PhD in Atmospheric Policy
DescriptionAPT Program DescriptionThe Laboratory for Atmospheric Research (LAR) at Washington State University is implementing a new approach to graduate student education and research training by coupling education and research training with a science and policy internship and classes that offer students a unique opportunity that is significantly enhanced compared to the usual research dissertation experience. Graduates of this program will have:
The Components of the program include the following:
|
Requirements for APT students are consistent with the requirements for a PhD within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (view requirements). For APT students with significant engineering deficiencies, an Engineering Science PhD degree is possible (more). Please contact us for more information and to discuss this option. |
Seminar Series with invited Policy Experts
The Policy seminar series will consist of speakers from across the nation who are experts within the environmental policy community. The speakers will be invited to give a talk on policy relevant topics to the entire WSU campus community through the WSU Center for Environmental Research, Education, and Outreach (CEREO). In addition, the speakers will provide a workshop specifically for the APT students in order to allow direct interaction between the speaker and students. During the workshop, the speaker will discuss in detail both their specific expertise and topics of broader interest to the scientific and policy communities, including topics related to career development for young scientists and engineers. The goal of the seminar series is to ensure that APT students are exposed to and continue to consider the policy implications of their research throughout their course of study. |
Environmental Policy Analysis Graduate Courses
APT students will be required to enroll in two environmental policy courses, in addition to the
required engineering course load. The first course (System Dynamics Models of Environmental Systems,
taught by Dr. Andy Ford) is designed to develop understanding and proficiency in the use of computer
simulation models to understand the dynamic behavior of environmental systems. Systems concepts (such as
information feedback and homeostasis) are useful in wide variety of fields including hydrology, ecology,
anthropology, economics, engineering, business, planning, physiology, sociology, etc. Case studies from
many of these fields will demonstrate the value of interdisciplinary models, models that reach across
disciplinary boundaries to simulate the key feedbacks in the system. This course will help build the
foundation for the second environmental policy course and the subsequent policy internship. |
Early Career Travel Opportunities
The opportunity to travel to conferences and develop collegial relationships with the professional community is a key motivator for early career graduate students, one that helps them discover where their work fits within the greater context of environmental science and policy. Attending conferences is also an important experiential component of graduate education where communication skills and networking skills are developed. APT students will have the opportunity to attend one scientific conference per year during their tenure as a graduate student. |
Student Policy based Internship Opportunity
The internship will be the key capstone experience for APT students. Senior level APT students committed to making quantitative environmental policy analysis a focus of their professional career, will have the financial support to participate in a policy internship opportunity with either a government agency, a nonprofit organization, or a company of their choice. Internships will last approximately four months, during which time APT students will devote their entire effort toward the completion of a policy-themed project under the mentorship of their chosen organization. The results of the project will be included as a chapter in their dissertation. Topical areas that are prime for internship opportunities are those where atmospheric chemistry affects issues of primary concern: energy, public lands biomass burning, the built environment, human health, the natural environment, and climate change. Examples of policy internships include national and regional offices of the EPA and USDA Forest Service, state environmental agencies, national industrial policy and/or trade groups, and corporations, among others. |
Contact Us
Request for more information
If you have any questions regarding the program or would like to learn more, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Contact Information:
Dr. Brian Lamb – Director of the APT program
(509) 335-5702
Email: blamb@wsu.edu
Website: https://www.ce.wsu.edu/Faculty_Staff/Profiles/lamb.htm
Dr. Shelley Pressley – Recruitment for Graduate studies and the APT program
(509) 335-5443
Email: spressley@wsu.edu
Website: https://www.ce.wsu.edu/Faculty_Staff/Profiles/pressley.htm
Application Procedure
How to Apply
Application requirements and procedures for this program are identical to the requirements for application to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (visit website).
Please indicate within your statement of purpose why you are interested in the Atmospheric Policy Trajectory program.
For applicants with deficiencies for the engineering graduate program, there is an "Engineering Science" option available. Please contact Drs. Shelley Pressley or Brian Lamb with any questions you may have.
Faculty
Participating Faculty
![]() |
William Budd |
Phone: (509) 335-8538 |
||
![]() |
Serena Chung |
Phone: (509) 335-7114 |
||
![]() |
Andrew Ford |
Phone: (509) 335-7846 |
||
![]() |
Alex Guenther |
1850 Table Mesa Dr, Boulder, CO 80307 |
||
![]() |
Tom Jobson |
Phone: (509) 335-2692 |
||
![]() |
Brian Lamb |
Phone: (509) 335-5702 |
||
![]() |
Fok-Yan Leung |
Phone: (509) 335-7805 |
||
![]() |
Nicholas Lovrich |
Phone: (509) 335-4811 |
||
![]() |
George Mount |
Phone: (509) 335-3790 |
||
![]() |
Shelley N. Pressley |
Graduate Recruitment for Environmental Research |
||
![]() |
Timothy VanReken |
Phone: (509) 335-5055 |
||
![]() |
Joseph Vaughan |
Phone: (509) 335-2832 |
Advisory Board
APT Advisory Board
In order to obtain input from policy experts, we have developed an external Advisory council. The council has been selected to represent different policy perspectives and backgrounds. The role of the council will be to provide input for the design and implementation of the program, assessment of the program, and overall feedback for the program.
Council Members
Denny Hunter
Vice President of Technology, Weyerhaeuser Corp.
denny.hunter@weyerhaeuser.com
Doug Pottratz
Manager of Environmental Affairs-Compliance, Avista Corporation
doug.pottratz@avistacorp.com
Robert Elleman
Meteorologist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 10)
Elleman.Robert@epamail.epa.gov
Genene Fisher
Senior Policy Fellow, American Meteorological Society
fisher@ametsoc.org
Eduardo "Jay" Olaguer
Senior Research Scientist, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)
eolaguer@harc.edu
Sarah Rees
Program Manager, WA Dept of Ecology/Air Quality
sare461@ecy.wa.gov