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

I get emails almost every day from students looking for summer research projects, PhD positions, postdoc positions, guided independent study, etc. I usually cannot respond to these questions individually - I wish I could, but I already spend too much time writing emails! Below is some information in response to the most common questions I receive.

For prospective summer students

Every summer, Caltech hosts several hundred undergraduates -- including both Caltech students and students from other universities -- through the SURF program. Applications are usually due in February. If I or students and postdocs in my group are able to host SURF students in a given year, we will post an announcement of opportunity on the SURF page. If you don't see anything posted, we do not currently have positions available.

For prospective PhD students

Information about the Caltech graduate program is available here. In general, students are admitted to the program as a whole, not to any individual faculty member's group. I am open to the possibility of taking on a new student in the cohort that will enroll in Fall 2026. If you would like to work with my group, please review some of our recent work and indicate your interest in your personal statement. I will be happy to discuss specific opportunities if you are admitted to the program.

For prospective postdocs

Here are the best ways to come to Caltech as a postdoc: For theory-oriented people: Burke Fellowship.
For instrumentation-oriented people: EXP Fellowship.
For survey-oriented people: Time-Domain Fellowship.
For observation-oriented people: Carnegie-Caltech Brinson Fellowship (not offered in 2025-2026).
For anyone: apply to a national fellowship (e.g. NHFP, NSF, 51 Peg, etc.) with Caltech as your host institute. If you are interested in this and would collaborate with me as a postdoc, I'm happy to chat as you develop your proposal.