Sean Becker, who earned both a bachelor’s and master’s in geology at Temple University, is a recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Becker will pursue his doctorate in geoscience here at the College of Science and Technology’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science.
 

NSF’s graduate fellowship program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including STEM education.

“I've had a great time at Temple and really like the city,” said Becker, “but more importantly I am really excited about the research I've been doing here.”
 

Working with his faculty advisor Associate Professor Alix Davatzes, Becker conducts research on impact events that occurred during the Archean Eon, and the ejecta deposits associated with those events. “This can lead to a better understanding of the conditions of the ancient Earth,” said Becker. “I care a lot about the Earth and want to contribute to our understanding of its history.”

Becker’s research career started as an undergraduate, doing zoogeomorphology research along the Neshaminy Creek near Tyler State Park in Pennsylvania, specifically looking at the activity of beavers along the stream bank.
 

“It was a great experience,” said Becker, who’s undergraduate research advisor was Professor Ilya Buynevich. “I learned a lot about the research process and how to communicate those findings to a larger audience. It also helped me to realize how much I enjoy doing research and field work.”

For Becker, the NSF fellowship is life changing. “The fellowship has provided me with a lot of opportunities to continue doing the research I care about, while also giving me the resources to really focus on that work,” he said. “Having that security and the extra time to home in on that work helps to set me up for a very promising career.”