The Department of Geography, Geology, and Environment is committed to fostering a dynamic and engaging academic experience for students. Whether you're interested in hands-on research, gaining professional skills, or connecting with peers, we provide a wide range of opportunities to enhance your education and prepare you for the future.
Department Opportunities
Scholarships are merit-based, need-based, and non-need-based monetary awards. The award may range from paying a portion of your tuition to fully funding all costs linked to your college education. Scholarships are designed to reward, encourage, and assist students pursue academic excellence. Additional criteria, such as campus or community activities, volunteer work, work experience, and financial need are considered during the selection process.
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is hosting a 9-week summer USDA-NIFA REEU program that will enable new research and educational opportunities for students nationwide. We will encourage participants to compete for technical and policy-oriented positions in academia and government and to provide optimal experience and encouragement for those continuing to graduate school. We are especially interested in developing skills in participating students that will lead to employment and/or connections with the US Department of Agriculture, and other Governmental agencies. The specific objectives of this REEU program are to:
- Provide students with an enriching research and cultural experience under the guidance and mentorship of a core group of faculty with multi-disciplinary research expertise in urban natural resources management and urban agriculture.
- Increase the number of students pursuing advanced degrees in related fields, such as forestry, watershed analysis and hydrochemistry, ecohydrology, plant resources, biological and natural resources, and policy. Community college students are strongly encouraged to apply!
- Increase the number of students, including underrepresented students and those that do not have access to research opportunities, providing exposure/training in research and opportunities for these students to pursue graduate degrees or employment.
- Work on research projects about Climate Extremes including Drought, Flooding, Wildfire, and Heatwave Analysis using Remote Sensing Observations in Southern California.
- Closely mentored by Dr. Jingjing Li and Dr. Alireza Farahmand
- Undergraduate Students: $17,600/year includes academic stipend and summer internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- To be eligible, the undergraduate students should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and also have an active student status in Fall 2026 at Cal State LA or another university.
- Interested undergraduate students can apply for MS in Environmental Science to become graduate students to be eligible for the Graduate Students support. MS in Environmental Science Graduate Application deadline: March 15th, 2025
- Graduate Students: $24,000/year includes academic stipend and summer internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents with interests in climate change, data analysis and geospatial modeling
- Under-represented minorities, females, veterans, and students with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Contact: Dr. Jingjing Li [email protected] or Alireza Farahmand at [email protected]
The Department of Geography, Geology, and Environment implements a diverse range of research on environmental and urban issues in Los Angeles and beyond employing qualitative, quantitative, and spatial methods. If you are interested in working directly with a faculty member in their research lab, please check out faculty research profiles on our faculty page before contacting them directly.
If you are interested in applying to teach for the Department of Geosciences and Environment, please visit the NSS Employment Opportunties webpage for job postings.
We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:
- Part-Time/Temporary Lecturers
- Graduate Assistant
- Teaching Associate
The University Application for Academic Employment is required to for all available positions. Please submit a letter of application, curriculum vita, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation and the University’s Application for Academic employment form. Employment contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
Address applications, required documentation and/or requests for information to:
Dr. Edward Eivers, Professor and Department Chair
Department of Geography, Geology, and Environment
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
University Opportunities
#CaliforniansForAll College Corps is a statewide service and career development program that provides students with financial support and professional experience. Fellows are paired with community-based organizations that focus on pressing issues in K-12 education, climate action, and food insecurity in Los Angeles while also learning key skills that will advance their own academic and career success.
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program is the centerpiece of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s initiatives to increase diversity in the faculty ranks of institutions of higher learning. The program includes 48 member schools and consortia, including three South African universities and a consortium of historically black colleges and universities within the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) membership.
During the academic year, students will attend bi-weekly meetings that would support various aspects of the Fellows’ personal and professional development and would expand upon topics introduced during the CSU MMUF Consortium Summer Experience and Cal State LA Humanities Summer Scholars Program, including “applying to graduate school,” “effective public speaking,” “examining the grad school application process.” Bi-weekly meetings would also address the research project process. During the summer, students will participate in a consortium program with the five CSU MMUF campuses. This program will introduce new fellows to academic humanities and help them develop their research projects with the support of a faculty mentor.
The California Pre-Doctoral Program prepares CSU students who aspire to careers as future faculty to apply to and succeed in doctoral programs. Its mission is to ensure that students from all communities, especially those who have experienced educational or economic disadvantage, have clear pathways to research doctorates.
Centers
Cal State LA Career Center
The Cal State LA Career Center helps students explore potential careers, prepare to apply for those careers, and launch and build your career community.
Dreamers Resource Center
The Dreamers Resource Center supports undocumented students through programs and services to ensure their holistic development, addressing their academic, professional, emotional, and personal well-being.