About the Program

The doctoral program in Earth System Science prepares the next generation of scientists to tackle the world's most pressing environmental challenges through rigorous interdisciplinary training and cutting-edge research. Our program unites basic and purpose-driven research to understand how the Earth functions, the many ways it is changing, and what the consequences of these changes will be for people and other species.

Doctoral students engage with fundamental Earth system science, from ocean circulation and biogeochemical cycles to climate dynamics, while also addressing critical sustainability challenges related to food, water, energy, biodiversity, climate change, and environmental justice. Our students study the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the plants and animals with which we share the planet, all while developing as independent researchers capable of making significant scientific contributions.