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Second-year PhD students Bella Gray, Jojo Sananda, and Emma Martin study fluvial geomorphology, ecohydrology,and marine seismology, respectively. In the first of a two-part series, Bella, Jojo, and Emma sit down to talk about their PhD qualifying exams in the days and weeks leading up to them. Hear how Wild Kratts, a hippie upbringing, and a change of heart about chemistry led them to the JSG, how they’re managing exam stress with rock climbing, comedy shows, and the Austin Chronicle crossword, and their views on imposter syndrome and the culture around quals. Stay tuned for part two, recorded after all three passed their exams!

Marek Locmelis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Bureau of Economic Geology in the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin. He is an economic geologist with expertise in geochemistry, petrology, planetary evolution, and analytical chemistry. Tune in to hear about his adventures spanning three continents, his experience meeting the President of the United States, and how much he enjoys UT Sports! For more information about the KBH 2026 Annual Energy Symposium on Sept. 11th, please visit: https://kbhenergycenter.utexas.edu/events/2026-energy-symposium/

Professor Fred Beach is the Director of the Earth and Energy Resources graduate program within the Jackson School of Geosciences. Hear how taking things apart and putting them back together as a child matured into a lifelong curiosity and passion for science. Dr. Beach discusses his childhood growing up on a farm, his first career serving in the Navy, and his second career in academia. Tune in to hear all this and more!

Third-year PhD candidates Casey Vigilia and Medha Prakash research glaciology and planetary geology, respectively. Casey is advised by Dr. Benjamin Keisling, and Medha is advised by Drs. Sean Gulick and Cyril Grima. Hear why they chose to pursue their PhDs at the JSG, what field adventures took them to France, the Bahamas, and Greenland, and how they’ve built community through exercise, trivia nights, and a fiber arts club. Casey and Medha also reflect on their PhD qualifying exams and alternative careers—including photojournalism and running a bakery.

Professor Dan Breecker is an isotope geochemist who researches carbon cycling processes in soils and carbonate bedrock. Hear how a whitewater rafting trip guide sparked Dan’s interest in academia, what fieldwork mishaps (including a pack rat and a chewed-up tape measure) shaped his PhD experience in New Mexico, and why he’s excited about carbon sequestration. Dan also talks best practices for balancing teaching, research, and family—like playing pickup soccer to keep up with his kids.

This special episode was recorded in Medellín, Colombia, during an NSF-funded international field course. JSG graduate and current Indiana University Bloomington PhD candidate Jake Gearon is a sedimentologist and geoinformaticist who is advised by Dr. Douglas Edmonds. Jake received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geological sciences from the JSG, along with a creative writing certificate from the College of Liberal Arts. Hear how History Channel documentaries on paleontology and volcanology sparked Jake’s interest in earth sciences as a kid, how his current research uses remote sensing to answer classical questions in sedimentology, and his perspective on the creative opportunities and psychological challenges of the PhD degree.

This special episode was recorded at Universidad EAFIT in Medellín, Colombia, during an NSF-funded international field course. JSG graduate and current Boston College PhD student Tony Edgington is a geomorphologist who is advised by Drs. Noah Snyder and Kat Wilson—another JSG alum. Tony received two bachelor’s degrees from JSG, one in geological sciences and another in geosystems engineering and hydrogeology, before going on to earn a master’s degree from University of Connecticut. Hear how Tony’s interest in environmental science started with a kid’s microscope, how his research has taken him all over South America and now back to the South, and what he misses most about Austin, TX—breakfast tacos.

Fifth-year PhD candidate Grace Guryan is a fluvial geomorphologist and landscape evolution modeler who is advised by Dr. Joel Johnson. Grace's research at the JSG focuses on quantifying how lithology impacts river systems and modeling how those effects influence river responses to tectonic and climate changes over geologic timescales. Hear how Grace’s interest in river science was inspired by whitewater rafting in Idaho as a kid, how environmental consulting work in Colorado refined her sense of identity and purpose, and her perspective on work-life balance and staying grounded during her PhD.

Recent JSG PhD graduate Dr. Emily Bamber is a planetary geomorphologist who was advised by Dr. Tim Goudge. Hear how Emily's upbringing in the Welsh countryside made her passionate about the natural world, how following her research interests led her across the Atlantic to the NASA Johnson Space Center and UT Austin, and how in another life she would run a cute bakery with free folk music sessions. Emily is now a research fellow at University of Cambridge's Trinity College, where she studies the joint geologic histories of meteorite impact craters and rivers.

Recent JSG PhD graduate Dr. Ethan Conrad is a structural geologist and tectonic geomorphologist, who was advised by Drs. Claudio Faccenna, Danny Stockli, and Thorsten Becker. Hear how Ethan's interest in science was sparked by The Spiderwick Chronicles, how his research has taken him to Italy and the Dominican Republic, and how playing music, disc golf, and slacklining with friends shaped his PhD experience. Ethan is now a postdoctoral researcher at University College London (UCL), where he studies how the topography of Antarctica has changed beneath the ice over millions of years.

Nick and Noah catch-up with Professor Rich Ketcham to learn about his ongoing research in the first public computed-tomography (CT) lab in the United States. We hope you'll enjoy the last episode of this season as we try to bank-in with Rich.

Ice, ice, science? We sit down with glaciologist Professor Ginny Catania to discuss her research and ongoing work to increase access for a diverse range of students, faculty, and staff. Don't let this episode creep on by, it's a (n)ice one!!! Warning: this episode contains explicit language.

Give it time to become a classic, but don't worry - this episode is already clastic.  Nick & Noah take their heads out of the sand with sedimentary geologist Professor Matt Malkowski and try to avoid being deposed. P.S. Scroll down to see the legendary photo referenced in the podcast: https://www.mmalkowski.com/research.html

We dive deep with Professor Emeritus John (Jack) Sharp, hydrologist extraordinaire.  We ask Jack about his research, the worst job he's ever had, his work as a former Geologic Society of America (GSA) president, and the importance of creating communicable science.

We sit down with vertebrate paleontologist and natural-storyteller Professor Chris Bell for a 10-minute interview about his career, ongoing work to encourage debate in scientific dialogue, and hatred of electric scooters.  Can you blame us for running over our time?