Highlighting Scripps College's Prominent Figure: Lauren Kim
Lauren Kim, a third-year PhD student at the University of California San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is dedicated to understanding the complex interplay between storm waves and coastal landscapes.
Born from a desire to study something that directly impacts people living along coastlines, Lauren's research focuses on how storm waves interact with beaches and dunes. This knowledge is crucial in addressing the growing problem of coastal flooding due to sea-level rise.
During fieldwork, Lauren deploys a drone fitted with a laser scanner to measure waves and sediment movement at local San Diego beaches. She ensures that the scanner is properly recording data and fields questions from curious passersby.
Lauren's work is exciting because she can observe the processes she's studying in real time. However, she admittedly struggles with imposter syndrome, a feeling of not being suited for the program due to less research experience compared to her peers. But she finds solace and encouragement in the open door policies and willingness of her advisors, Mark Merrifield and Sarah Giddings, to answer any questions she may have.
Before joining Scripps, Lauren was chosen for a position as a Marine Physical Laboratory (MPL) intern in the summer of 2016. She chose Scripps because it is an institution full of many well-rounded individuals and researchers who are deeply passionate about the earth and ocean and all the socio-economic issues surrounding them.
A typical day for Lauren as a Scripps student pre-quarantine involved coding or reading research papers most of the day in her office. However, her plans post-Scripps are not well-defined. She hopes to pursue a career that is interdisciplinary, community-focused, and involves future generations of oceanographic researchers.
Despite the challenges, Lauren remains committed to her research. By better understanding these processes, scientists will be able to work with communities to both prevent and mitigate damages from coastal flooding. Her work is a testament to the importance of scientific inquiry and the impact it can have on our lives.
