Overview
University of Arizona Offers a Top-Notch Department of Planetary Sciences
The Department of Planetary Sciences/Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (PtyS/LPL) at the University of Arizona (UA) pursues research and education across the broad discipline of solar system science through use of theoretical studies and data analysis, laboratory and field investigations, numerical modeling, telescopic observations, remote sensing, spacecraft instrumentation, and space mission development and operations. The only Arizona university department in the U.S. devoted solely to planetary science, the college is a community of approximately 250 faculty, research and staff scientists, graduate and undergraduate students, research associates, and support staff.
University of Arizona Department of Planetary Sciences maintains a graduate program of about 30 students and graduates approximately 4 Ph.D. students per year. Of the students who have graduated since 1996, the median time for completion of a Ph.D. is 5.6 years. Most University of Arizona Department of Planetary Sciences students come from undergraduate or M.S. programs in chemistry, physics, geology, or astronomy. Others have backgrounds in mathematics, engineering, or other fields. Some students enter the program after having been employed for several years prior to applying to graduate school. UA's Department of Planetary Sciences students have been very successful in competing for NASA and other fellowships; currently there are 9 students with external fellowships.
Planetary Sciences Faculty Members Shine Brightly in America's Space Program
The Department of Planetary Sciences at UA comprises some pretty big names. The faculty roster includes 3 members of the National Academy of Sciences (1 Emeritus); 6 University Regents' Professors (2 Emeritus); and a University Distinguished Professor (Emeritus). UA faculty members have served as either principal or co-investigators on many spacecraft instruments and missions. Department of Planetary Sciences/Lunar and Planetary Laboratory successfully led and managed surface operations for the PHOENIX Mars mission, becoming the first, and so far only, university organization to manage a mission to Mars. The department's faculty members are heavily involved in Cassini, MESSENGER, LRO, Juno, MRO, and Odyssey.
Extensive Research Facilities Support Research Efforts in the PtyS/LPL Programs
Ph.D. students in the University of Arizona's PtyS/LPL Programs are prepared for careers in solar system research, and 80 percent of the program's alumni are still active in the field of solar system research. Through a combination of core courses, minor requirements, and interaction with faculty and research personnel, the Arizona university students receive a comprehensive education in modern solar system science. The department offers a low student-faculty ratio that allows close academic supervision and guidance.
As part of the University of Arizona, a Research 1 institution, PtyS/LPL is uniquely situated for collaboration with the other world-class research facilities in and around the University of Arizona campus, including the College of Optical Sciences, the Department of Astronomy, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory/National Solar Observatory, the Department of Geosciences, and the Planetary Science Institute. The University of Arizona observatories are available to all researchers in LPL. These include the multiple-mirror telescope as well as numerous midsize and smaller telescopes. For cosmochemical research, LPL operates a scanning electron microprobe, high-temperature and high-pressure apparatus for rock-melting experiments, a noble gas mass spectrometry laboratory, an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry laboratory, and a radiochemistry separation facility for neutron activation analysis that are used for studying meteorites, lunar samples, and terrestrial analogues. Well-equipped electronics and machine shops are also available.
University of Arizona campus LPL's Space Imagery Center is one of several NASA regional planetary image facilities. AU serves as a repository for spacecraft images and maps of planets and satellites. The Planetary Image Research Laboratory (PIRL) is a modern remote-sensing and image-processing center for analysis of astronomical and spacecraft data. University of Arizona LPL maintains an extensive computer network, and various research groups maintain specialized computer systems for particular applications. The university's central computing facilities include a variety of systems and network facilities as well as several superminicomputers.
Graduate Students Supported Through Research and Teaching Assistantships
The doctoral program at PtyS/LPL is designed around both course work and research experience. The core curriculum provides students with a fundamental knowledge of planetary science topics, broadened by study of a supporting minor topic. At the same time, students are encouraged to undertake a research project as soon as they begin the program. Upon admission to this cutting-edge program, doctoral students are assigned an adviser in his or her general scientific area. Students advance to Ph.D. candidacy by passing an oral preliminary examination after completing the required major and minor course work. The examination is normally taken two years after matriculation.
Along the way, PtyS/LPL graduate students have the opportunity to participate in graduate student colloquia, gain valuable teaching experience, and acquire first-hand knowledge of geologic processes and features by participating in the PtyS/LPL field trips. These geologic field trips relate features and processes to other planetary surfaces and measure how accurately those features/processes can be deduced from remote sensing data.
Most PtyS students receive graduate research or teaching assistantships for the academic year. These assistantships normally require 20 hours of work per week. For the nine-month academic year, such assistantships pay about $15,600. For students who pass their preliminary examination and are advanced to Ph.D. candidacy, the pay increases to about $17,200. In addition, most students work full-time (40 hours per week) on research projects during the summer term, earning approximately $10,420. In addition to the salary benefit, a research or teaching assistantship includes a tuition waiver and health insurance coverage.
