About LDEO

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) is a leading research institution where more than 200 research scientists seek fundamental knowledge about the origin, evolution and future of the natural world.

LDEO scientists observe Earth on a global scale, from its deepest interior to the outer reaches of its atmosphere, on every continent and in every ocean. They decipher the long record of the past, monitor the present, and seek to foresee Earth’s future.

From global climate change to earthquakes, volcanoes, nonrenewable resources, environmental hazards and beyond, the Observatory’s fundamental challenge is to provide a rational basis for the difficult choices faced by humankind in the stewardship of this fragile planet.

The Observatory is a key component of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. The Earth Institute's unique structure facilitates links between the Earth scientists at the Observatory and the engineers, economists, and social and political scientists within the several other units of the Institute. The new cross-disciplinary research teams that are born from these interactions allow for the building of powerful connections between understanding the Earth's systems and devising applications that benefit humankind directly.

Over 120 Ph.D.-level researchers work at the Observatory, ranging from junior Postdoctoral Fellows to the most senior and accomplished Professors. On average, 80-90 graduate students are engaged in thesis research; an increasing number of undergraduates are participating in summer internships as well. And we are continuously attracting and recruiting new staff and postdocs. Our newly acquired and globally capable research vessel Marcus G. Langseth will continue to serve the national community as the only ship capable of collecting deep seismic data.

It is a time of great opportunity at the Observatory. Earth sciences remain a young and exciting discipline. Every year, substantial progress is made in understanding our Earth—but many opportunities for major breakthroughs remain. It is that tantalizing glimpse of insight, that knowing that thorough understanding lies just beyond the horizon, that keeps our researchers excited and dedicated to learning about how and why the Earth changes as it does.