Research Areas
Atmospheric Sciences
We study extreme weather, climate change, and their impacts on both ecosystems and modern society.
Environmental Geoscience
We use biology, chemistry, geology, and physics to understand how the Earth System supports such a diversity of life and how human behavior is impacting this system.
Geodata Science Initiative
Data science is the fourth and the newest paradigm of science. In Geodata Science Initiative, we conduct transdisciplinary research, merging or articulating EAPS subject matters with technical areas in data science: statistical and machine learning methods and models, algorithms for the models and methods, and computational environments for data analysis.
Geology and Geophysics
We study the processes that shape our planet, from the building of mountains and oil-bearing sedimentary basins, to the flow of warm rocks and cold glaciers, to the triggering of earthquakes.
Planetary Science
We study the evolution of the solar system and how planets evolve over time due to impacts, tectonics, and atmospheric processes, with an eye to the potential for past and future habitability.
Research News
Engineering meets science: Purdue collaboration aims to personalize nutrition through digital health
09-19-2025
Metabolic diseases such as diabetes affect millions worldwide, profoundly impacting health, quality of life, and healthcare costs. Yet most dietary guidance relies on generalized recommendations and intermittent blood tests, which can miss real-time changes in metabolism that are critical for personalized care. A new project led by Purdue University faculty aims to change that.
Purdue University professor helping discover ancient life on Mars
09-18-2025
WTHR — The Perseverance rover landed in the Jezero Crater in February 2021 to explore the ancient Neretva Vallis River Valley. Last summer, it drilled the Sapphire Canyon sample from a rock called Cheyava Falls. Scientists believe the leopard spots found on it may have been made by ancient life, NASA said. The SuperCam is just one of seven instruments on Perseverance. EAPS's Roger Wiens can operate it from online software right in his Purdue office.
09-17-2025
A new study led by Purdue University researchers has uncovered why some hurricanes grow significantly larger than others and why this growth occurs rapidly under certain ocean conditions. The research shows, for the first time, that hurricanes grow in size much faster when traveling over locally warm waters where the ocean surface is significantly warmer than the rest of the tropical oceans.
Mapping Kamchatka Earthquake Displacement
09-15-2025
Earth Observatory — A group of satellites with interferometric synthetic aperture radar makes it possible for geologists to detect how much and where land surfaces shift due to earthquakes. Purdue EAPS Department Head Andrea Donnellan was quoted in the article.
Purdue University named host institution for NASA Hubble Fellowship Program
09-12-2025
Purdue University has been officially named a host site for the NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP), opening the door for top postdoctoral scientists to carry out independent astrophysics research on campus.