Earth & Environmental Sciences

Graduate Research Opportunities

We have openings for graduate students for fall 2010 semester.  In addition to teaching assistantships, research assistantships are available for top applicants for the PhD program, both through competitive fellowships and NSF-funded projects.  Annual stipend is presently $22,000 and includes tuition waiver.   To apply you need to submit the online application (no charge), 3 letters of recommendation, GRE scores and college transcripts.  Please submit your application by February 15, 2010 for graduate committee review.  

One area of focus in the department is river-ocean studies which are primarily field and lab based with access to a variety of analytical and computing facilities.  Dr. Brad Rosenheim is currently in search of students interested in assessing the role of world rivers in the Earth’s carbon cycle using a novel new radiocarbon technique as well as students who share interests in recent climate variability.  Students interested in working with Dr. Rosenheim should have a basic knowledge of chemistry in addition to a geology or physical science background.

PhD student, Darren Chevis, preparing groundwater samples from Kauai, Hawaii for rare-earth element analysis.  Darren is a member of the Environmental Biogeochemistry Research Team.

Nicole Gasparini’s research group is looking for students with a strong quantitative background who are interested in surface water hydrology, landscape evolution and tectonic geomorphology.  Current projects include exploring tectonic geomorphology in the Baton Rouge Fault Zone, Louisiana, and investigating the effects of precipitation gradients on vegetation, runoff, and erosion on the Big Island, Hawaii. 

We also have a productive Environmental Biogeochemistry Group, under the guidance of Professor Karen Johannesson, doing active research with trace element speciation in natural waters. For information on the Quaternary Group, contact Torbjörn Törnqvist.  Our newest professor, Kyle Straub, is looking for graduate students in stratigraphy and sediment transport.   We have research opportunities in sedimentology, stratigraphy, marine geology, paleoclimatology, neotectonics, isotope geochemistry, and environmental geochemistry.   There are also opportunities in structural geology, paleontology, petrology, and volcanology. 

Applicants need to provide a clear statement of research interests and career goals.   More information about the department can be obtained via this website and from the graduate advisor, Dr. Karen Johannesson -  kjohanne@tulane.edu.

Applications are submitted online at https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=tulane-g  
Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.