Opportunities

🔔 Update (March 2026): One Ph.D. position has been filled. Currently, one Ph.D. position (RA) remains available.

We are recruiting two fully funded Ph.D. students (Fall 2026) and a two-year Postdoctoral Scholar (flexible start date) to join the EcoClimate AI Lab in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Houston. Our lab investigates how natural and human systems respond to and influence climate dynamics and disturbances (e.g., wildfire, flooding, drought, land-use and land-cover change). We aim to advance predictive understanding of ecosystem-climate-human interactions, enhance nature-based solutions, and mitigate natural hazards and climate risks. More information about our research can be found on our lab website. Successful candidates will join a collaborative and interdisciplinary team, with opportunities to work closely with collaborators at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Stanford University, UT Austin, and beyond.

🎓 Ph.D. Student (Fall 2026)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Strong intellectual curiosity and self-motivation for scientific research.
  • Proficiency in Python programming and familiarity with machine learning.
  • Interest in Earth and environmental sciences, atmospheric science, land-atmosphere interactions, ecosystem ecology, natural hazard, remote sensing, or GIS.

Applicants must meet UH Graduate School admission requirements (including TOEFL/IELTS for international applicants).

We also encourage prospective students interested in Spring 2027 Ph.D. admission to reach out early, as we are continuously building our research team.

🧑‍🔬 Postdoc Position

The anticipated project duration is two years, with the possibility of extension depending on performance and funding availability. The start date is flexible.

Potential Research Topics (not limited to):

  • Ecosystem carbon, water, and energy cycles
  • Extreme events and disturbance ecology (e.g., flood, wildfire)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Strong programming skills or
  • Experience in field measurements (e.g., eddy covariance, chamber) or
  • Modeling skills (e.g., machine learning, process-based models) or
  • Remote sensing and GIS

We welcome research ideas beyond these examples, as long as they align with the lab’s mission. The position allows flexibility for the researcher to shape the project direction based on their interests and expertise.

🚀 Additional Opportunities

We are continuously recruiting postdoctoral researchers, Ph.D. and M.S. students, undergraduate research assistants, and visiting students/scholars.

If you are interested in joining the EcoClimate AI Lab in any capacity, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Kunxiaojia Yuan including your CV and a brief introduction of your background and research interests.

📬 How to apply

Please email Dr. Kunxiaojia Yuan (kyuan@central.uh.edu) with a single PDF containing:

  • CV
  • Transcript
  • Cover letter (1-2 pages) outlining your research experience, skills, and future interests
  • Contact information for three references.

Please indicate your name and the position you are applying for in the email subject line (e.g., [Your name] - [PhD or Postdoc Application]). Review will continue until the position is filled.

🏫 About UH

The Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Houston is a large, well-funded department within a top-tier R1 research institution. Students and postdocs benefit from outstanding research resources, internship opportunities, and professional networking opportunities, which lead to a strong job placement record. Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, is a vibrant, diverse metropolitan area famous for its world-class museums and arts, championship sports teams, and an exceptional food scene. Despite its rapid growth, Houston remains one of the most affordable major cities in the U.S., offering an excellent quality of life.

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