Student and Post-Doc Opportunities


(Mendennhall Laboratory and The Oval, The Ohio State University)

Anybody who is interested in pursuing these and related research activities is encouraged to contact Dr. von Frese about joining the program. A variety of opportunities are available that facilitate the participation of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as post-doctoral research associates in the program.

  1. Undergraduate Students

    The Department offers a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum of geophysical instruction leading to the B.Sc. in Geological Sciences with Geophysics Option. You may obtain undergraduate application forms from the Dept. of Geological Sciences or the Admissions Office, The Ohio State University, Third Floor Lincoln Tower, 1800 Cannon Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1230 (USA).

    At Ohio State you will find a comprehensive range of financial aid. Several industry sponsored scholarships are available on an academically competitive basis for undergraduates pursuing the B.C.. degree. The university also provides scholarships to encourage the participation of minorities in the undergraduate geophysics program. Other forms of financial aid include employment, work-study, and loans; these programs are administered by Student Financial Aid, 550 Lincoln Tower, 1800 Cannon Drive Columbus, Ohio 43210-1230 (USA), TEL: 614-292-6621.

  2. Graduate Students

    Graduate programs leading to the M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree are flexible to accommodate the background and interests of qualified students. Students typically enter the program with undergraduate degrees in a geological science, physics, mathematics, or engineering. You may obtain graduate application forms from the Dept. of Geological Sciences or the Admissions Office, The Ohio State University, Third Floor Lincoln Tower, 1800 Cannon Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1230 (USA).

    Applications must be received by the Admissions Office by August 15, December 1, or June 1 for the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, respectively. It is recommended that applications be submitted much earlier, especially if you are interested in financial aid.

    Formal admission requirements to the graduate geophysics program include the following:

    1. A completed Ohio State Graduate School application form.
    2. An autobiographical sketch including a statement about your personal goals and research interests.
    3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the Aptitude Tests (verbal, quantitative, and analytical).
    4. Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic program and scholastic ability.
    5. Transcripts of all pervious university course work.
    6. International students must submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score and other materials as required by the Admissions Office.

    Arrangements can also be made for outstanding doctoral candidates to visit the Ohio State campus.

    Teaching and research associateships or fellowships provide the largest source of financial aid for graduate students in geophysics. In addition to a liberal monthly stipend, all graduate associates receive a fee waiver for tuition; graduate associates who are not residents of Ohio receive a fee waiver for the non-resident portion of their tuition.

    Graduate research associateships in geophysics are available each year as part of sponsored research programs maintained by the geophysics faculty and research scientists. In addition, the Department provides over 30 teaching and research associateships to assist faculty in instructional and research programs. Several fellowships requiring no Departmental duties are also available.

    Fellowships awarded by the Graduate School include University Fellowships, Minority Fellowships, and Special University Fellowships. The Department awards the J. Ernest Carman Fellowship, the William J. McCaughey Fellowship, and a number of industry sponsored fellowships.

    To be considered for any of the financial aid programs, you should indicate your interest in financial aid on the application form.

  3. Post-Doctoral Research Associates

    University Post-Doctoral Fellowships are available each year on a competitive basis to support post-doctoral research activities. Post-doctoral research associateships may also be available from the geophysics faculty, research scientists, and their affiliated Centers (e.g., Byrd Polar Research Center, Center for Mapping) as a result of sponsored research programs. If you are interested in obtaining a post-doctoral research fellowship or an associateship in geophysics at Ohio State, you should contact Dr. von Frese immediately to maximize your potential for an award.