Looking for a research project, PhD position, or postdoc?

I receive many inquiries from students interested in summer research, PhD positions, postdoctoral positions, and independent study opportunities. While I would love to respond to everyone individually, the volume makes this challenging. Below is information addressing the most common questions.

For prospective undergraduate students

UC Berkeley hosts undergraduate researchers through the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP), which is open to all Berkeley undergraduates and is a great way to get involved in research during the academic year or summer.

If positions are available in my group for undergraduate researchers, I will post announcements through URAP. If you don’t see an announcement, we likely do not have open positions at that time.

For prospective PhD students

Information about the UC Berkeley Astronomy graduate program is available on the department website.

Students are admitted to the graduate program as a whole, not to individual research groups. I am open to accepting new graduate students and will work with admitted students to develop their research interests.

If you are interested in working with my group, I recommend:

• Reviewing our recent publications and research to understand our scientific focus
• Indicating your interest in your personal statement during the application process
• Mentioning specific topics or techniques that appeal to you (e.g., resolved stellar populations, star formation histories, dwarf galaxies)

I will be happy to discuss specific research opportunities with admitted students to help you find the best fit within my group.

For prospective postdocs

There are several excellent ways to come to UC Berkeley as a postdoc:

Fellowships and Programs:

• Hubble Fellowship – Prestigious fellowship for outstanding postdoctoral researchers
• Miller Fellowships – UC Berkeley’s flagship postdoctoral fellowship program
• NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship – National Science Foundation postdoctoral support
• NASA Astrophysics postdoctoral fellowships – Various NASA-supported postdoctoral opportunities
• National fellowships with UC Berkeley as host – Including Heising-Simons, Brinson, and others

Direct collaboration: If you have secured or are applying for a national fellowship or other source of support and are interested in developing a research proposal to join my group as a postdoc, I’m happy to discuss:

• Potential research directions aligned with our group’s interests
• Funding strategies and fellowship opportunities

Feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss postdoctoral opportunities or collaborations.

Letters of recommendation

I receive many letter of recommendation requests each year, and I am happy to provide letters as my time allows. A few things help me write the best possible letter for you:

• Please give me at least four weeks of lead time. Thoughtful letters take time to prepare, and I may not be able to accommodate requests made on shorter notice.
• I write stronger letters for students I know well. The more familiar I am with your work—through research, coursework, or close mentoring—the more specific and compelling I can be on your behalf.
• Send me the details when you ask. Including your CV, a short note on what the letter is for and what you’d like me to emphasize, the list of recipients, deadlines, and submission instructions makes the process much smoother.