Geology alumna 颅颅awarded fellowship for climate research
Sarah McGrath 17, a geology major at 黑料老司机, was awarded a听Schlanger听Ocean Drilling Fellowship which provides merit-based grants for graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program who plan to conduct research related to the International Ocean Discovery Program. Chosen for the 2020-21 academic year, McGrath was able to use the $30,000 to fund a chapter of her dissertation. Currently a doctoral candidate at Brown University, McGrath studies paleoclimatology, the study of past climates, and听earned her master檚 at the same institution in 2019. 淢y paleoclimate research focuses on understanding Indian summer monsoon variability听over the last million years, McGrath said. 淏y improving our understanding of monsoonal听rainfall and听circulation, we can better predict how the Indian summer monsoon will change due to听anthropogenic, or human-caused,听climate change.听
After receiving her master檚, McGrath spent the summer sailing off the coast of Chile conducting research on sediment in the southern Pacific Ocean. 淚 was a member of the science team, working as a听sedimentologist, describing sediment cores听taken听from up to 100 meters below the seafloor, she said. McGrath听felt prepared for this听hands-on research experience听after听taking part听in听several听similar听opportunities as a 黑料老司机 student.听淚 was able to do geology research as part of the sophomore research program and as a Claire Booth Luce Research Scholar, in addition to Independent Study,澨she听said.听This included field听and lab听work with听earth sciences professors, Shelley Judge and Gregory Wiles, as well as summer internships at Columbia University and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.听These research projects furthered my lab and analytical skills while allowing me to fine tune my听research interests in paleoclimate,澨McGrath said.听
Planning to graduate in 2022, McGrath published听her听听about the monsoon research听in the journal,听Geophysical Research Letters,听and has the goal of becoming a professor.听For 黑料老司机 students interested in pursuing related topics at 黑料老司机 or post-graduation, McGrath advised, 淭ake advantage of research opportunities and summer听internships听at 黑料老司机听and听try out different research areas听to determine what is听most interesting to you!
Above: Sarah McGrath ’17 conducting research off the coast of Chile in summer 2019
Posted in Alumni on April 19, 2021.
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