Do you have questions about how a degree from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences will help you achieve your career goals and aspirations? Do you have questions about what students in our programs do after graduation? To help answer those questions, we asked a few students from our class of 2020 what their plans are for after graduation.
Note: You can view the after graduation plans of our previous classes of graduates using the links at the bottom of the page.
I'm working for ControlPoint Technologies as a Power Systems Engineer on the Distribution Planning Team in Rockland, MA. This company is a trusted engineering firm that provides technical solutions to a wide variety of clients in the utility sector of the energy industry. Some services include transmission planning, power flow studies, distribution planning, grid modernization and renewable energy studies.
Paige Gallotta
Energy Engineering
I'm an Atmospheric Science Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland, College Park, studying climate and extremes using machine learning under the advisership of Dr. Maria Molina. This summer, I'll also be participating in the NOAA Lapenta Internship in Fort Collins, Colorado to continue my CSU ESMEI REU/undergraduate honors thesis research and hopefully submitting this work to a scientific journal.
Alvin Cheung
Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
I'm pursuing a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Materials Science and Engineering! I was also selected for their Ryan Fellowship program overseen by the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) at Northwestern. I plan to do research that combines fundamental polymer science and sustainability whether it be through recycling or microplastic research.
Kelly Matuszewski
Materials Science and Engineering
I'm working with Chevron as an Air Specialist in Midland, Texas. In this role, I'll be working to ensure that all air emissions reporting and permitting requirements are followed for their operations in the Permian Basin.
Ryan Kovacs
Environmental Systems Engineering
I'm working Corning Incorporated in Corning, N.Y., as a Materials Engineer in the ceramics department of the Science & Technology Group Division. I'm excited to get to work on projects involving products that are on the leading edge of science like Corning’s Gorilla Glass and vaccine vials, as well as solve problems relating to glass and ceramic refractories.
Josie Hoover
Materials Science and Engineering
I'm beginning my career in the oil and gas industry to gain experience in industrial projects and contribute my skills and knowledge to helping secure the world’s energy supplies.
Zizhong Liu
Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Ph.D.
I'm pursuing a Ph.D. in physical oceanography at the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography. I look forward to partaking in various sea-going research cruises off the shores of the Pacific Northwest while working with scientists and researchers at the University of Washington and NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory this fall.
Katie Kohlman
Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
I'm working as a Catastrophe Risk Management Analyst at Guy Carpenter (subsidiary of Marsh McLennan) as part of their Global Advisory Leadership Team. I’ll do event response, catastrophe modeling, portfolio management and rating agency advising to help groups make smart weather and climate risk decisions.
Abigail McCarthy
Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
I'm attending graduate school next fall to pursue a master’s degree and to ultimately obtain a Ph.D. in environmental sciences or engineering. This summer, I'll be working in my current research lab under Dr. Dr. Tom Richard’s guidance.
Camila Van Oost
Environmental Systems Engineering
I'm continuing my research at Penn State, pursuing my Ph.D. in the geosciences department with Dr. Peter Wilf, studying the paleobotanical response to the India-Asia collision.
Edward Spagnuolo
Geobiology
I'm attending Michigan Technological University to pursue a master’s degree in Geophysics while focusing my education and research on volcano seismology.
Aimee Zimmerman
Geosciences
I'll be attending Columbia University to pursue a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Engineering under Dr. Alissa Park. My research will involve carbon capture and sustainability.
Elizabeth Czekaj
Environmental Systems Engineering
I'm working at Larson Design Group in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as an Engineering Associate in their Water/Wastewater Engineering Department. I will aid in the design of systems that collect, transport, and treat water to remove contaminants or harmful substances.
Nina Schappell
Environmental Systems Engineering
I'm a Model Specialist Team Analyst at Risk Management Solutions in Hoboken, N.J. I am confident that my education has given me the skills and passion I need to succeed in this role, where I will be helping clients work with RMS's catastrophe risk models.
Baylee Sexton
Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
I'm attending the University of Maryland College Park to pursue my Master’s of Atmospheric Science and continue research focused on using data assimilation to improve tropical cyclone predictability under Penn State Alumnus Dr. Jonathan Poterjoy. I am excited to continue my participation in research and to share my knowledge of the atmosphere with communities most vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Alisha Wellington
Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
