Is grad school right for you?
At the University of Florida?
In Earth and Planetary Sciences?
Just what is grad school in geosciences like at UF?
Please Feel free to contact any or all of the students listed below. They are happy to talk to you about their experiences.
Earth’s Climate & Environment
Fabian Quichimbo (Ph.D. Candidate):
I’m a civil engineer specializing in hydrology. My research takes a holistic approach, combining theoretical, computational, experimental, and field-based methods, to advance understanding of karst water dynamics and N₂O production, and to support sustainable water–ecosystem management.
Teagan Duenkel (MS Student):
I am a Master’s Student in coastal geomorphology from South Florida. My research focuses on analyzing morphology change, sediment transport processes, and barrier island dynamics. I especially enjoy fieldwork, including working with drones and lidar.
Michael Field (Ph.D. Candidate):
I studied Geophysical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines and started my PhD at UF in 2022. I use geophysics and geostatistics to study the subglacial environment below the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The goal of my research is to place better constraints on the geological factors that influence ice sheet models so we can improve estimates of future sea level rise.
Geobiology
Stephanie Killingsworth (Previous MS Student now a Ph.D. Candidate):
My research centers on macroevolutionary transitions in ancient horses from the Neogene period across the North American continent. The UF Geological Sciences Department has been fully supportive in my graduate school endeavors as a non-traditional student. If your pathway is non-traditional, feel free to contact me to learn more about my experiences.
Fer Juarez Duran (Previous MS Student now a Ph.D. Candidate):
Piyalli! I study remnant biosignatures left behind in lunar “soils” (technically regolith, but informally referred to as soils) after plants have grown in them. Our samples range from simulant regolith to small amounts of Apollo mission sub-samples. I started at UF in the MS program and now am continuing my work to complete a Ph.D. I am happy to answer any questions about my experience so far. When I am not thinking about lunar mare and plants, I am often thinking about family, music and helping others in our community.
Luis Torres (Ph.D. Candidate):
Conservation paleobiology is a subfield of paleontology that uses the remains of past organisms to determine what ecosystems looked like prior to human impacts as a guide for developing plans for modern conservation efforts. My research specifically focuses on fossilization patterns of marine mollusks and echinoids to determine fragmentation patterns and preservation rates across taxa in specific environments.
Dynamics & Materials of Earth and Planets
Minh Pham (Ph.D. Candidate):
I grew up in Vietnam and am currently studying the tectonic history of the Brooks Range in Alaska. My research brings together structural geology, petrology, and geochronology. I especially love figuring out how old rocks are and the stories they can tell you about Earth’s history.
Sam Kwafo (Ph.D. Candidate):
I specialize in Paleomagnetism and Geochronology. My research focuses on understanding Earth’s history through magnetic records and precise dating methods. Outside of academics, I enjoy soccer, volleyball, and anime, which bring balance to my work.