What is the most surprising thing you learned as part of your research?

I fell in love with research after completing my REU at Oregon State University’s O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory. I realized I wanted to do that as my job. I see how the researchers go to conferences and take field trips, it is such a fun collaborative environment. 

I knew that I liked environmental and earth science work, and I loved physics, but I had no idea what kind of job that would translate to. I knew I didn't want to sit at a desk all day and do things I knew already. Then I met my professors and other researchers who are full of ideas, in such a collaborative environment- they seem to be having a lot of fun! It was a big revelation to see these adults getting paid to investigate questions that no one knows the answer to. The biggest thing for me was realizing what research is and realizing that is what I want to do.

What are your future plans? 

I want to pursue a PhD in oceanography, or coastal engineering. I see myself being a research scientist, for example, at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

I have my dream job as an internship this summer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and I want to convert that into stable employment. 

My idea for my senior thesis is also related to my work this summer, as I will be looking at measuring ocean surface waves using sea floor telecommunications cables. This would be very useful as there is ice cover in the arctic and currently we can't get ocean surface wave data from those regions. 

I am going to be validating this data and getting large wave packets and large scale data on the waves. For my thesis I want to go into more detail and get information about specific waves. 

Why DEEPS?

I love DEEPS! This department is so full of industry and research connections, and the person-to-person interactions are amazing. They have the best professors on campus, their mentoring and teaching is next level. Everyone I know at DEEPS is doing incredible things. The classes are rigorous and the professors want you to succeed. I think this is the best department on campus!

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The Student Research Stories are a new series of interviews showcasing the research journeys of undergraduate students in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science (DEEPS). The series is organized and created by DEEPS Communications Assistants Hania Khan and Isabel Tribe.