Lydia Kivrak Ph.D. candidate
“Hello and welcome to UF’s Department of Geological Sciences! My name is Lydia and I’m a third-year PhD student working in the lab of Dr. Amy Williams. I grew up in a small town in Maryland, about 30 minutes south of the District of Columbia. Despite the differences in seasonality, I love how there are parts of Gainesville that feel very similar to home: particularly the ever-presence and importance of water, lush vegetation, small-town character, and intense humidity!
I received an A.A. in Math and Physical Sciences from the College of Southern Maryland in 2015, and a B.S. in Planetary Sciences from the California Institute of Technology in 2019, where I had the opportunity to participate in research projects on topics ranging from the icy surface of Pluto to carbonate sand on warm beaches here on Earth. I also had the opportunity to take geology classes and field trips while surrounded by the natural wonders of California. My senior year, we were taken on a field trip to Hawai’i, where I was able to marvel at the immense geologic power and destructive capability of the recent eruption.
My research here at UF is focused on Geobiology and Astrobiology. I am trying to improve techniques for detecting traces of ancient life (called “biomarkers”) on planets such as Mars. I use an instrument called a gas chromatograph – mass spectrometer to heat samples to high temperatures, breaking apart the organic molecules inside and allowing them to be detected and measured. I use samples from places on Earth that are called analog environments due to their similarity to environments on Mars; for example, iron-oxide rich rocks from Iron Mountain, CA, and sinter deposits from hot springs in Iceland. While at UF, I have had the amazing opportunity to work on the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission as a Student Collaborator. This has allowed me to participate in science taking place on real Mars rocks!
When not thinking about life on Mars, I enjoy playing piano, singing, and acting in community theatre productions. I am passionate about science outreach and often participate with the Skype a Scientist and Scientist in Every Florida Schools program. I’m also the education outreach officer for the UF chapter of the Association for Women Geoscientists. The Department is an amazing home for the geosciences here at UF and I am always pleased to talk about it to prospective students, or to anyone else who is interested. As an undergraduate, I was always encouraged and inspired by friendly graduate students; and I have felt welcome as a graduate student at UF through encouragement from more senior students. I believe it’s very important to “pay it forward” by supporting newer students in whatever way I can. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!”