GEOPH-PHD - Geophysics (PhD)

Geophysics is a hybrid discipline uniquely devoted to applying physical principles and methods to the study of the complex systems (processes and properties) of Earth and other planets. The undergraduate and graduate programs are designed to provide a background of fundamentals in science, and courses to coordinate these fundamentals with the principles of geophysics. Graduate programs provide specialized training and lead to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. University requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. are described in the Graduate Degrees section of this bulletin.The Department of Geophysics is housed in the Ruth Wattis Mitchell Earth Sciences Building. It has numerous research facilities, among which are a state-of-the-art broadband seismic recording station, high pressure and temperature rock properties and rock deformation laboratories, various instruments for field measurements including seismic recorders, nine dual frequency GPS receivers, and field equipment for measuring in-situ stress at great depth. Current research activities include crustal deformation, earthquake seismology and earthquake mechanics, reflection, refraction, and tomographic seismology, rock mechanics, rock physics, seismic studies of the continental lithosphere, remote sensing, environmental geophysics, and synthetic aperture radar studies.

An incoming student with a relevant Master of Science degree may apply for up to 12 units of residency credit that will count towards the 135 units of graduate study. The transfer credit cannot be used to waive course requirements or the breadth requirement.

The Department of Geophysics is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the Graduate Advising section of this bulletin.

Minimum Advising Expectations for the Department of Geophysics

1. Each adviser meets with each advisee in Autumn or Winter quarter, beginning in the advisee’s first year, to develop/update a document entitled "the expectations agreement” that records the agreed upon approach to the following for each individual advisee:

• Courses: the process and responsibility for selecting courses

• Thesis topic: the process and responsibility for selecting the topic

• Members of advising committee: the process and responsibility for selection

• Meetings of advisor and advisee: structure and frequency

• Conducting the research: the level of independence and progress expected, the involvement of the adviser (level of participation, nature of oversight), involvement of other collaborators (both inside and outside of research group)

• Thesis content, including expectations with respect to publications

• Writing of publications: style of interaction, policy on co-authorship, publication costs

• Conference travel/presentations: who attends/presents, frequency, financial support

• Funding (stipend, tuition, research costs): source, responsibilities, requirements for ongoing support

• In-the-office hours

• Vacations and other absences

• Expectations for Summer Quarter

• Preparing for career interests, plans after Stanford

The document, signed by both the adviser and advisee, is submitted to the Assistant Director of Student Services. If the adviser-advisee discussion would benefit from the involvement of an additional person, either the adviser or advisee can request the presence of a faculty or staff member of the school.

The expectations agreement is reviewed by the Assistant Director of Student Services and the Director of Graduate Studies, with follow-up as needed.

If there is change in adviser, the expectations agreement must be completed with the new adviser within the first quarter after the change.

2. A one-hour annual review, focused on academic progress, is held every year; in the first year this is deferred to Autumn of the second year. This meeting includes the advisee, the adviser, and at least two other faculty. Time is designated in every annual review to review the expectations agreement, circulated in advance to all those in attendance at the review.

At any time, a student with questions or concerns can approach any one of the following individuals in the school:

• Other faculty members of advisory committee

• Assistant Director of Student Services in their home department (Rachael Madison in Geophysics) or program

• Director of Graduate Studies in their home department or another department

• Associate Chair for Diversity and Inclusion

• Department Chair

• Alyssa Ferree, Assistant Dean of Student Services

• Jenny Saltzman, Associate Dean for Educational Affairs

• Sue Crutcher, Associate Dean for Human Resources and Faculty Affairs

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the Graduate Advising section of this bulletin.

Advising of Ph.D Students

Faculty Advisor [Defined by the Geophysics Department]

When students are admitted to the Geophysics Ph.D. program they are assigned a Faculty Advisor. This Faculty Advisor carries out the responsibilities described in the Graduate Academic Policy and Procedures (GAP) handbook of the person referred to as principal dissertation advisor, thesis advisor or research advisor. The Faculty Advisor is also responsible for other aspects of mentoring the student during their time at Stanford, including monitoring academic progress. This Faculty Advisor is a member of the Academic Council with a primary or joint appointment in the Geophysics Department; this does not therefore include Courtesy or Adjunct faculty. Faculty who have recently become emeritus and have been recalled to active duty may serve as Faculty Advisor, even though they are no longer current members of the Academic Council. 

More information about the role of the faculty advisor and the university academic advising policies can be found on the GAP handbook: https://gap.stanford.edu/handbooks/gap-handbook/chapter-3/subchapter-3/page-3-3-1. 

