

I’ve always cared a lot about climate change; it’s the most pressing global challenge right now. I want to use my growing APMA-CS knowledge to further the understanding of climate change and hopefully benefit real people. DEEPS offered me the opportunity to engage in that kind of work as an undergrad, which was really special. 

The Student Research Stories are a new series of interviews showcasing the research journeys of undergraduate students in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science (DEEPS). The series is organized and created by DEEPS Communications Assistants Hania Khan and Isabel Tribe.

Scientists Discover CO2 and CO Ices in Outskirts of Solar System

A UCF-led research team’s findings revealed a vast presence of ancient carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices on trans-Neptunian objects, suggesting carbon dioxide may have existed at the formation of our solar system.

By Eddy Duryea ’13 | May 24, 2024

For the first time, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices have been observed in the far reaches of our solar system on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs).

A research team, led by planetary scientists Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso from the University of Central Florida’s Florida Space Institute (FSI), made the findings by using the infrared spectral capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to analyze the chemical composition of 59 trans-Neptunian objects and Centaurs.

The pioneering study, published this week in Nature Astronomy ,  suggests that carbon dioxide ice was abundant in the cold outer regions of the protoplanetary disk, the vast rotating disk of gas and dust from which the solar system formed. Further investigation is needed to understand the carbon monoxide ice’s origins, as it also prevalent on the TNOs in the study.

The researchers reported the detection of carbon dioxide in 56 TNOs and carbon monoxide in 28 (plus six with dubious or marginal detections), out of a sample of 59 objects observed with the JWST. Carbon dioxide was widespread on the surfaces of the trans-Neptunian population, independent of the dynamical class and body size while carbon monoxide was detected only in objects with a high carbon dioxide abundance, according to the study.

The work is part of the UCF-led Discovering the Surface Compositions of Trans-Neptunian Objects program (DiSCo-TNOs), one of the JWST programs focused on analyzing our solar system.

“It is the first time we observed this region of the spectrum for a large collection of TNOs, so in a sense, everything we saw was exciting and unique,” says de Prá, who co-authored the study. “We did not expect to find that carbon dioxide was so ubiquitous in the TNO region, and even less that carbon monoxide was present in so many TNOs.”

The discovery of the ices can further help us understand the formation of our solar system and how celestial objects may have migrated, he says.

“Trans-Neptunian Objects are relics from the process of planetary formation,” de Prá says. “These findings can impose important constraints about where these objects were formed, how they reached the region they inhabit nowadays, and how their surfaces evolved since their formation. Because they formed at greater distances to the Sun and are smaller than the planets, they contain the pristine information about the original composition of the protoplanetary disk.”

Chronicling Ancient Ice

Carbon monoxide ice was observed on Pluto by the New Horizons probe, but not until JWST was there an observatory powerful enough to pinpoint and detect traces of carbon monoxide ice or carbon dioxide ice on the largest population of TNOs.

Carbon dioxide is commonly found in many objects in our solar system. So, the DiSCo team was curious to see if it existed in greater quantities beyond the reaches of Neptune.

Possible reasons for the lack of previous detections of carbon dioxide ice on TNOs include a lower abundance, non-volatile carbon dioxide becoming buried under layers of other less volatile ices and refractory material over time, conversion into other molecules through irradiation, and simple observational limitations, according to the study.

The discovery of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide on the TNOs provides some context while also raising many questions, de Prá says.

“While the carbon dioxide was probably accreted from the protoplanetary disk, the origin of the carbon monoxide is more uncertain,” he says. “The latter is a volatile ice even in the cold surfaces of the TNOs. We can’t rule out the carbon monoxide was primordially accreted and somehow was retained until present date. However, the data suggests that it could be produced by the irradiation from carbon-bearing ices.”

An Avalanche of Answers

Confirming the presence of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide on TNOs opens many opportunities to further study and quantify how or why it is present, says Pinilla-Alonso, who also co-authored the study and leads the DiSCo-TNOs program.

“The discovery of carbon dioxide on trans-Neptunian objects was thrilling, but even more fascinating were its characteristics,” she says. “The spectral imprint of carbon dioxide revealed two distinct surface compositions within our sample. In some TNOs, carbon dioxide is mixed with other materials like methanol, water ice, and silicates. However, in another group — where carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are major surface components — the spectral signature was strikingly unique. This stark carbon dioxide imprint is unlike anything observed on other solar system bodies or even replicated in laboratory settings.”

It now seems clear that when carbon dioxide is abundant, it appears isolated from other materials, but this alone doesn’t explain the band shape, Pinilla-Alonso says. Understanding these carbon dioxide bands is another mystery, likely tied to their unique optical properties and how they reflect or absorb specific colors of light, she says.

It was commonly theorized that perhaps carbon dioxide may be present in TNOs as carbon dioxide exists in a gaseous state in comets, which are comparable in composition, Pinilla-Alonso says.

“In comets, we observe carbon dioxide as a gas, released from the sublimation of ices on or just below the surface,” she says. “However, since carbon dioxide had never been observed on the surface of TNOs, the common belief was that it was trapped beneath the surface. Our latest findings upend this notion. We now know that carbon dioxide is not only present on the surface of TNOs but is also more common than water ice, which we previously thought was the most abundant surface material. This revelation dramatically changes our understanding of the composition of TNOs and suggests that the processes affecting their surfaces are more complex than we realized.”

