PhD positions in planetary geophysics and geodynamics

PhD positions in planetary geophysics and geodynamics are open in the department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in upstate New York.

Significant advances in how we understand planets come from exploring how the planet’s interior, surface, and atmosphere interact and evolve. The lab’s current research focuses on coupled global-scale tectonic, geophysical, and atmospheric/surface processes of the Earth and other planets from a comparative planetology perspective. Students will gain understanding and insight into these fundamental systems and processes, and how these processes interact to explain how planets such as the Earth, Venus, and Mars evolve (and diverge) over time, the nature of tectonics and convection on planets, climate stability, and the potential for habitability. See https://mbweller.com/ for additional details.

The research direction is broadly open to the interests and qualifications of the student.

Potential research directions are:
(i) developing models of long-term planetary thermal and surface evolution.
(ii) quantifying the interplay between large-scale tectonic and volcanic processes in the coupled interior and surface cycles of planets.
(iii) investigating the breaking and fracturing of the lithosphere — from the global scale to regional, continuous in time versus intermittent, or
(iv) exploring planetary habitability for differing global tectonic regimes.

RPI Graduate Student Application Deadline: January 1, 2025. Applications are considered on a rolling deadline after. Visit https://earth.rpi.edu/ for application process details.

Prospective students should contact Assistant Professor Matthew B. Weller (wellem@rpi.edu)  for more information.