Work with us

Opportunities

Opportunities to study fracture, friction, and deformation through mechanics, field experiments, and dense sensing in the Lipovsky group.

The group welcomes people who want to test fracture, friction, and deformation through physical reasoning, field experiments, computation, and dense observation.

Current status: There are no specific funded openings advertised on this page. New searches will be posted here with a closing date and application instructions. Last reviewed August 2026.

Graduate students

Graduate students enter through the University of Washington Department of Earth and Space Sciences. Before applying, review the research program and identify the questions—not just the techniques—that genuinely interest you.

UW graduate program

Postdoctoral scholars

Postdoctoral searches are advertised for a defined project and appointment period. Independent fellowship applicants with a strong research connection are welcome to get in touch well before a sponsor deadline.

Discuss research fit

Undergraduate researchers

Undergraduate projects vary with available mentoring, funding, fieldwork, and laboratory needs. Useful starting points include mechanics, fracture experiments, scientific programming, signal processing, electronics, and Earth science.

UW research resources

What to include when you get in touch

Keep an introductory message concise. Explain the scientific problem that interests you, why this group is a good intellectual fit, and the experience or perspective you would bring. Include a CV and, where useful, a short example of research, code, writing, or technical work.

The group does not expect applicants to have followed a single conventional path. Clear motivation, curiosity, evidence of sustained effort, and the ability to work constructively with others matter.

How the group works

The group’s culture is built around two commitments: act kindly and professionally, and do good work. In practice, that includes:

  • a safe, inclusive, and harassment-free research environment;
  • early and continuing conversations about authorship and credit;
  • open-access publication and reproducible code and data;
  • intellectual ownership for students and postdoctoral scholars;
  • realistic goals and a sustainable approach to work;
  • regular feedback, professional development, and support for varied careers.

Group culture

Read the expectations before applying.

The full group vision describes research ethics, authorship, reproducibility, inclusion, mentoring, time management, and admissions practices in detail.