Graduate Programs
We train world-class scientists. But more than this, we foster leaders in science that will go on to solve some of the biggest challenges of the 21st century.
Check out our graduate programs!
We offer M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs in the graduate field of atmospheric science and M.Eng., M.S., and Ph.D. degree programs in the graduate field of geological sciences.
Faculty members in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences also participate in several interdisciplinary graduate programs, such as Earth Energy Systems, Biogeochemistry, Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere, and the interdisciplinary graduate minor program in Sustainable Energy.
For more graduate student resources view the Graduate Student Handbook.
Possible projects for Ph.D. students:
We are seeking Ph.D. students to work on the following projects to begin in the Fall of 2025 in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University. Please contact the faculty listed below for more information. Details on applying to Cornell are available at https://gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions
Cryosphere: Prof. Grace Barcheck (grace.barcheck@cornell.edu) is looking for a student interested in understanding ice sheet sliding and hydrology using seismology and machine learning.
Glaciology: Prof. Riley Culberg (rtculberg@cornell.edu) is seeking a Ph.D. student to work on a project studying snow compaction processes on the Greenland Ice Sheet using airborne ice-penetrating radar.
Laboratory rock mechanics and seismology: Prof Greg McLaskey (gcm8@cornell.edu) is looking for a PhD student interested in the mechanics of earthquakes. Projects will utilize a variety of laboratory instrumentation, signal analysis, and/or numerical modeling techniques.
Geospace science: Prof. David Hysell (dlh37@cornell.edu) is seeking multiple students to work on theory and observations of phenomena in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere related to space weather. Projects will involve the use of large international facilities as well as instruments made in our lab together with numerical simulations and forecast models.
Radar Remote Sensing: Prof. Alex Hayes (hayes@astro.cornell.edu), along with Senior Research Associates Valerio Poggiali (vp226@cornell.edu) and Dan Lalich (del224@cornell.edu), are seeking a Ph.D. student interested in radar remote sensing. Projects will involve using sounding radars to probe the surfaces of the Moon, Mars, and Saturn’s moon, Titan, as well as preparing for Europa Clipper’s arrival at Jupiter.”
Mineral resources: One or two students for resource characterization, integrating mineral deposit geological data with operations and sustainable impacts, drillcore mineral and geochemistry models, mine waste characterization, and/or seafloor nodule geochemistry, sustainable alternatives to traditional mining (e.g., biomining); please contact Esteban Gazel (egazel@cornell.edu)
Volcanic petrology: Prof. Esteban Gazel (egazel@cornell.edu) is seeking to recruit Ph.D., students interested in volcanic petrology, reconstructing the volatile evolution of volcanic eruptions using melt and fluid inclusions coupled with diffusion clocks.
Volcanology and remote sensing: Prof. Matt Pritchard (pritchard@cornell.edu) is looking for a Ph.D. student to work on an inter-disciplinary project to study an active volcano in southern Chile and projects that synthesize volcano remote sensing observations for the Earth and Venus.