To offer a sense of the range of opportunities, leading faculty from a variety of fields have contributed statements about research interests and possibilities for collaboration. These statements are examples of how faculty research interests might overlap with climate systems engineering, and not an exhaustive list. Applicants may reach out to any UChicago faculty member about these or other topics, or to offer a different research issue involving any aspect of climate engineering.
Solar geoengineering, particularly stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), is being studied as a potential last resort to prevent global warming from exceeding critical climate tipping points. The feasibility, benefits, and risks of these methods depend largely on the physical and chemical properties of the injected aerosols. I am interested in working with a postdoctoral researcher to combine laboratory experiments and process modeling to provide physics-informed insights into three key areas of SAI: (1) evolution of aerosol size distribution and chemical composition for existing and new SAI methods; (2) impact of SAI aerosols on stratospheric ozone depletion; (3) impact of SAI aerosols on tropospheric aerosol-cloud interactions.
Mingyi Wang, Geophysical Sciences
Constraining climate engineering
Most climate engineering interventions involve solar (shortwave) radiation. Recent work has found satellite-era trends in solar radiation, primarily due to anthropogenic aerosol forcing, have contributed significantly to regional climate trends in heat waves and atmospheric circulation. These regional trends open pathways to understanding the mechanisms driving the climate systems response to solar radiation trends. The goal would be to use historical trends, the seasonal cycle, and process-level understanding to constrain the effectiveness of climate engineering interventions over land and ocean. This work would integrate with a broader group effort to use historical trends and process-level understanding to test the fidelity of climate change predictions from comprehensive climate models.
Tiffany Shaw, Geophysical Sciences
Solar radiation management (SRM) may impact both shortwave and longwave radiation in the atmosphere, potentially influencing the development of convective clouds, their spatial organization, and the intensity of the hydrological cycle. I am interested in understanding these cloud responses to SRM by combining theory with a hierarchy of climate models, including cloud-resolving models and general circulation models. Applications are welcome from postdoctoral researchers who could contribute to research in my group and to our efforts in understanding the response of clouds and atmospheric circulations to SRM.
Da Yang, Geophysical Sciences
I am broadly interested in combining climate theory, simulation, and observation with recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the understanding and prediction of the large-scale circulation and extreme weather events’ responses to climate engineering solutions. A particular focus is on building upon the groundbreaking success of AI weather forecast models, to which our group has contributed, to develop AI climate-engineering “foundation models” and emulators; e.g., to reduce the uncertainties of the response to solar radiation management. Our work is interdisciplinary and involves close collaborations with experts in CSEi, AI for Climate Initiative (AICE), and AI+Science Initiative at UChicago.
Pedram Hassanzadeh, Geophysical Sciences
Applicants would be able to work with Eyal Frank, who works on the economics of biodiversity and conservation. For example, fellows might work on projects that examine the role of nature-based solutions in increasing carbon sequestering in ecosystems through enhancing biodiversity, restoring coastal kelp forests, re-introductions of species, or how the presence of keystone species either mitigates wildfires or accelerates forest recovery. In addition, fellows could work on projects that assess new agricultural technologies that promote CO2 removal while providing biodiversity co-benefits. A defining feature of each such project is the combination of natural sciences with causal inference methods.
Eyal Frank, Harris School of Public Policy
“Engineering” the Weather: Evidence from Cloud Seeding in China
For thousands of years, humans have always aspired to modify weather, ranging from religious rituals in ancient societies to solar geoengineering research today. However, there has rarely been systematic studies on the socio-economic impacts of such efforts. This project aims to bring an important data point to this conversation by investigating the consequences of cloud seeding operations in China. Specifically, in the 21st century, China has become the country that engages most extensively in weather modification through cloud seeding, accounting for the vast majority of such events worldwide, and also actively exporting this technology to other developing countries. China’s commitment to cloud seeding has sparked heated debates among both scientists and policy makers, regarding the technology’s effectiveness in generating rainfall, as well as its broader environmental, economic, and political implications. In this project, we combine administrative data on more than 40,000 cloud seeding operations in China with rich socio-economic datasets and attempt to provide the first rigorous empirical evidence on the multifaceted consequences of cloud seeding.
Shaoda Wang, Harris School of Public Policy
I’m working on projects evaluating corporate sustainability reports using NLP analysis (how concrete is the evidence in these reports? Does evidence quality improve when voluntary standards are adopted?), social psychology-style experiments on regulatory mechanism design (e.g., do market-based instruments reduce the moral stigma of pollution?), and qualitative projects evaluating debt-for-nature swaps, among others. I am in legal academia so my primary interest is improving regulation (which I define broadly to go beyond formal governmental regulation and so include things like social norms, ESG / private governance).
