I am a Pennsylvania native, born and raised in the Philadelphia area.

I went to the University of California, Santa Barbara for my undergraduate degree in physics.

I am currently a Masters student for the Geosciences program!

Madison Hernandez is pursuing her master’s in Geosciences at Penn State. Prior, she received a B.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lehigh University. Her research interests include hydrogeology, water resources, and planning under uncertainty. She enjoys learning how climate change and anthropogenic forces affect water resources in communities. Outside of research, she often spends her time doing yoga, hiking, and reading.

Madison was awarded the Chevron Earth Science Diversity Support Award for Fall 2024.

Amina is a PhD student in the Department of Geosciences at Penn State University. She is a water scientist and climate enthusiast with broad interests in environmental and water resources management, effects of land use and changes, climate dynamics impacts, and sustainable management practices.  Currently, her research examines nutrient pollution along the Pennsylvania coastline of Lake Erie, specifically evaluating how agricultural practices in grape farming and groundwater discharge contribute to the Lake’s eutrophication. Through her work, Amina aims to identify sources of nutrient runoff and analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of nutrient distribution in the region.

Before joining the Geosciences Department at Penn State, Amina earned a Master of Science in Geological Sciences with a certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Illinois State University, where she researched the impact of tile drainage water on groundwater nitrate concentrations within a saturated riparian buffer zone. She also holds a Bachelor of Technology in Applied Geology from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Passionate about fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, Amina actively participates in professional organizations and community outreach. Her dedication to bridging scientific research with practical applications underscores her commitment to advancing sustainable environmental management. Outside of her academics and research pursuits, Amina enjoys watching documentaries, and law and medical series.