OpenFieldColorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a world-renowned public research university in Golden, Colorado, focused on engineering, applied science, energy resources, and Earth sciences, consistently ranked as the global #1 university for mineral and mining engineering.
Academic overview & excellence
Mines conducts cutting-edge research in sustainable mineral extraction, space mining resources, advanced metallurgical engineering, quantum materials, and renewable geothermal energy, holding extensive research partnerships with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and USGS.
Research admissions & criteria
Undergraduate admissions requires top math and science high school credentials (average GPA 3.8+ unweighted). Graduate master's and doctoral admissions require an accredited engineering or STEM bachelor's degree (minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA), statement of purpose, and GRE scores for specific engineering disciplines.
Verified opportunities & funding programs (7)
Mines Graduate Research Assistantship in Quantum & Materials Engineering
Fully funded doctoral assistantship conducting research on superconductor fabrication, quantum information systems, and topological insulators.
Master of Science in Space Resources & Planetary Mining
World's premier space resources graduate curriculum covering lunar regolith processing, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), orbital mechanics, and space robotics.
Bachelor of Science in Mining & Mineral Engineering
QS World #1 ranking program in mineral engineering, combining geotechnical design, blast engineering, mine automation, and environmental reclamation.
Mines Geothermal Energy & Subsurface Hydrogen Fellowship
Department of Energy funded doctoral fellowship developing enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and subsurface geological hydrogen reservoirs.
NREL & Mines Renewable Energy Summer Research Practicum
Collaborative summer research practicum at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) investigating next-generation perovskite photovoltaics and grid storage.
Master of Science in Advanced Manufacturing & Metallurgy
Postgraduate curriculum in additive metal manufacturing, alloy thermodynamics, failure analysis, and cryogenic metallurgy.
Certificate in Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)
Specialized 12-credit graduate certificate exploring geological carbon sequestration, chemical absorption reactors, and carbon credit economics.
Distinguished faculty & researchers (3)
Dr. Paul C. Johnson
President & Professor of Environmental Engineering · Executive Office & Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr. Paul C. Johnson is President & Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Executive Office & Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado School of Mines, conducting advanced research in Subsurface Remediation, Groundwater Hydrogeology, STEM Education Strategy.
Dr. Angel Abbud-Madrid
Director of the Center for Space Resources & Professor of Mechanical Engineering · Center for Space Resources
Dr. Angel Abbud-Madrid is Director of the Center for Space Resources & Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Center for Space Resources at Colorado School of Mines, conducting advanced research in Space In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), Microgravity Combustion, Lunar Regolith Extraction.
Dr. Amy E. Landis
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering · Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr. Amy E. Landis is Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado School of Mines, conducting advanced research in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Industrial Ecology, Sustainable Bioplastics.
Editorial & verification standards
Institution profile and program records reflect official documentation verified on 2026-10-15. OpenField is an independent student academic resource and is not formally affiliated with Colorado School of Mines.