Columbia University

Specifically, we are inviting exchange scholars to join the Anticipating Volcanic Eruptions in Real-Time (AVERT) project. At AVERT, we collaborate with observatories in Alaska (USGS), Costa Rica (OVSICORI) and Chile (SERNAGEOMIN) to collect data from a wide range of sensors at 4 laboratory volcanoes (Cleveland, Okmok, Poás and Villarrica). The overarching goal is to identify precursors to eruptions and to characterize eruptions and impacts once they occur. Scholars will have access to many types of data and collaborate with experts from multiple institutions. Fieldwork at Villarrica is currently planned for Jan-Feb 2026, and thus the scholar will have access to brand new data from that volcano.

The exchange scholar will be part of the the large Magmatism and Volcanoes group at LDEO, an engaging team where experts in multiple subdisciplines are represented and work in collaboration. Other areas of expertise that scholars are invited to collaborate on are numerical and analog laboratory modeling of eruption processes (particularly of lava flows), remote sensing and image analysis in volcanology, data science for volcanology, and petrology (including thermobarometry, volatile budgets, melt inclusion analysis, and crystal clocks). The scholar will be mentored by the PI through frequent meetings, and will participate in weekly Magma group meetings, geodynamics, geophysics, and geochemistry seminars.