Hajin Kim, Law School
I would be delighted to mentor early career social scientists developing critical perspectives on (a) the political economies and geopolitics of environmental governance (whether at planetary, international, national or local scales); (b) the socioenvironmental dimensions of large-scale infrastructure projects (including explicit strategies to modify ecosystems and/or the biosphere, as well as forms of urbanization, agrarian change, energy production, water/waste management, and so forth); and (b) the politics of environmental knowledge (including in relation to historical and contemporary environmental crises and struggles for environmental justice).
Neil Brenner, Sociology
Uncertainty and Credible Climate Change Policy evaluation
Assessing alternative courses of action for climate change using quantitative models requires credible inputs. These include potential nonlinearities in the climate system, possible interactions with biodiversity, plausible impacts on future economic opportunities, and the productive roles for new technologies to offset the adverse effect of climate change. Each of these inputs is accompanied by fundamental uncertainties, some of which are challenging to quantify. We will explore how these channels of uncertainty should impact the design of prudent policy. We seek scientific and/or computational expertise that can complement our current proficiency on the impact of uncertainty on markets and policy.
Lars Hansen, Economics
Refining models of nuclear winter
We propose revisiting some of the physical assumptions in models of nuclear winter, with a focus on long-term climate projections. For example, we will study the properties of soot aerosols generated by firestorms resulting from the use of nuclear weapons. A refined understanding of fuel load will result in improved estimates for the relationship between the number/yield of weapons and the severity of the resulting nuclear winter. Projects might include modeling the effects of aerosols in the stratosphere, investigating the fuel-dependence of specific soot aerosols, and incorporating improved descriptions into nuclear winter-specific model estimates.
Daniel Holz, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Physics
I would be glad to mentor early career scholars working on the history of weather modification and other attempts at geophysical intervention, the history of Earth System science and Anthropocene thought, or the historical role of the global South in global environmental governance. My own research focuses on the history of energy and infrastructure in India since 1900 and seeks to trace the distinctive dynamics underlying the latest, Asian-centric phase of the Great Acceleration in human impacts on the planet. I have side interests in the historical development of the earth sciences and the history of international climate negotiations.
Elizabeth Chatterjee, History
Applicants interested in the intersection of climate change and human health may apply to work with Dr. Kate Burrows in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Dr. Burrows conducts mixed-methods research on various climate-related exposures (e.g. hurricanes, wildfires, flooding). New and ongoing projects that could support postdocs include: quantifying impacts of disasters on cause-specific morbidity across the country; investigating extreme heat effects on mental health and identifying interventions; and assessing how urban policies affect emissions and health through agent-based models. Postdocs could apply these research methods to evaluate the health implications (risks and benefits) of proposed climate engineering strategies. Much of this work emphasizes health equity—researchers interested in climate justice or social determinants of health are especially welcome.
Kate Burrows, Public Health Sciences
Climate solutions in global urban environments through high-precision remote sensing.
This project builds on the development of a detailed worldwide geospatial infrastructure for localized sustainable development and climate change mitigation. It includes developing detailed strategies for infrastructure delivery in cities to mitigate climate risks (heat exposure, flooding, landslides). It includes studies of temperature dynamics versus (designed) characteristics of built environments including vegetation and cooling zones. Desirable skills include the capability to use large-scale spatial data, familiarity with remote sensing of build environments, vegetation, climate indicators, and strong analytical skills and knowledge of complex systems.
Luis Bettencourt, Ecology & Evolution
For destruction, ice would suffice
The ultimate risk of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) is that it might trigger a snowball Earth (global glaciation). We will use a combination of machine learning and a coupled ocean-atmosphere global climate model to calculate the optimal pattern of deployment of stratospheric aerosols spatially and temporally in order to cause global glaciation as quickly as possible. The sort of result we hope to obtain is whether forcing concentrated over oceans is most efficient for this purpose, or tropical regions, or over ocean right at the ice-ocean boundary, etc. Additionally, we want to determine whether early or late forcing is most efficient. If early, this would be particularly worrisome because it makes it more likely that you could accidentally push Earth into a snowball by too aggressively pursuing SRM. In addition to the typical consideration of atmospheric, particularly stratospheric, dynamics and circulation required for SRM projects, the response of ocean circulation to this SRM will be critical for this project. Our results will be directly relevant to recent proposals that stratospheric aerosols delivered by volcanic eruptions associated with large igneous provinces or a large asteroid impact caused some or all of the Snowballs in Earth’s history.
