We’re always looking for talented, inquisitive students to join our research group. If you’re interested in working with us, here’s some basic information about the process. (For more about what we do, visit Our Team and About Our Work.)
Graduate students
Prof. Alex Hall typically advises students in the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS) PhD program. You can learn more about the program here and the application requirements here. The application deadline is usually December 10 for enrollment the following Fall quarter (check the application info page to confirm), and applicants are usually notified of acceptance in February.
If you’re interested in working with us through the AOS PhD program, the first step is to apply. Once you’re admitted, it’s a good time to reach out to Alex to indicate your interest in working with him. For domestic students, the AOS Department typically organizes a campus visit in the spring, and that’s an opportunity to meet with Alex one-on-one. If you are an international student or otherwise can’t attend the visit, you can contact Alex to inquire about a phone or online meeting.
Occasionally, Alex advises students in the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability PhD program. This is a unique multidisciplinary program wherein students design a research project with two co-advisors from distinct areas of study. Students inquiring about working with Alex via this program should already have a co-advisor and a project idea in mind. At this time, the interdisciplinary topics of greatest interest to our group include climate change impacts on precipitation extremes, water resources, and fire, and successful students typically have strong skills in Python or another programming language, have some experience with advanced statistical analysis techniques, and can easily learn how to run a climate model or analyze climate model outputs.
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students interested in our group’s work should strongly consider UCLA’s new Climate Science major. Alex typically teaches the entry class, AOS 51: Fundamentals of Climate Science, and the major is an excellent foundation for a PhD in climate science or a career in climate adaptation, policy, or advocacy.
Occasionally, our group has the opportunity to host an undergraduate research intern. As such opportunities arise, they’ll be posted on our site. In general, undergraduate researchers are most successful if they have a working knowledge of Python or another programming language, or some experience with statistical analysis.