Ph.D. in Earth & Environmental Science

The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in geology should develop a good background in geology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of specialization. Research fields appropriate for the geology candidate include petrology, volcanology, mineral deposits, geochronology, stable isotopes, environmental geology, geohydrology, sedimentation and stratigraphy, regional tectonics, active tectonics, and structural geology. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth sciences are encouraged.

The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in geobiology should develop a good background in chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, and biology in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of specialization. Fields of doctoral dissertation research include geomicrobiology, biogeochemical cycling, biologically mediated diagenesis, biological mineral precipitation and dissolution, isotopic geochemistry of biologically mediated processes, origin and early evolution of life, paleobiology, paleontology, and astrobiology. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth sciences are encouraged.

The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in geochemistry should develop a good background in chemistry, geology, mathematics, and physics in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of specialization. Fields of doctoral dissertation research include geochemistry of ore deposits, trace element and isotope geochemistry of igneous and metamorphic systems, fluid-inclusion geochemistry, geochronology, hydrogeochemistry, stable isotope geochemistry, biogeochemistry, and environmental geochemistry. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth sciences are encouraged.

The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in geophysics should develop a solid background in physics, mathematics, and geology in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of geophysics. Research fields appropriate for the geophysics candidate include crustal exploration, seismology, tectonophysics, environmental, and hydrogeothermal studies. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth sciences are encouraged.

The prospective doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental science with specialization in hydrology should develop a good background in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and geology in addition to achieving a high level of competence in the field of specialization. Research fields appropriate for the doctoral candidate include regional hydrology, groundwater recharge, vadose zone hydrology, hydrogeochemistry, isotope hydrology, streamflow processes and sediment transport, hydrogeophysics and hydrogeodesy, pollutant transport, marine hydrogeology, multi-phase flow of immiscible fluids, experimentation in flow and mechanics, numerical aquifer simulation, multi-physics numerical methods, and field instrumentation. Interdisciplinary programs in the Earth sciences are encouraged.