Graduate Program

Tailor your research to your unique interests and passions for Earth and planetary sciences. You’ll thrive in our collaborative culture, fostering academic growth and empowering you to make meaningful contributions in the areas that inspire you most.

From the air we breathe to the resources we use, the study of our Earth and other planets continues to touch every aspect of the human experience. As a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) at Harvard University, you will work with our world-class faculty in state-of-the-art facilities to gain a better understanding of the universe through a combination of theoretical, computational, laboratory, and field-based methods.

Supported by the collaborative culture that we have cultivated at EPS, in addition to resources and advantages that come with being part of the larger Harvard community, earning your PhD from Harvard EPS is guaranteed to be an unparalleled experience.

Why Harvard EPS?

There are so many advantages to studying Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard, including:

  • Exciting field opportunities — students have explored Maine to Spain, with research trips to Australia, Norway, Canada, and beyond.
  • Cutting-edge instrumentation access — featuring Harvard’s Visualization Research and Teaching Laboratory with Ultra High Resolution Science Observatory.
  • Exceptional professional pathways — alumni have secured roles as NASA senior research scientists, ExxonMobil geoscientists, and faculty at UC Berkeley, Columbia, and Princeton.