PhD Opportunity at University of Michigan Zhu Lab — Fall 2026 Admissions

[Kai Zhu]

Dear colleagues and prospective students,

I am pleased to announce that the Zhu Lab in the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan is accepting inquiries from prospective PhD students for Fall 2026 admission.

Our lab specializes in global change biology, integrating ecological modeling with field and remote sensing data, and leveraging environmental data science techniques, including machine learning and AI, to understand climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem dynamics.

SEAS offers rigorous and interdisciplinary doctoral training combining environmental science, policy, sustainability, and quantitative methods. The University of Michigan is a world-renowned institution located in vibrant Ann Arbor, Michigan—an excellent place for academic and personal growth.

If you are interested in joining the Zhu Lab and would like to explore research fit, please fill out this brief interest form: https://forms.gle/UNmfSZZRmmerRL319. This will help us understand your background and research goals. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a Zoom interview as the next step.

Please note that the official application for the PhD program is submitted through the Rackham Graduate School by the December 1, 2025 deadline. We welcome applications from all interested candidates, and those invited to interview will receive strong consideration for admission.

We look forward to hearing from you and hope you will consider joining our vibrant research community.

Regards,

Kai

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Kai Zhu, PhD

Associate Professor

School for Environment and Sustainability

University of Michigan

https://zhulab.seas.umich.edu