Doctoral Student Matthew Vrazo Earns University of Cincinnati Dean's Fellowship

Meet Matthew Vrazo, recipient of a University of Cincinnati Dean's Fellowship:

What is your undergraduate degree?

• Geology/Biology Joint Honors

Where did you obtain your undergraduate degree from?

• University of Bristol, UK

What is your master's degree in and from where?

• Paleobiology from the University of Bristol, UK

What is your graduate program of study?

• Geology

Describe your research in one sentence:

• I am investigating the ecology and life habitats of eurypterids, a group of extinct chelicerate arthropods that are also know as a "sea scorpions."

What's the most interesting thing about your research that no one understands?

• Trying to reconstruct the behavior and ecology of an organism that has been extinct for hundreds of millions of years.

What's the best part of grad school?

• Having the flexibility to explore new methods and control the direction of your research.

What's the worst part of grad school?

• Having a 24/7 work mindset as opposed to a regular 9-5.

What does this fellowship mean to you?

• This will give me the opportunity to bring several projects to completion and hopefully to publication before I move onto my next academic venture.