In the exceptional case where permission is granted by the Chair for a student to have a Faculty Advisor that is outside the Geophysics department, it is recommended (but not required) that the student have a co-advisor that is within the Geophysics department. 

The Geophysics department requires each student to meet annually with their Faculty Advisor and if applicable, their co-advisor, to review an advising expectations agreement which established guidelines for many aspects of the advisor-advisee relationship.  

To review the minimum advising expectations for the Geophysics department, please see the Geophysics Overview website here: https://bulletin.stanford.edu/departments/GEOPHYSICS/overview#graduateadvisingtext

If a student wishes to change Faculty Advisors at any time in their program they should speak to the Assistant Director of Students Services and Director of Graduate Studies. 

Advising Committee [Defined by the Geophysics Department]

The Geophysics department requires each Ph.D. student to have an Advising Committee which is formed by the student and advisor upon formal acceptance into a research group. The Advising Committee provides additional support and expertise for the Ph.D. student as they conduct their dissertation research.

The Advising Committee includes the Faculty Advisor and (if relevant) the co-Advisor plus at least two other Stanford faculty members (members of the Stanford Academic Council). The Advising Committee can also include a committee member (from inside or outside of Stanford) that contributes to an area of expertise that is not readily available from the faculty and holds a PhD or equivalent foreign degree. The majority on the Advising Committee must be Geophysics faculty (i.e. two Geophysics faculty on a committee of three, three Geophysics faculty on a committee of four or five, etc.). “Geophysics faculty” are members of the Academic Council with a primary or joint appointment in the Geophysics Department, so this does not include Courtesy or Adjunct faculty. If a faculty member on an Advising Committee is on sabbatical or on leave, they will have either agreed to continue serving in an advisory capacity or will have made an alternate arrangement. Students should discuss this with the faculty member and can consult with their Faculty Advisor or the Director of Graduate Studies.

The Geophysics department requires each student to meet at least annually, after their first year, with their Advising Committee. The Advising Committee oversees the Qualifying Exam. 

Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee [modified from the GAP Handbook]

The doctoral dissertation reading committee consists of the Faculty Advisor and, typically, two other readers. The doctoral dissertation reading committee must have three members and may not have more than five members. At least one member must be from the student’s degree program. Normally, all committee members are members of the Stanford University Academic Council or are emeritus Academic Council members; the Faculty Advisor must be an Academic Council member. Professors who have recently become emeritus and have been recalled to active duty may serve as Faculty Advisor, though they are no longer current members of the Academic Council. The student's department chair or faculty director of graduate studies, according to local policy, may, in some cases, approve the appointment of a reader who is not a current or emeritus member of the Academic Council, if that person is particularly well qualified to consult on the dissertation topic and holds a PhD or equivalent foreign degree, via the Petition for Non-Academic Council Doctoral Committee Members. More information about the doctoral dissertation reading committee can be found in the GAP handbook: https://gap.stanford.edu/handbooks/gap-handbook/chapter-4/subchapter-8/page-4-8-1

University Oral Exam Committee [taken from the GAP Handbook] 

The University Oral Examination Committee consists of at least five Stanford faculty members: four examiners and the committee chair from another department. The chair of a Stanford oral examination is appointed for this examination only, to represent the interests of the university for a fair and rigorous process as described above. In order to maintain impartiality, the orals chair may not simultaneously serve on the student's dissertation reading committee. A Petition for Non-Academic Council Doctoral Committee Members for appointment of an examining committee member who is neither a current or emeritus member of the Academic Council may be approved by the chair of the department or by the faculty director of graduate studies, according to local policy, if that committee member contributes an area of expertise that is not readily available from the faculty and holds a PhD or equivalent foreign degree. More information about the University Oral exam committee can be found in the GAP handbook: https://gap.stanford.edu/handbooks/gap-handbook/chapter-4/subchapter-7/page-4-7-1

The objective of the graduate program in Geophysics is to prepare students to be leaders in geophysics, in academia, in government, in the private sector, in non-profit and other organizations, through completion of fundamental courses in their major field and related sciences, as well as through independent research. Students are expected to:

1. apply skills developed in fundamental courses to geophysical problems.

2. research, analyze, and synthesize solutions to an original and contemporary geophysics problem.

3. work independently and as part of a team to develop and improve geophysics solutions.

4. apply written, visual, and oral presentation skills to communicate scientific knowledge.

5. master’s students are expected to develop an in-depth technical understanding of geophysics problems at an advanced level.

6. doctoral students are expected to complete a scientific investigation that is significant, challenging and original.