Emily Chin | BS ‘08
Where has your Tulane degree taken you?
I found that the core earth science courses prepared me well for a career in the geosciences. After receiving my BS degree at Tulane, I went on to a PhD at Rice University and then a postdoctoral position at Brown University. I am now an associate professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California San Diego. At Tulane, I learned not only the technical know-how to be a professional earth scientist, but also how to be curious and ask the questions that have formed the foundation of my research ever since.
What was your favorite course that you took at Tulane?
It’s difficult to choose, but I’ll say a tie between Petrology and Mineralogy. Those courses really got me excited about rocks and minerals, and what they tell us about Earth processes. Before those courses, I might have said rocks seemed boring, but once I saw them in thin section under a polarized microscope, I was amazed by the intricacies and the array of colors. This really sparked my interest and shaped my future career.
What is your favorite memory, in or out of the classroom, during your time at Tulane?
Hanging out in the department common space, bonding with my cohort that were going through the same core curriculum. I remember one spring semester when the AC was barely working and it was so hot in there, but our cohort of majors really developed a group cohesion that kept us all going and is a very fond memory.
Actually, getting to know not just the cohort of students but also the TAs and professors was really a great experience. Between the small classes, labs, and field trips, we all spent a lot of time together and got to know one another. I now know that’s not always the case in all departments, so I am very appreciative of the experiences I had at Tulane.
I was also very impressed by how passionate all the department’s professors were about their subject, which inspires the way I teach now.
What advice would you give to current students in our department?
Stay open minded and curious. What’s so exciting about geoscience is the ability to be curious, ask questions, and go out and study them on the Earth. And there are so many directions you can go. So once you’re beyond the core classes, take an elective in anything that interests you or volunteer in a lab that you are curious about. I started out in engineering but then took an Oceanography elective that initiated my interest in the geosciences. And for me, volunteering in Dr. Steve Nelson’s lab really got me started on research, my fascination with rocks and minerals, and asking questions that I am still answering to this day. The opportunities for undergraduate research at Tulane are an enormous strength and part of what can set a Tulane degree apart from others. Also, take advantage of fieldwork opportunities because what better way is there to study the Earth.
