Scripps Student Spotlight: Noreen Garcia

Noreen Garcia is a sixth-year PhD candidate studying marine chemistry and geochemistry at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Garcia grew up in South Central Los Angeles, and earned her undergraduate degree from UC Irvine with a double major in chemistry and earth system science. At Scripps Oceanography, Garcia is researching shifts in biogeochemical cycles from the last glacial cycle in the lab of Scripps geoscientist Christopher Charles. She currently serves as a Community Engagement Fellow on the Scripps Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team, supporting efforts to develop and engage the Scripps community around EDI. Garcia was a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship in 2019 and the International Ocean Discovery Program Schlanger Fellowship in 2024. 

explorations now (en): Why did you choose to attend Scripps?

Noreen Garcia (NG): I decided to attend Scripps because I was introduced to my advisor and mentor, Chris Charles, who expressed interest in helping me reach my career goals. The department also offers various opportunities, such as local and international research expeditions, that would expand my skill set as a paleoceanographer and help me advance in my field. 

en: What are you researching at Scripps?

NG: I am currently researching the shifts in biogeochemical cycles from the last glacial cycle (80,000 years ago) in the Mozambique Channel, which is a body of water located between Madagascar and Mozambique. 

My first project consisted of using radiocarbon to study how subtropical and subantarctic waters have changed during the last 30,000 years and how these changes impacted the carbon cycle. The carbon cycle describes the process where carbon atoms move among the atmosphere, ocean, land and living organisms. It is important to understand the carbon cycle because carbon dioxide (the carbon form in our atmosphere) plays a crucial role in warming the Earth. Taking a closer look into the past can also help us understand if changes in the carbon cycle are tied to changes in ocean circulation. 

I have also been focused on measuring nitrogen-15 over the past 80,000 years to understand how nitrogen processes changed throughout important climate events, such as deglaciation. Developing a nitrogen-15 record from the Mozambique Channel would allow us to understand what physical, biological or chemical processes play a more dominant role in this channel and if these processes are affecting a local or larger region. This information allows us to better understand if the physical, biological or chemical processes affecting the nitrogen-15 signal are local or affecting a larger region. We are working to unfold how nitrogen, a key nutrient for living organisms, is being affected by climate shifts. 

en: How did you become interested in science and your field of study?

NG: I have always been interested in science, and so I chose to attend an undergraduate school that would allow me to explore oceanography. When I began my undergraduate studies at UC Irvine, one of my very close friends told me that I should give chemistry a chance. I found that I really enjoyed the application of chemistry to oceanography disciplines. With the assistance of one of my course professors, I found that the Druffel Lab at UC Irvine fit all my interests. I worked with professors Brett Walker and Ellen Druffel in applying radiocarbon to learn more about the history of our oceans. Every member of the lab helped me cultivate my interest and passion. They always supported my pursuits and encouraged me to ask questions in the field. My experience in the Druffel Lab had a significant impact on my academic career. It is important to discuss this kind of support in the academic space because when mentors invest their time and interest, students can then become more engaged in different fields. Now I am interested in paleoceanography, and I am learning more and more every day. 

en: What’s life like as a Scripps student? Describe a typical day.

NG: My life as a Scripps student does not have a set structure. I am not a part of a big lab — it’s just me, graduate student Anna Golub and our advisor Chris — so our schedules shift based on the project we are working on and what activities or field work we must prepare for. For instance, I was recently in Germany at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry where I had lab work from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for six weeks. I maximized the time I had there using the institute's facilities to obtain the best results for my project. Prior to Germany, I went into the lab at Scripps to wash sediment samples and pick foraminifera to prepare for this trip. Foraminifera are a single-celled organism that lives in the ocean, and during the formation of their calcium carbonate shell, they are able to capture the chemistry of the water that surrounds them. When the organism dies, its shell sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor and is preserved. We retrieve these shells from sediment samples from our ocean floor to take a glimpse into our past. Now that I am back, I will be writing more, focusing on manuscripts and postdoctoral fellowships. For the past six years at Scripps, my day-to-day schedule has changed based on the needs of my projects. 

en: What’s the most exciting thing about your work (in the field or in the lab)?

NG: I think the most exciting thing about my work is being able to see all my lab work come together, allowing me to demonstrate the significance of my work to a larger audience. After all the hard work and struggles with various programs, it is satisfying to finally be able to show why my work is so important and what it means. 

en: Are there any role models or mentors who have helped you along the way?

NG: I mentioned some of my mentors/role models previously, such as Ellen Druffel. But I’d also include Scripps Director of Diversity Initiatives Keiara Auzenne, Scripps geoscientist Sarah Aarons, Sheila Griffin at UC Irvine and Sophie Hines at MIT-WHOI as my mentors and role models who have all played a significant role in my career. These amazing women have always found a way to motivate me and help me cultivate my love for paleoceanography. I wish I could dedicate more space to explain how big of a role they each play in my life, but I would need way more space to describe the importance of every single woman. Lastly, I do want to mention my advisor, Chris Charles, who really listened to what I wanted to pursue coming into the program. While I may have hit some bumps in the road, he always tried to find solutions to make sure I achieved the goals I expressed to him. Overall, I want to emphasize the career-defining importance of finding mentors inside and outside of your lab because they will help guide you along your desired path. 

en: What are some of the challenges you face as a student?

NG: This is a loaded question and would need more space to address it. I work hard every day to try to make sure no one else has to face the same challenges by putting in extra work outside of science. I am able to work with others who might face similar challenges by being a peer mentor, as a friend or simply as a colleague. 

en: What are your plans post-Scripps?

NG: I do not have concrete plans post-Scripps, but I am currently seeking postdoctoral or job opportunities in either academia or industry. 

You can find Garcia on Instagram @paleochem.