Prospective graduate students
Candidates with strong backgrounds in physics, mathematics, statistics, climate sciences or related disciplines are encouraged to get in touch via email. Applicants are welcome to apply either through the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, or the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
If you are applying specifically to work with me, there is no need to take the GRE. I do not consider it when evaluating applications to join my group.
Prospective postdocs
I welcome applications from motivated candidates with interests in weather and climate over land. To apply, please email me a CV and contact details of three references. I encourage you to apply for a relevant fellowship, including:
NOAA Climate & Global Change fellowship
NSF Earth Science postdoctoral fellowship
HUCE Environmental Fellows program
Reginald A. Daly postdoctoral fellowship (there is no fixed website for this fellowship, but calls for applicants are usually posted on the Harvard EPS website in early October, e.g., the 2024 call).
McColl Lab FAQ
Do you welcome international students? What about other types of diversity?
Yes, absolutely! The group currently includes members from Taiwan, China, Australia and France, and we are eager to host people from all backgrounds. Our group also is committed to promoting and sustaining all types of diversity in the sciences. You will be welcome here.
I don’t have hydrology or Earth sciences in my background. Is that a problem?
No. Many students in the department, and some in our group, have no disciplinary background in hydrology or Earth sciences. They typically have backgrounds in physics or applied math, and these are highly valued. Once you start grad school, you will take a variety of courses to bring you up to speed with relevant Earth science material.
Will you be taking any new graduate students next year?
It varies from year to year, so email Kaighin to ask. The answer depends on funding, lab numbers, and other factors.
Will you be taking any new post-docs next year?
It varies from year to year, so email Kaighin to ask. Postdocs are encouraged to secure independent or external funding for their visit — see the links above.
Are any of your current or previous students available for me to contact?
Prospective PhD students are encouraged to get in touch with our current or former students to hear more about the program and the group. See our People page.
Will you support my application for the HUCE Environmental Fellows program or other postdoc fellowship?
I support one applicant for a HUCE fellowship each year. Since I typically receive more than one request to support a HUCE fellowship application each year, I ask prospective applicants to send me a draft application by December 28. These are then reviewed by a committee, and based on that feedback, one application is chosen. If you are OK with this arrangement, then I’d be happy to receive your application by December 28.
What kind of research projects can I get involved in?
PhD students typically have some flexibility in their first two years to develop a project of interest, as long as it falls under the general research directions of the lab. Looking through our recent publications is a good way to get a sense of the group’s research interests, but creative new directions are also possible. When you arrive, we will have many conversations to ultimately define a research project of mutual interest.
What financial support can I expect?
Once enrolled, all graduate students are provided generous financial support, including research and teaching assistantships, full tuition, and a research allowance. Prospective students are encouraged to apply for outside funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation prior to gaining admission.
Who can I contact about applying to the graduate program?
For questions about the EPS graduate program, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, Aimee Smith (aimee_smith@harvard.edu).
Can I apply for a Masters instead of a PhD?
No. We do not admit students for the Master of Arts (AM) degree.
Is there a qualifying exam on the road to the PhD? When can I expect to graduate?
All candidates for the PhD degree are expected to take the oral examination by the end of their fourth term in the program. The purpose of the oral examination is to determine a student’s depth and breadth of scholarship in a chosen area of specialization. The exam will assess the student’s originality, capacity for synthesis and critical examination, intensity of intellectual curiosity, and clarity of communication. Students typically graduate in 5 to 6 years.
Are there opportunities or requirements to teach?
All EPS PhD students are required to serve as teaching fellows for at least two sections during their time at Harvard. The two sections should be for two different courses or for the same course in two different years. This requirement ensures that all students have at least some exposure to classroom or laboratory interactions with undergraduates, as teaching will likely be an important aspect of any future career.