Get to Know Fiona
Fiona Valorz, a San Antonio native, grew up with a curiosity about the environment. Learning more about human society’s relationship to the environment led her to develop a passion for the subject, and she chose to major in environmental science when she enrolled at The University of Texas at San Antonio. UT San Antonio’s dedicated support for undergraduate research set her on the path to a career in academia.
Becoming a Researcher
During Fiona’s sophomore year at the university, she met Jeffrey Hutchinson, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Biology, Health and the Environment. Interested in his research, she joined his Ecology Wet Lab where she developed skills such as sediment and specimen collecting, data processing and microplastic collection. In only her second year in her undergraduate program, she had already gained crucial skills for working in a lab within the field of environmental science.
Career-Engaged Learning
Later in her college journey, Fiona used those foundational skills in her work with a local nonprofit, the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, where she picked up more skills like data analysis as she assisted with collecting water records related to environmental and water regulation in San Antonio. These experiences shaped Fiona into an experienced researcher and turned her passion for the environment into a drive to continue her studies. She plans to pursue a PhD within the field of environmental or energy economics.
“In pursuing undergraduate research at the University of Texas at San Antonio, I’ve learned that [a career in academia] is available to me.”