Thawing the Data

Study co-authors Elsa Hénault, a doctoral student at the Université Paris-Saclay’s Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, and French National Center of Scientific Research, and Rosario Brunetto, Hénault’s supervisor, brought a laboratory and chemical perspective into the interpretation of JWST observations.

Hénault analyzed and compared the absorption bands of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide across all objects. While there was ample evidence of the ice, there was a great diversity in abundance and distribution, Hénault says.

“While we found CO2 to be ubiquitous across TNOs, it is definitely not uniformly distributed,” she says. “Some objects are poor in carbon dioxide while others are very rich in carbon dioxide and show carbon monoxide. Some objects display pure carbon dioxide while others have it mixed with other compounds. Linking the characteristics of carbon dioxide to orbital and physical parameters allowed us to conclude that carbon dioxide variations are likely representative of the objects’ different formation regions and early evolution.”

Through analysis, it is very likely that carbon dioxide was present in the protoplanetary disk, however, carbon monoxide is unlikely to be primordial, Hénault says.

“Carbon monoxide could be efficiently formed by the constant ion bombardment coming from our sun or other sources,” she says. “We are currently exploring this hypothesis by comparing the observations with ion irradiation experiments that can reproduce the freezing and ionizing conditions of TNO surfaces.”

The research brought some definite answers to longstanding questions dating back to the discovery of TNOs nearly 30 years ago, but researchers still have a long way to go, Hénault says.

“Other questions are now raised,” she says. “Notably, considering the origin and evolution of the carbon monoxide. The observations across the complete spectral range are so rich that they will definitely keep scientists busy for years to come.”

Although the DiSCo program observations are nearing a conclusion, the analysis and discussion of the results still have a long way to go. The foundational knowledge gained from the study will prove to be an important supplement for future planetary science and astronomy research, de Prá says.

“We have only scratched the surface of what these objects are made of and how they came to be,” he says. “We now need to understand the relationship between these ices with the other compounds present in their surfaces and understand the interplay between their formation scenario, dynamical evolution, volatile retention and irradiation mechanisms throughout the history of the solar system.”

Team Effort

Study co-authors also included Ana Carolina de Souza Feliciano, Charles Schambeau, Yvonne Pendelton, Dale Cruikshank and Brittany Harvison with UCF; Bryan Holler and John Stansberry with the Space Telescope Science Institute; Jorge Carvano with the Observatorio Nacional do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil;  Javier Licandro and Vania Lorenzi with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias in Spain; Thomas Müller with the Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik in Germany; Nuno Peixinho with the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciencias do Espaço in Portugal; Aurélie Guilbert-Lepoutre with the Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon in France; Michele Bannister with the University of Canterbury in New Zealand; and Joshua Emery and Lucas McClure with Northern Arizona University.

Researchers’ Credentials:

De Prá joined UCF FSI in 2022 as an assistant scientist. He previously spent nearly four years as a preeminent postdoctoral associate at FSI. De Prá received his doctorate in astronomy in 2017 at the Observatório Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He works with observational planetary sciences using several ground and space-based telescopes to study the connection between different small body populations.

Pinilla-Alonso is a professor at FSI and joined in 2015. She received her doctorate in astrophysics and planetary sciences from the Universidad de La Laguna in Spain. Pinilla-Alonso also holds a joint appointment as a professor in UCF’s  Department of Physics  and has led numerous international observational campaigns in support of NASA missions such as New Horizons, OSIRIS-REx and Lucy.

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For a decade, UCF-based nonprofit Limbitless Solutions has transformed kids’ lives through bionic limbs. 

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A rare 6-planet alignment will occur next month. Here's what to know.

By Kerry Breen

Updated on: May 24, 2024 / 3:41 PM EDT / CBS News

This year has already amazed skygazers with a  rare solar eclipse  and a  geomagnetic storm  that caused  stunning Northern Lights displays  around the world, but there are still more incredible cosmic displays to come. Six planets are expected to align next month, creating what the  Weather Channel refers to as  a "planetary parade." 

The stunning alignment will occur just before sunrise on June 3, 2024. 

During the solar spectacle, the orbits of Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune and Saturn will bring the six planets to the same side of the sun. The planets won't form an actual straight line in space, because of the elliptical shapes of their orbits, CBS News previously reported , but from some angles on Earth, they will appear to be aligned. 

The moon will also be visible, according to Science Alert . 

Those hoping to observe the full spectacle will need binoculars or a telescope, the Weather Channel said. Viewers should keep their eyes fixed on the eastern horizon just before sunrise.

The East Coast will have the best view of the phenomenon as long as the skies remain clear, the Weather Channel said. 

If you miss this alignment, Science Alert said that there are more alignments of the same six planets set for the coming months. The alignment will be visible again in the pre-dawn hours of August 28, 2024 and January 18, 2025. On February 28, 2025, all seven planets will appear in the sky at the same time, Science Alert said. 

Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.

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International planet hunters unveil massive catalog of strange worlds

While thousands of planets have been discovered around other stars, relatively little is known about them. A NASA catalog featuring 126 exotic, newly discovered worlds includes detailed measurements that allow for comparisons with our own solar system. 

The catalog details a fascinating mix of planet types beyond our solar system, from rare worlds with extreme environments to ones that could possibly support life.