Dorian S. Abbot, Geophysical Sciences
Understanding the possibilities for a green Mars: can we understand enough about climate and ecosystems to build them elsewhere?
Recent breakthroughs in climate science, synthetic biology, and space exploration have reignited interest in Mars terraforming, “the ultimate sustainability challenge”. For example, my team has demonstrated that engineered aerosols can warm Mars >5,000× more effectively than the previous state-of-the-art (Ansari et al., Science Advances, 2024). This and other advances present a unique opportunity for postdoctoral researchers interested in addressing fundamental questions about climate and ecosystem engineering on a planetary scale.
Edwin Kite, Geophysical Sciences
This project interprets weather engineering as the small-scale version of climate systems engineering. I have been learning about tornadoes for several years and would like to help a postdoc become the next Ted Fujita. Defusing or disrupting tornadoes has captivated astrophysicists like myself, well ahead of the protagonist in Twisters. Our research program would learn whether cloud seeding and other strategies can be deployed to save life and property from extreme weather. Technological development would start at simulations and perhaps end in field testing. Judging any intervention’s efficacy will push tornado prediction and experimental design to their limits.
Daniel Fabrycky, Astronomy and Astrophysics
Real-time Sensors to Evaluate Impacts of Climate Systems Engineering Technologies
Climate systems engineering technologies may impact air and water quality. Our research centers around real-time chemical and biological sensors to evaluate impacts of climate systems engineering technologies on air and water quality. Leveraging the world-class facilities at both UChicago and Argonne National Laboratory, we are actively exploring the discovery and molecular engineering of novel field-effect transistor (FET) sensing platforms using two-dimensional nanomaterials as a channel material for detection of various air pollutants (e.g., CO2, CH4, SO2, NO2, volatile organic compounds/VOCs) and water contaminants (e.g., metal ions, nutrients, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances/PFAS).
Junhong Chen, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
To mitigate glacial melting, it is crucial to identify the characteristics of ice that influence its susceptibility to melting and disintegration. I would be interested in using seismological tools to investigate two key aspects: (1) the processes of ice failure and deformation, and (2) the internal and surrounding structures of glaciers. This work will likely involve collaborations with Professors Douglas MacAyeal and/or Meghana Ranganathan. I would also be interested in examining other critical surficial processes related to climate change and engineering, including monitoring subsurface carbon fluxes and spatiotemporal evolution of permafrost distribution.
Sunyoung Park, Geophysical Sciences
With a CSEi Postdoctoral Researcher, I would be excited to investigate how climate system uncertainty influences climate engineering policy and economics. This could incorporate Earth system models, emulators, energy balance models, and integrated assessment. For example, we might: Estimate and compare climate engineering strategies’ cost: benefit ratios and identify optimal mixtures of strategies given some constraints. Design and evaluate “stopgap” solar geoengineering policy scenarios explicitly tied to emissions reductions. Improve idealized models’ representation of climate system uncertainties, biases, or observational constraints. Separately, I’m excited about assessing plankton responses to climate engineering – especially marine CDR – through modeling or participating in field trials.
B.B. Cael, Geophysical Sciences
Microbial metabolism significantly influences greenhouse gas fluxes across environments like soils, wastewater, and the cow rumen. Engineering microbiomes to reduce emissions or enhance uptake of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O offers a powerful solution to climate challenges. However, the complexity of natural microbiomes has thus far rendered engineering their metabolism intractable. At the Kuehn lab, we are pioneering a physics-inspired approach to microbiome engineering, using high-throughput quantitative methods, advanced machine learning, and modeling to predict and design microbiomes for climate solutions. Postdocs interested in experimental or theoretical microbiome design to address climate impacts in various environments are encouraged to connect with us.
