Name: Mariya Galochkina
Major(s) and Minor: Geology and Physics major with a minor in Marine Science
Year: Junior
Email:
Cell: 732-841-5228
How did you decide on your major?
I always loved science and the outdoors, but I never could narrow down specifically what field of science interested me the most. I stumbled upon geology as a possible major when I was applying to colleges and was very interested in the interdisciplinarity of it, but I didn’t know much about the field, considering my general lack of exposure to the earth sciences in high school. I entered Rutgers as an intended geology major somewhat blindly, but my interest was solidified after taking Intro to Geology my first semester and partaking in research the summer after my freshman year through the Aresty Summer Science Program.
What is it about your chosen field (and the department) that appeals to you?
I am fascinated by how interdisciplinary geology is – I find myself constantly applying knowledge from my chemistry, physics, marine science, and other geology classes in everything I learn. One of my favorite things about the major is the fieldwork. About half of the major courses involve some sort of fieldwork/field trips in which we get to go out and apply what we learned in the classroom to the real world. I have also been fortunate enough to have traveled to Costa Rica, New Mexico, and Seattle as part of my research experiences. I have a deep appreciation for the department, as it has been very supportive, fun, and helpful.
Do you have a favorite class/professor within your major?
I’m definitely biased towards my research PIs, but my favorite classes so far have been Marine Geology, Geophysics, and Sedimentary Geology/Stratigraphy.
What are your other Rutgers activities?
I am the current president of the Geology Club, the academic/professional chair for Alpha Omega Epsilon (a STEM-interest sorority), and a Peer Instructor for the Aresty Research Center for Undergraduates.
What are your plans following graduation?
I plan on going directly to graduate school and hopefully pursuing a PhD in some variant of paleoclimatology, marine geology, or geophysics.
