The school is committed to engaging interested undergraduate students in cutting-edge, authentic research. We prioritize undergraduate research, allowing our students an opportunity to have hands-on experience early in their college careers. Students partner with faculty members, in the field and in the lab, to assist with research projects ranging from African lake sediments to analyzing international earthquake data. With the help of departmental research grants, these projects can culminate in a senior thesis and lead to a publication or presentation at a national scientific conference.
There are many opportunities to explore geoscience careers in new and expanding areas such as geothermal, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, critical energy minerals and metals, environmental, and data analytics, among other fields. Geoscientists are needed in a wide range of areas, and we believe the opportunities will continue to expand. Our students have continued on to work in a wide range of fields and organizations from the USGS and state geological surveys to academia and national laboratories, and the petroleum industry and environmental consulting.