UCF Launches 1st Planetary and Space Sciences Ph.D. Program in Florida

Born from the problem of the Space Race, UCF was created to rework creativeness into innovation and put together folks to launch humanity past its limits. Today, we’re nonetheless are a spot the place our folks’s curiosity drives discovery, daring questions form the long run and exploration advances life on Earth.

Founded to succeed in the moon, we’re already on our option to the following frontier. Built for liftoff, America’s Space University celebrates UCF Space Week Nov. 3-7.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Boldly Forge the Future of Space

As SpaceU, UCF is pushing the boundaries of exploration as soon as once more by launching a groundbreaking new doctoral program within the planetary and area sciences. Now, aspiring researchers can apply to the inaugural cohort of this system, which launches Fall 2026 and is obtainable via the College of Sciences’ Department of Physics.

Apply to the planetary and area sciences doctoral program by the Dec. 1, 2025, precedence deadline.

“It’s relatively unusual to have a separate Ph.D. program in planetary and space sciences like this,” says Yan Fernandez, professor of physics and director of the brand new doctoral program. “It’s an exciting step forward. We have a large number of faculty working on planetary science and there are very few universities with that kind of knowledge in one place.”

The new doctoral program is interdisciplinary in its method, bringing in components from astrobiology, astronomy, knowledge evaluation, geology, physics and extra. The program originated as a planetary sciences observe as a part of a doctoral diploma in physics and was authorized by the Board of Governors in Florida as the primary and solely planetary and area sciences doctoral program within the state.

“As SpaceU, we are aiming to be the premier engineering and technology university in the state and a destination for space-focused learning in the world,” says Addie Dove, professor and chair of the Department of Physics. “We want to ensure the programs we offer reflect the university’s strategic approach as well as what’s necessary to succeed in today’s workforce.”

What Students Can Expect from the Program

The new diploma will place graduates for employment alternatives which can be projected to develop in Florida and nationwide. Program graduates can have the data and abilities vital for roles in governmental businesses corresponding to NASA, the non-public area trade, academia and analysis establishments. Graduates will probably be ready to work as scientists inside fields that embody astronomy, atmospheric physics, area science and geoscience.

“This program is not just for physics students, but also for students who have studied geology, engineering, data science or  many other STEM fields,” Dove says. “We have a number of faculty who built hardware that has gone or will travel into space and there’s an opportunity for students with more of an engineering background to pursue this doctorate.”

“Having a strong foundation in scientific thinking is important, whether individuals are building hardware going to other planetary surfaces, working on next generation telescopes, or considering problems that have not even been imagined yet,” she continues.

The program broadens the areas of research to incorporate not solely physics but additionally astrochemistry, astrogeology, astrobiology, and scientific instrument improvement. Fernandez additionally emphasizes the significance of huge knowledge and machine studying in planetary science.

“There’s a need for a program like this because we are awash in data,” Fernandez says. “Students who understand these aspects of big data, efficient programming and working in problems in planetary science can contribute in many ways to innovative research and to cutting-edge science.”

Fueling the Future of Space

Dove notes that the scholars who’ve pursued the preliminary planetary sciences observe within the physics doctorate program have efficiently labored on space-related analysis.

“There are many possibilities available through the program’s large network,” she says. “Many of our students obtain internships or fellowships over the course of their studies, and we create high impact experiences within our classes. Our graduates have become postdocs and have worked on spacecraft missions. Some have continued into academia, some have worked for NASA and we have also seen students go on to work for companies that develop hardware and technology to send to space.”

Dove shares that you will need to be aware of the altering wants of trade, whereas offering alternatives for college students to work within the collaborative ways in which researchers typically work in planetary science and all of STEM.

“We wanted to ensure that the program reflected the values of our department, college and university and embraced our shared passion to boldly push the frontiers of knowledge,” Dove says.

Note to Prospective Students: Enrollment is at the moment open for admission within the Fall 2026, with a precedence deadline of Dec. 1, 2025. You could apply after the early deadline, and might attain out to college with analysis areas of curiosity. Be positive to use to the planetary and area sciences doctoral program and never the observe. Contact [email protected] for extra data.