Student Impressions of the Graduate Program
Click on a student's name to go to their impression of the graduate program.
Floyd Nichols, Ph.D. 2024. Floyd is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University).
Stacy Montgomery, Ph.D. 2023. Stacy is a Greenhouse Gas Research Scientist at Crosswalk Labs.
Laura Larocca, Ph.D. 2022. Laura is an Assistant Professor in the School of Ocean Futures at Arizona State University.
Emiliano Monroy Ríos, Ph.D. 2022. Emiliano is an Independent Environmental Consultant in geohazards and karst.
Howard Chen, Ph.D. 2022. Howard is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology.
Jamie McFarlin, Ph.D. 2019. Jamie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming.
Michael Witek, Ph.D. 2018. Michael is a Staff Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Joshua Townsend, Ph.D. 2016. Joshua is a Principal Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories.
Laurel Childress, Ph.D. 2016. Laurel is an Expedition Project Manager/Staff Scientist with the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) at Texas A&M University.
Maya Gomes, Ph.D. 2014. Maya is an Assistant Professor in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts & Sciences
Student Impressions
Floyd Nichols, Ph.D. 2024: "My time in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at Northwestern University allowed me to broaden my scientific knowledge. I was fortunate enough to have the freedom to delve into research that I was interested in pursuing even if it was outside of my committee's immediate background. Additionally, through the support of my advisory committee members I obtained valuable skills in laboratory methods, scientific writing, and scientific communication. Outside of my committee, the other faculty members in the department were also available and willing to help me learn new skills whether that was in instrumentation or numerical modelling. Ultimately, through my experience at Northwestern, I was able to develop my own scientific framework and network."
Stacy Montgomery, Ph.D. 2023: "My time in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at Northwestern gave me the opportunity to dive deeply into a range of topics, surrounded by inspirational and curious peers and faculty. The program’s flexibility allowed me to explore my interests, combining research in environmental, earth, and computer science, all while receiving exceptional guidance and support from the department. This freedom to pursue interdisciplinary questions was invaluable, equipping me with both a solid foundation in my field and the confidence to follow my curiosity. It was an incredibly formative experience that shaped not only my skills and knowledge, but also the direction of my career."
Laura Larocca, Ph.D. 2022: "During my time in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at Northwestern, I gained a solid educational foundation and the support I needed to grow as a scientist. Under the guidance of my advisor, I developed skills in computing, field, and laboratory techniques, which enabled me to pursue research questions that bridge traditional subfields of climate science. I loved that I was also encouraged to build skills in other areas of interest, such as in scientific writing and communication for broad audiences. I had the opportunity to participate in workshops, public talks, and service activities that helped me grow in these areas. My PhD was packed with meaningful opportunities, from international collaborations to planning and participating in two remote field expeditions in Greenland. Funding support allowed me to present at conferences, where I made valuable connections. I also had the rewarding experience of mentoring undergraduate students, which taught me a great deal about guiding others. Overall, I couldn’t have imagined a more fulfilling and positive graduate experience, one that equipped me with the skills and experiences I needed to pursue my own career in academia. In this transition, I am so grateful to have maintained relationships with several faculty members who continue to provide me with invaluable mentorship."
Emiliano Monroy Rios, Ph.D. 2022, was quoted extensively in a Nature article on how research advisors help shape graduate student careers. “I had always thought about doing a PhD. But after my master’s, as a research assistant, I felt stuck. [My research advisor] believed in me and got me thinking about a PhD again. It was like a revival in lost confidence. I moved to Chicago in January 2011. I had been living in a tropical paradise, and the next day, I was walking in the snow, thinking, “What am I doing here?” [My advisor] and her husband [ ] gave me tips for surviving winter in the city. But I was depressed and seriously thought two or three times about quitting. I was feeling really, really bad and was afraid that my academic performance was declining. I thought, “I cannot make it.” [My advisor] understood that my health came first, before my research. She stated very clearly that if I made the decision to quit, she would support me. But she also convinced me that my work was worth it. It was important for me to have that balance of, “OK, I understand, and I believe you — that you are passing through a bad time. But your work deserves fighting for.” So I took a quarter off to go back to Mexico for the winter of 2013. We talked while I was gone. If it weren’t for her, I would have quit.”
