Departmental Unit № 1
Department of Geography
PhD in Geography
100% Full Funding Guaranteed (5 Years)
Funding Package: Guaranteed 5-year full funding package (full tuition waiver + ~$36,000–$40,000/yr stipend + UC SHIP health insurance) via Teaching Assistantships (TA) and Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) appointments.
Fall Priority Deadline: December 1
GRE Policy: Not required / Waived
English Minimums: TOEFL iBT 87 minimum or IELTS 7.0 minimum
MA in Geography (En route to PhD)
Funded on PhD Track
Funding Reality: UCLA Geography admits applicants directly to the funded PhD track, awarding the MA en route.
Application Deadline: December 1
Admissions Advisory: If full funding is required and MS is self-funded, students are strongly advised to apply directly to the PhD track.
Vetted Matched Scholars (2 Profiles)
Prof. Dennis P. Lettenmaier
Distinguished Professor of Geography and Civil & Environmental Engineering
In Plain Terms · What This Scholar Does:
One of the most famous hydrologists in history; he built the computer models used by governments worldwide to predict river flows, floods, and reservoir water levels using NASA satellites.
Core Research Topics: Continental hydrology, satellite remote sensing of water resources, SWAT & VIC macroscale hydrologic models, NASA SWOT satellite mission, flood forecasting.
Recent 2024–2026 Works & Grants: Legendary figure in hydrological science; created the widely used VIC (Variable Infiltration Capacity) hydrologic model. Recent 2026 papers: 'Monitoring Reservoir Storage Using SWOT Satellite Observations' (Water Resources Research, March 2026) and 'Model Calibration and Data Assimilation for the National Water Model' (Journal of Hydrometeorology, 2026).
Laboratory Instruments & Methods: NASA SWOT satellite altimetry, VIC macroscale hydrologic model, NOAA National Water Model, Python/Fortran, GIS spatial hydrological grids.
Recruiting Context: Actively mentors graduate students in satellite hydrology and macroscale water resources modeling.
Candidate Match:
HydrologyRemote SensingGISFlood ModelingGeography
Tailored Cold-Email Opening Hook:
"Citing his March 2026 Water Resources Research paper on reservoir storage tracking with NASA SWOT satellite data, connecting your GIS, remote sensing, and hydrological modeling coursework."
Prof. Gregory S. Okin
Professor of Geography and Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
In Plain Terms · What This Scholar Does:
He uses space station cameras and drones to study dry deserts and farmlands, showing how soil erosion and droughts strip away fertile topsoil and spark massive dust storms.
Core Research Topics: Arid land geography, remote sensing of drylands, wind and water soil erosion, desertification, spatial landscape dynamics, imaging spectroscopy.
Recent 2024–2026 Works & Grants: Investigates desertification and land degradation across drylands globally using satellite imaging spectroscopy (NASA EMIT mission on the International Space Station) and UAV drone surveys to map soil erosion and dust transport.
Laboratory Instruments & Methods: Hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy, Google Earth Engine, UAV drone photogrammetry, sediment traps, GIS spatial statistics.
Recruiting Context: Direct fit for students with BSc in Geography and Environmental Science with GIS and remote sensing skills.
Candidate Match:
GeographyRemote SensingGISSoil AnalysisEnvironmental Science
Tailored Cold-Email Opening Hook:
"Highlighting your background in physical geography, remote sensing, and soil analysis, referencing his imaging spectroscopy work on soil degradation."
Departmental Unit № 2
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering
100% Full Funding Guaranteed (5 Years)
Funding Package: Tuition remission + stipend (~$37,000/yr) + health insurance covered via GSR/TA appointments.
Fall Priority Deadline: December 15
GRE Policy: Not required
English Minimums: TOEFL iBT 87 or IELTS 7.0
MS in Environmental Engineering
GSR Eligible for Thesis Track
Funding Reality: Thesis MS students can receive funding if hired by a faculty grant.
Application Deadline: December 15
Admissions Advisory: If full funding is required and MS is self-funded, students are strongly advised to apply directly to the PhD track.
Vetted Matched Scholars (1 Profiles)
Prof. Sanjay Mohanty
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
In Plain Terms · What This Scholar Does:
He invents natural soil and biochar filters that clean dirty urban floodwaters, trapping toxic road pollutants, microplastics, and heavy metals before they poison city drinking water.
Core Research Topics: Subsurface contaminant hydrology, green stormwater infrastructure, biochar filtration of urban pollutants, PFAS & microplastic water treatment.
Recent 2024–2026 Works & Grants: Directs Subsurface Environmental Processes Lab. Designs biofilters and natural soil-sponge systems to capture urban stormwater runoff, filtering toxic road runoff chemicals, microplastics, and heavy metals before they reach groundwater.
Laboratory Instruments & Methods: Soil column flow experiments, mass spectrometry, water quality testing, hydraulic conductivity measurements, GIS urban catchment mapping.
Recruiting Context: Well-funded laboratory with high interest in students with water testing and environmental pollution analysis experience.
Candidate Match:
Environmental PollutionWater QualityHydrologyLab Water Testing
Tailored Cold-Email Opening Hook:
"Connecting your wet-lab environmental testing experience and interest in urban hydrology with his research on green stormwater biofilters and contaminant removal."