Meet Our New Graduate Students!

The 2026 Cohort

This Fall, we're excited to welcome eight new graduate students to our program! New PhD cohort: Claire Ackerman, Alicia Manzo, Cindy Su, Jade Wells, Sam Randall. New MA cohort: Zane Warden, Terra Schamun, Yuval Aryeh Ravinsky-Gray (not pictured).

Smiling young man with camera on sunlit mountain trail, rocky cliff and forested peak, photo

Claire Ackerman
Ph.D. Student | Earth and Planetary Sciences

I am originally from coastal Massachusetts! I have spent the last few years in Colorado, and I am so excited to make it all the way to the west coast for this next chapter. I studied Environmental Chemistry during undergrad, and I am looking forward to applying my chemistry background to applied earth science with Dr. CJ Sun in EPS.

I will be researching the behaviors of extreme paleo-weather and paleoclimates of the continental US using novel proxy data and high-resolution climate model simulations. UC Davis offers so many opportunities for field work and collaborations across departments and I am looking forward to learning more geologic field techniques as I begin collecting data of my own.

Young woman in purple beanie and blue puffer jacket smiling by a river and autumn mountains

Alicia Manzo
Ph.D. Student | Earth and Planetary Sciences

I’m a Californian through and through and have always loved spending time outdoors. Some of my passions include birding, hiking, and traveling. I’m always looking for new adventures and opportunities to learn more about the world around me.

My previous research focused on the connections between tectonics, magma storage, and magma transport. I’m interested in understanding how magma moves through the crust and how these processes influence volcanic systems. UCD was a great fit because of its strong petrology and geochemistry community and the opportunity to work with faculty whose research aligns closely with my interests.

I’m most looking forward to developing as a researcher and exploring new questions about magmatic systems. I’m also excited to become part of the EPS community, learn from people working across different areas of Earth and planetary science, and take advantage of the opportunities that come with being at UCD.

Smiling young man in bucket hat and backpack standing on a rocky cliff

Sam Randall
Ph.D. Student | Earth and Planetary Sciences

I just finished my M.S. in volcanology and geochemistry at Western Washington University, studying a ~6,700-year-old Mount Baker tephra deposit under Kristina Walowski. Before that I got my B.S. in Geoscience and Environmental Studies at Eckerd College, then worked at the USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center. Outside the lab I love to cook, surf, snowboard, play volleyball, read sci-fi, and write indie-folk songs on guitar!

I'll be joining Jim Watkins's lab in experimental petrology, using a computer-controlled cold-seal rapid-quench pressure vessel to experimentally recreate oscillatory zoning in plagioclase, reproducing in the lab the compositional banding that natural crystals record as magma moves through the crust. UC Davis was the clear choice for the strength of its experimental facilities and the chance to work directly with Jim. I'm also very excited to explore all that the gorgeous nearby California landscape has to offer!

Getting hands on with experimental work after several years of mostly analytical and field-based research, along with building and running experiments myself instead of just characterizing natural samples. I'm also looking forward to putting down roots in Davis and building a life here alongside the science.

Woman in straw hat smiling with happy black-and-white dog on sunny deck

Terra Schamun
M.A. Student | Earth and Planetary Sciences

I spent the decade after high school mostly in the SF Bay area working a myriad of different jobs--all the while cultivating a passion for the intersection of biology, education and the environmental sciences. Eventually, my curiosity led me to the UC Davis department of Environmental Toxicology where I got my bachelor's. There, Dr. Christy Grettenberger hired me as an undergrad to help study bioremediarion of acid mine drainage in her lab. I enjoyed the position and the department so much, I haven't been able to leave since! As a grad student, I'm excited to continue this research with the focus it deserves.

Smiling young woman in red blouse holding water bottle in front of red informational poster

Cindy Su
Ph.D. Student | Earth and Planetary Sciences

I am Cindy, and I have studied paleontology since my undergraduate years. My main research focus is the functional morphology of marine vertebrates. In my free time, I enjoy photography, swimming, and Pokémon!

I chose the EPS department at UC Davis to learn from leading experts in paleontology and to collaborate with brilliant students from diverse scientific backgrounds. As I start my graduate program, I am most excited to meet everyone, explore this new environment, and head out on field trips across California.

Smiling man on boat in yellow life vest holding bright orange sea cucumber

Zane Warden
M.A. Student | Earth and Planetary Sciences

My name is Zane and I am an incoming master's student in the Earth and Planetary Sciences department. I plan to study interactions between marine invertebrates and microplastics through an interdisciplinary lens that includes coastal ecology, microbiology, and ecotoxicology. I grew up in Vega, Texas and received my undergraduate education in Arizona (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University). I earned my Bachelor’s in Applied Meteorology but decided to pivot towards a marine science focus in graduate school. I live with my partner Alyx and our two cats Crookshanks and Pumpkin. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with them, collecting vinyls, reading, watching American football and MotoGP, and gushing about nature!

I chose to join the UC Davis graduate community because I believe it will offer me an excellent graduate education and the means to conduct impactful research that I am passionate about. I became particularly interested in the EPS department after seeing how interdisciplinary the research and instruction topics were across its faculty. While initially doubtful that the department would be a fit for me, networking with some EPS faculty members before applying made me realize that I could certainly pursue my interests here. Additionally, I find value in being part of a department that brings in so many diverse perspectives and subjects under the umbrella of earth sciences. I expect that this will enrich my graduate experience in ways that I may not have been exposed to in other programs.

I’m most looking forward to being a full-time student again and using the research and teaching opportunities ahead of me to positively impact others. After being out of school for over five years and gaining some teaching experience, I now realize how much I enjoy the college environment as both a learner and an educator. As a learner, I'm excited to be able to build knowledge through courses and meaningful research. As an educator, I'm excited to grow as a science communicator and inspire interest in others whether that be for a class I am TA'ing, for undergraduate lab members, or for the general public.

Smiling young woman outdoors, wavy blonde hair, green sweater, blue sky background

Jade Wells
Ph.D. Student | Earth and Planetary Sciences

I'm originally from Arizona, but I spent several years growing up on Maui. Exploring tide pools and snorkeling in Hawai'i is where I first became captivated by marine life and the history of our planet, eventually leading me to pursue a B.S. in Earth and Space Sciences with a minor in Paleobiology at the University of Washington. As an undergraduate, I studied ancient microbial structures called stromatolites to better understand how early life is preserved in the rock record. Outside of research, I enjoy photography, hiking, and spending time outdoors, and I'm excited to explore California's coastline.

Our planet's history and the search for life beyond Earth have always fascinated me. UC Davis stood out because of its collaborative Earth and Planetary Sciences community and the opportunity to work with Dr. Kathleen Campbell and other faculty on projects that connect Earth's ancient environments with planetary exploration. The department's strengths in geobiology and its interdisciplinary approach make it an exciting place to pursue research at the intersection of Earth history and astrobiology.

I'm looking forward to diving into new research questions, getting involved in fieldwork, and learning from the incredible faculty and students in the department. Graduate school is such a unique opportunity to learn from people with different perspectives, and I'm excited to see where those collaborations lead.