Graduate Program in Control and Dynamical Systems

• Applying to CDS
• Research Areas

Caltech CDS offers an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program that provides rigorous training in mathematics, dynamics, and control, coupled with intensive study of application areas in science and engineering. The program offers a unique combination of analytical, computational, and experimental activities, and connects to diverse research across the Caltech campus.

Students in the CDS program are expected to have exceptional analytical capabilities, combined with solid domain knowledge in at least one application area. The first year curriculum strengthens mathematical capabilities through courses in linear operator theory and differential geometry, combined with a sequence of courses in dynamical systems and feedback control. All CDS students are additionally required to take graduate level courses in an application area relevant to their thesis research.

Students in CDS can work with any member of the Caltech faculty and are strongly encouraged to explore new areas of research where CDS principles and tools are relevant. Joint advising among multiple faculty is common. Several CDS courses are offered to help students explore new application domains and to bring together CDS students with faculty and students in Biology, Physics, Computer Science, Communications, Environmental Science, and other areas.

There are currently 20 graduate students enrolled in the program, along with approximately 10 postdocs and 6 visitors (long and short term). The program has graduated over 25 Ph.D. students since 1996, with about half in academia (including ETH, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Penn, Stanford and UIUC).

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Additional Information

• Office of Graduate Studies
• Option Guidelines and Procedures (PDF, 88K)