Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
Red cliffs and pink salt. This colorful description of the otherworldly landscapes near my hometown in central Utah is what initiated my interest in geoscience at a very young age. My young mind was keen on understanding just how one could unravel the sequence of events that sculpted, crumpled, and uplifted the countryside to its present form. Put in another way: the Earth is the “laboratory” and the “experiment” has been running for over 4 billion years and I yearned to better understand the conditions and processes involved. Finding a satisfactory answer to the above observation requires an inquisitive and analytical perspective, plus a foundational understanding in multiple disciplines, including chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, etc. For me personally, the opportunity to put on my own detective hat and to have access to a multidisciplinary toolkit are the core reasons why I find geoscience so captivating and why I think the skills and perspectives gained are transferable to so many career paths. And my academic and professional experiences so far has been exactly that: multidisciplinary. I have employed integrative techniques in my research endeavors to solve pertinent questions in fields such as paleoclimate, tectonics, geochronology, and ore geology. My professional experiences with ExxonMobil have been equally comprehensive, ranging from the macroscale to the microscale, with the goal of piecing together the evolution of the Gulf of Mexico basin and its associated hydrocarbon resources. Being with ExxonMobil, a company with large datasets and assets at every stage of the development lifecycle, helped me identify interests in other fields including data analytics, risk assessment, and commercial valuations. Through all these experiences has been one constant: my inquisitive mindset that continually pushes me to learn new things. And I look forward to employing this mindset at my next opportunity, wherever that may be.
For my summer project, I developed open-source workflows to generate 3D geological models for assessing generic underground repositories of spent nuclear fuel. These models incorporate geological heterogeneity in crystalline host rocks like granite, enabling more robust assessments of potential repository sites. I am continuing in this role as a part-time intern during the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Performed statistical regression analyses on production data of analog fields to better predict reservoir performance of exploration assets in key countries • Aided in the development of a global reservoir production dashboard using Microsoft PowerBI
• Participated in commercial assessments of hydrocarbon plays, which informed upcoming exploration plans • Provided key geoscience input for construction of a new velocity model in a seismic reprocessing project with WesternGeco • Evaluated the reservoir potential, seal capacity, and source maturity of leads within an emerging play • Led and participated in several acreage management activities, including data room presentations
• Performed well ties and correlated stratigraphy in 3D through complex salt environments • Mapped turbiditic systems and connected seismic observations to reservoir presence • Assessed the risk and hydrocarbon volume potential of prospective acreage and communicated results and business recommendations to management