Howard Chen, Ph.D. 2022: "My graduate school experience thus far at Northwestern has been extremely pleasant. I have been constantly challenged and provoked to think of new research ideas. Specifically, the EPS department encourages their graduate students to rise beyond their daily comfort zones. For instance, it is required that each of us conduct a secondary research project outside of our primary research topic. This requirement fosters out-of-the-box thinking and helps us navigate and clarify our research directions. As my research topic resides at the intersection between Earth, planetary science, and astrophysics, I highly benefited from the wide array of departments/center such as CIERA and ISEN associated with EPS. For example, the existence of Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration & Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) offers a host of opportunities for collaborative projects between astronomy and geosciences. These various initiatives represent the sort of attitude towards scientific research that EPS and Northwestern as a whole stand for. During my time here thus far, I have worked closely with my mentor, who has provided me with the resources and freedom to craft research projects aligned to my interests in answering the big questions such as "where do we come from?", "where are we going?", and "what else is out there?". The faculty, students, and staff are all very helpful, supportive, and approachable and make me feel like I am an integral part of the community. In summary, I believe that Northwestern and EPS have provided me with the perfect environment that will nurture me into a creative, knowledgeable, and independent researcher."
Jamie McFarlin, Ph.D. 2019: "Working on my PhD in the Earth and Planetary Sciences department at Northwestern University has been such a rewarding experience. The department challenges students to be independent, creative researchers and supports their growth in this role. There are diverse opportunities to develop skills in science writing, public outreach, teaching and field geology, along with encouragement to learn analytical tools inside and out of your primary research area of interest. I have loved that my PhD experience has allowed me to bridge across lab groups to learn and utilize skills in paleoecology and organic geochemistry, access amazing analytical facilities regularly, and work with advisors that are thoroughly invested in the success of all my dissertation work."
Michael Witek, Ph.D. 2018: "My graduate school experience in the Earth and Planetary Sciences department at Northwestern University is what set me on the path to success. My advisor constantly pushed me forward and taught me the skills I needed to be a successful scientist. Indeed, my advisor was the one who first suggested that I apply for an NSF EAPSI fellowship to do a part of my research in South Korea, which then led to a Fulbright scholarship and two postdoctoral fellowships there as well. At Northwestern, I was encouraged to follow my curiosity and I was given the opportunity to develop a growing passion for scientific computing, which has carried me forward to a career at Los Alamos National Lab. Now, as a staff scientist at Los Alamos, I look back on my time at the EPS department with fondness and gratitude, and the foundation my advisor helped me build at Northwestern continues to provide the confidence needed to do well in my present and future endeavors."
Joshua Townsend, Ph.D. 2016: “My experience as a graduate student at Northwestern was singular largely because of the limitless support and encouragement of my advisors. In addition to working closely with my advisors, I was able to collaborate internationally through an NSF EAPSI fellowship to Japan in 2012. It’s no exaggeration to say that that experience fundamentally changed my research. I am so thankful that at Northwestern I was encouraged from the start to pursue my own scientific curiosity and passion. That experience and others helped me develop as an independent researcher. Now as a postdoc in a national laboratory, I find myself well prepared to engage and collaborate with my colleagues on a variety of interesting scientific endeavors. ”
Laurel Childress, Ph.D. 2016: "The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences helped not only to broaden my research interests and experience, but allowed me to better explore who I wanted to become as a scientist. The broad range of faculty research led me to exciting and truly innovative areas of research that would not have been possible in many programs. Encouragement from the department and my committee to write my own funding proposals was an exceptionally valuable aspect of my graduate career. Not only did this lead to additional funding for research, but it allowed me to study and practice this process during a time where my career was not dependent on it. My committee allowed me a large degree of latitude with defining my own research and networks, including the opportunity to sail multiple oceanographic expeditions during my degree. In addition to the wonderful research resulting from these expeditions, I was able to cultivate my own scientific network, acquire international collaborations, and focus my research and teaching toward a field about which I am passionate."
Maya Gomes, Ph.D. 2014: "I thoroughly enjoyed my graduate experience at Northwestern because of the fabulous community that fosters high quality geoscience research and instruction. The department was small enough that I was on first name basis with all of the faculty and graduate students, but large enough that there was a broad range of research opportunities and knowledge. I was able to work closely with my advisor, who gave me the tools, freedom, and support to both pursue my graduate research and develop as an independent researcher. The entire faculty was very approachable, so I always felt I could ask any faculty member for help or advice. The graduate student community was also very supportive; people were always willing to watch a practice talk, proof read a document, or water the plants when someone was out of town. The staff did an amazing job ensuring that everything ran smoothly in the department. In addition to the state-of the-art labs and computing capabilities in the department, the local resources (Argonne National Labs, Chicago Botanical Garden, The Field Museum) allowed for excellent research opportunities. I am also so happy that I had an opportunity to live in Chicago; it is really a wonderful city! Overall, I am confident that the preparation and instruction that I received at Northwestern has put me in a excellent position to pursue a career in geoscience research."