The University of Chicago’s Climate Systems Engineering initiative (CSEi) is proud to welcome the second cohort of its Research Fellows Program. The 2026–2028 cohort brings together five leading early-career scholars from diverse fields to explore and evaluate climate interventions aimed at reducing the risks of a warming planet.
“This second cohort is a testament to the momentum CSEi has built in its first few years,” said David Keith, CSEi Faculty Director. “Their work spans ocean chemistry, atmospheric science, philosophy, climate dynamics, and public health — contributing to the breadth that climate systems engineering demands. I look forward to watching this community take shape and push the field in directions we don’t anticipate.”
The CSEi Research Fellows Program aims to develop the next generation of research leaders who will shape the future of climate systems engineering for the benefit of people and the planet.
During their two year appointment, the Research Fellows will collaborate with faculty and researchers across CSEi and the University of Chicago while pursuing their own independent projects that advance the study of climate systems engineering. Their work spans the initiative’s three focus areas: open-systems carbon removal, sunlight reflection methods (SRM), and interventions to prevent glacial melting.
Applications are now open for the 2027-2029 cohort of CSEi Research Fellows. Interested candidates can apply now through November 2, 2026. Further details, including application instructions and eligibility requirements, are available on Interfolio.
CSEi also welcomes a new Postdoctoral Scholar, Yu “Eddie” Wang, whose research focuses on geoengineering approaches to slow the loss of polar ice sheets.
View all CSEi Research Fellows and Postdoctoral Scholars on the CSEi website.
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2026-2028 Cohort of CSEi Research Fellows
Paul Curtis researches the regional-scale dynamics of the atmospheric hydrological cycle. He holds a PhD in Atmosphere, Oceans, and Climate Dynamics from Yale University and was previously a NASA Future Investigators Awardee and a Summer Fellow in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics at WHOI. He is mentored by Professor Tiffany Shaw.
Dongwook Kim investigates heterogeneous halogen chemistry on aerosol surfaces and its impact on stratospheric ozone — a key uncertainty in understanding stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI). He holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Colorado Boulder. Dongwook is mentored by Professor Mingyi Wang.
Sol Kim evaluates the impact of sunlight reflection (SRM) on extreme weather events and potential changes to public health outcomes. Sol also explores how attribution science informs discussions on geoengineering liability. He holds a PhD in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley and previously worked as a research associate in the Urban Theory Lab at the University of Chicago. Sol is mentored by Professors Kate Burrows and Hajin Kim.
Abby Lunstrum researches carbon cycling, mineral weathering, and alkalinity-generating processes as they relate to geochemical carbon dioxide removal. She holds a PhD in Geologic Sciences from the University of Southern California and has previously worked in the wind energy industry and in international marine policy. Abby is mentored by CSEi Research Assistant Professor Manon Duret.
Mason Majszak develops frameworks for representing uncertainty and examines how expert decision-making under uncertainty shapes questions of justice and public trust in science. He holds a PhD in Philosophy, partially supervised within the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) at the University of Bern. Mason is mentored by Professor David Keith.
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CSEi Postdoctoral Scholar
Yu “Eddie” Wang investigates whether targeted geoengineering approaches could slow the catastrophic loss of polar ice sheets and ice shelves and reduce their contribution to future sea-level rise. He holds a PhD from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania and has developed 3D ICE, an interactive explorer that visualizes the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets in three dimensions. Eddie is mentored by Professor Emeritus Doug MacAyeal.