Image
Earth and Environmental Engineering
Earth & Environmental Engineering, PhD
Doctoral Programs
In-Person
Be a catalyst for change with a PhD in Earth and Environmental Engineering.
Our PhD opportunities enable you to work together with our leading faculty to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Research spans cutting-edge topics with a bold vision to transcend engineering and humanity in order to build a more equitable and sustainable world.
As a PhD student, you will push the boundaries of research and education to respond to the needs of society, advancing sustainability, health, security, equitability, connectedness, and creativity. As future leaders for the engineering profession, you will embark on a transformative path to drive meaningful contributions to both local and global communities.
Research areas
You can focus on a wide range of cutting-edge research topics, including:
- Big data and AI
- Carbon capture
- Catalysis
- Climate hydrology
- Contaminant fate
- Conversion
- Energy storage
- Environmental biotechnology
- Environmental separation
- "Mines of the future"
- Reactive flows
- Renewable energy integration
- Remediation
- Sustainable minerals and metals processing
- Transport
- Utilization and sequestration
- Water safety and security
Teaching experience
As a PhD student, you will have the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant with responsibilities including supporting curriculum development, holding office hours, assisting in labs and with grading. This valuable experience bridges the gap between research and professional practice.
MS/PhD Track
If you hold an appropriate bachelor’s degree in Engineering and already know you want to undertake a PhD, you can apply to our MS/PhD Track. You will be considered a doctoral student and will be eligible to receive equivalent funding. If you are not successful, you could still be offered a place on our MS program.
Requirements
Our program is highly competitive and the requirements reflect the rigorous nature of our training. Below outlines the requirements to both apply for and complete our Doctoral program in Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University.
-
Application Requirements
Mandatory requirements:
- Online application form
- MS and BS degrees from accredited institutions in engineering or a related science discipline, such as earth, climate, environmental science, chemistry, biology, physics, or hydrology.
- Transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resumé or CV
- Personal statement
- $85 non-refundable application fee
- International applicants, or applicants whose undergraduate and/or master’s degree was received in a country in which English is not the official spoken language, must submit:
- Results of an English language test. Accepted tests include the Test of English as a Foreign Language iBT (TOEFL) - including TOEFL iBT Home Edition, International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS), Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic), or Duolingo English Test (DET). The ETS School Code for the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is 2111.
- Translation of the official transcript(s) and degree/diploma certificate(s) if the institution(s) attended does not issue transcripts in English. The translation must be conducted by a reputable service provider.
Optional Requirements
- Any publications that you have written. Whilst this is not mandatory research, this experience is valued.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test Scores (School Code: 2111)
- You may be invited to an interview
-
Degree Requirements
To earn your PhD, you must:
- Complete 60 credits, with up to 30 credits transferable from previous graduate coursework
- Pass a qualifying examination
- Successfully defend your research proposal
Department Faculty
Image
Daniel Steingart | Image
Ngai Yin Yip | Image
Shaina Kelly |