Collaborate with us: We welcome potential collaborators for future projects related to natural climate solutions, soil health, greenhouse gas monitoring, ecosystem modeling, precision agriculture, and other themes specified on the About page.

Join our group: We encourage motivated graduate students, undergraduate students, post-baccalaureate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars to join our lab. For any questions, please contact me at yushuxia@ldeo.columbia.edu or use the contact form below.

For prospective Ph.D. students:

I recruit Ph.D. students through Columbia’s DEES program (https://eesc.columbia.edu/content/graduate-prospective-students) during fall semesters. Please note that there is no spring admission per program policy.

I will begin evaluating candidates for Fall 2026 (anticipate at least one new student) later in 2025.

Information for international students can be found here: (https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/information-international-applicants). Please provide evidence of English proficiency test results when reaching out about the Ph.D. position.

For prospective postdoc researchers:

I recruit postdoctoral researchers through LDEO. The postdoc position will be based in Palisades, NY. Due to university policy, postdoc positions are only offered to applicants who obtained their Ph.D. degrees in 2022 or later.

I anticipate recruiting new postdocs to start in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. Stay tuned for position announcements.

Prospective postdocs are also strongly encouraged to check out the following resources and discuss your interests with me directly:

Postdoctoral Fellowships in Earth, Environmental, and Climate Sciences at Lamont: https://lamont.columbia.edu/about/postdoctoral-fellowships - Deadline is around November

Postdoctoral Research Program at Columbia Climate School: https://www.climate.columbia.edu/postdoctoral-research-program - Deadline is around November

Postdoctoral Fellowships at Columbia’s Data Science Institute: https://datascience.columbia.edu/research/postdoctoral-researchers/ - Deadline is around December

NSF Postdoctoral Fellowships in Earth Sciences: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/ear-postdoctoral-fellowships-ear-pf - Deadline is around October

USDA Postdoctoral Fellowships: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/agriculture-food-research-initiative-education-workforce-development - Deadline is around September

For other interested students:

I recruit intern students mainly through the following programs:

SSFRP for high school students: https://lamont.columbia.edu/education-outreach/student-summer-opportunities-SSFRP

DEES or E3B senior thesis for Columbia undergraduate students: https://eesc.columbia.edu/content/senior-capstone

Summer internship for undergraduate students: https://neighbors.columbia.edu/content/lamont-doherty-summer-internship-program. This program is only open to U.S. citizens or green card holders. - Deadline is around February

Bridge to Ph.D. Program in STEM for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree: https://bridgetophd.facultydiversity.columbia.edu/. This program is only open to U.S. citizens or green card holders. - Deadline is around February

Geoscience Bridge to Ph.D. Program for post-baccalaureates interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Geoscience: https://inspire-geoscience.org/bridge-to-phd. This program is only open to U.S. citizens or green card holders. - Deadline is around February

E3B’s M.A. Program: https://e3b.columbia.edu/e3b-ma-program/ - Deadline is around January

SUSC’s M.S. Program: https://www.science.ei.columbia.edu/ - Deadline is around November (Spring)/ January (Fall)

Various opportunities for Columbia Climate School students: https://www.climate.columbia.edu/student-opportunities

Opportunities for Barnard students: https://envsci.barnard.edu/envsci%20opportunities_and_affiliations

Additionally, I occasionally recruit lab technicians to work on soil sampling and soil health tests. Ideal candidates should have extensive field and laboratory experience, along with a B.S. or M.S. degree in soil science or related disciplines. I anticipate recruiting a new lab technician for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. Stay tuned for position announcements.

For senior researchers who obtained their PhDs before 2022:

Please consider joining my lab through visiting scholar programs.

Thank you for your interest in joining or collaborating with the Soil Systems Lab at LDEO at Columbia University.

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