Meet Outstanding Master小蝌蚪APP檚 in Environmental Resource Science Graduate Nina Zamanialavijeh
Nina Zamanialavijeh received her Master小蝌蚪APP檚 of Science degree in Environmental Resource Science at the Graduate School Commencement ceremony on Saturday, where she was recognized as a Spring 2021 Alumni Association Outstanding Master's Graduate. 
She earned a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in geology from the 小蝌蚪APP of Hormozgan in Iran, and returned to her studies after an eight year hiatus.
Upon her entry to the program in environmental resource science, 小蝌蚪APP淚 was so impressed by her positive attitude towards higher education and her professional demeanor that I offered her work as a research assistant on one of my pilot projects on mega-landslides,小蝌蚪APP recalls Dr. Eric Ferr茅, director of UL Lafayette's School of Geosciences.
小蝌蚪APP淪he handled the steep research learning curve in rock magnetism, including complex and delicate sample preparation, new measurements schemes on magnetic instruments and new scientific concepts, in a truly outstanding manner.小蝌蚪APP
Last August, Nina had the opportunity to join Dr. Ferr茅 on a trip to Utah to collect landslide pseudotachylyte samples in the field.
小蝌蚪APP淣ot only does she excel in the field but also she is very thorough in the laboratory. Her strengths are to make accurate observations and to take excellent notes,小蝌蚪APP Ferr茅 says.
小蝌蚪APP淪he is eager to learn, she is a hard worker and has proven on multiple occasions that she is very resourceful.小蝌蚪APP
Nina has submitted a manuscript based on her graduate research, 小蝌蚪APP淜inematics of frictional melts at the base of the world小蝌蚪APP檚 largest terrestrial landslide: Markagunt 2021 Plateau, southwest Utah, United States,小蝌蚪APP to the highly ranked peer-reviewed journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters as a first author.
During her time at UL Lafayette, she was awarded a $1,375 graduate student research grant from the Geological Society of America in support of her research on mega-landslides. Her grant application was 小蝌蚪APP渁mong the top 2% of those I have evaluated,小蝌蚪APP Ferr茅 notes.
Nina has also been praised as a dedicated, patient, and technically adept teaching assistant.
小蝌蚪APP淚 have heard directly from our students how good of a TA she is in terms of dedication, patience and technical skills. These compliments confirm my impressions that she is truly a very gentle and kind person,小蝌蚪APP Ferr茅 says.
After graduation, Nina plans to expand and continue her research by pursuing a doctorate in Geosciences.