Seppe Kuehn, Ecology & Evolution
As the ocean absorbs excess CO2, it acidifies– and marine creatures and ecosystems suffer. Scientists have invented promising interventions to reverse ocean acidification. We seek a researcher to explore the biological impacts of geoengineering solutions, such as the introduction of alkaline materials, on growth, metabolism, reproduction, and survival of calcifying organisms like corals and bivalves. A postdoc could conduct lab experiments to investigate how different de-acidifying strategies affect marine life. We especially encourage applications from candidates eager to work at the Palau International Coral Reef Center, Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole, MA, and/or Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
Dakota McCoy, Ecology & Evolution and the Marine Biological Laboratory
To reduce the risk of catastrophic glacial melt arising from marine ice sheet instability it has been suggested to artificially block pathways of warm water towards the Antarctic ice sheet margins. To better evaluate both the inherent risk caused by global warming as well as the potential and risks of engineering interventions, it is critical to better understand the role of sea floor topography (both natural and artificial) in governing the exchange of heat between the Southern Ocean and the ice sheet margins. The problem can be addressed using a combination of geophysical fluid dynamics theory and numerical simulations.
Malte Jansen, Geophysical Sciences
We explore the interplay between ocean biogeochemistry and elevated CO2 levels to understand how interconnected processes may be impacted by OA and by geoengineering approaches designed to mediate the effects of elevated CO2. Uncovering underappreciated impacts of OA may suggest new geoengineering approaches to global change. The postdoc would lean on 2+ decades of physical, chemical and biological data from a long-term research site in the Eastern Pacific, including pH decline, alkalinity dynamics, biological dynamics of species impacting the oceanic carbon cycle (kelp beds; calcifying species; microbiomes), and recently-discovered impacts of OA on the silica cycle and its diatom dependents.
Tim Wootton & Cathy Pfister, Ecology & Evolution
In North American forests, fire suppression has been replaced by controlled burns to reduce the risk of superfires. This change may improve the capacity of forests to serve as carbon sinks, acting as a kind of climate engineering, but forest trees are embedded in a web of interactions with other species, including insects that increase fire risk by killing trees, and pathogens that reduce fire risk by killing insects. The Dwyer Lab uses empirically based models to understand how ecological webs will interact with fire policy to determine the usefulness of controlled burns as a form of climate engineering.
Greg Dwyer, Ecology & Evolution
Geoengineering Ethics
Proposals to intentionally engineer the climate to mitigate climate change may be viewed as responses to an ethical impulse to act to avoid the harms of anthropogenic climate change. Yet such proposals also raise many ethical questions including but not limited to justice, responsibility, and the limits of human knowledge and power. I am interested in mentoring an early career scholar interested in developing the field of geoengineering ethics particularly if that scholar is interested in interdisciplinary collaboration with the sciences as well as ethical analyses regarding particular techniques of climate engineering and/or policy regimes, and/or cultural contexts.
Sarah Fredericks, Divinity School
This research proposal investigates the impacts of geoengineering governance between (1) states and (2) countries. The typical climate change collective action problem is that if only one actor invests in climate solutions, the net effect would be minimal (e.g., if only one country stopped emitting CO2, global warming would continue because other countries would still be emitting CO2). Geoengineering presents an inverted problem, where one actor’s actions will likely impact other actors whether the other actors consent or not (e.g., one country injecting particles into clouds to cool the earth may have unforeseen consequences in other countries). In that sense, geoengineering presents a torts problem that is closer to classic transboundary pollution issues than the collective action climate problem. As geoengineering science develops, there is a need to understand how to regulate the industry given the tort-like nature of its impacts.
Research Ideas:
1. How are states regulating geoengineering?
- Part 1: Collect data on all state-level regulations on geoengineering.
- Part 2: Analyze where these regulations are the result of scientific consensus or political reactions? (Tennessee proposal to ban climate modification inspired by chemtrails conspiracy theories)
- Part 3: Analyze the impacts of these regulations. If possible, draw on existing tort law and federalism conflicts to inform this analysis.
2. How are countries regulating geoengineering?
- Part 1: Collect data on country-level regulations on geoengineering.
- Part 2: Collect data on international efforts to understand geoengineering and create regulations. (e.g., UN Reports)
- Part 3: Compare and contrast potential geoengineering global governance (which likely take the form of ex post transboundary pollution remedies) to current climate change global governance (which take the form of ex ante commitments to stay below certain CO2 levels).
Mark Templeton, Law School
We use museum collections coupled with ongoing fieldwork based at the Field Museum to monitor change over time in birds and mammals across elevational gradients in tropical and temperate mountains (Andes and Hengduan) as climates change. We oversee some of the largest and most globally comprehensive collections of these groups in the world. A postdoc working with us would have access to these collections and their digitized data to ask questions about climate engineering effects on birds and mammals using genomic and phenotypic approaches to understand evolution in these groups and the ecosystem services they provide as climates change and are altered.
John Bates & Anderson Feijó, Committee on Evolutionary Biology