“I was a student in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, where I met a professor who asked me what I wanted to do. I realized I wasn’t sure. I enjoyed nature and physics, and I wanted to find a way to combine the two. The professor suggested geophysics, which I hadn’t heard about, even though I was studying physics at the time. Because I didn't learn about geophysics until I was graduating, I think it is important to educate students on geophysics—and other disciplines—so that they know all their options.
My advice to students who aren’t sure what career or research path they want to pursue, is to talk to a professor in a department that they are interested in, or take an introductory-level course even if it’s not required.
For me, it turns out that coding is one thing I can get involved in for hours at a time. I love learning different programs and being able to produce scientific figures on my own. I like the data analysis aspect, and making interpretations about the earth, which is the common denominator for everyone.”
Rhiannon Vieceli is a PhD candidate at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and is studying earthquakes and seismicity associated with the Socorro Magma Body in New Mexico.
Vieceli was funded by EarthScope to attend the final EarthScope National Meeting in May of 2017.
—by Beth Grassi
Published 7/10/18
