CLIMATE AND EARTH
SYSTEM SCIENCES
Photo: UHH/Denstorf
1 February 2023
Photo: Laura Pednick, 2022
Growing up in India, I always wanted to study and work at institutions where groundbreaking research is happening. Master's degree in Hamburg widened my horizons and gave me the impetus to push even further, so pursuing a PhD in the US felt like the organic next step. The application process for Princeton University was straightforward, with key information on the college website. I sought and received valuable feedback and support from my supervisors - Prof. Dr Johanna Baehr, Dr Peter Landschützer and Dr Sebastian Brune - and colleagues at SICSS and the Climate Modelling group at the Institute of Oceanography at the University of Hamburg, which helped me refine my application materials. However, the most crucial step was getting in touch with my current advisor at Princeton, Prof. Laure Resplandy, during the application process and establishing common ground for research and expectations.
SICSS offers a broad overview of the climate system in addition to the ability to specialise in a domain of scientific interest, which has made me a well-rounded climate professional with a particular leaning towards oceanography. The faculty and my supervisors at the University of Hamburg pushed me to develop critical analysis, communication, programming, and technical skills that are pivotal for conducting research. My experience at SICSS studying with an international cohort with different academic backgrounds was incredible and has shaped me into who I am today.
I applied to graduate school during the pandemic, which brought with it feelings of insecurity about the state of the world and work. As an immigrant in Germany, these fears felt more acute. Additionally, there is always a fear of failure and needing to be ahead of the curve or at least at par. The only solution that worked for me to overcome such difficulties was to try my best consistently and seek the advice of those who’ve experienced similar situations. With perseverance and persistence, it is possible to focus on the positives, even when it seems daunting, a strategy I often turn to when times get tough in my doctorate journey.
My current research focuses on the ocean’s role in the carbon cycle, acting as a buffer against anthropogenic CO2 emissions and changing in response to a warming climate. I want to continue focusing on ocean biogeochemistry both at the atmosphere-ocean interface and at depth, using climate models as a tool to unearth why the ocean behaves as it does and how ocean processes - biological, chemical, and physical - may be altering the future.