PhD position in earth & planetary surface processes at MIT

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Massachusetts, United States

Apply before: 1 December 2026

Position Posting: PhD student

Apply Before 1 December 2026

The Gaia Lab (thegaialab.com; http://www.thegaialab.com/) in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) at MIT is recruiting a PhD student to begin in Fall 2027. The student will work on how climate and erosion shape landscapes, with an emphasis on fluvial and lacustrine geomorphology. Potential directions range from reconstructing past hydroclimate from river and lake topography, to quantifying landscape evolution across a range of temporal and spatial scales. Projects can draw on fieldwork, remote sensing, numerical modeling, or flume experiments, and can be set on Earth, on Mars, or both. Students are encouraged to develop questions around their own interests.

Applicants with backgrounds in geomorphology, geology, physical geography, planetary science, physics, engineering, mathematics, or a related field are welcome. Experience with programming and/or GIS is helpful but not required.

Prospective students should email me ([email protected]) with a CV and a short description of their research interests before applying. Applications to the MIT EAPS graduate program are due December 1, 2026 (see grad admission for more info on how to apply and requirements: https://eaps.mit.edu/education/graduate-program/graduate-admissions/).

Best,

Gaia Stucky de Quay

Asst. Prof. @ MIT EAPS

Of interest for:

• Terrestrial Working Group
• Hydrology Focus Research Group