Erin Saupe

Erin Saupe had no aspirations of becoming a science major when she enrolled at CSB/SJU. However, her future soon changed when she took an introductory geology course her first semester at college. “I knew I found something I was passionate about,” Saupe said. “The professor pulled me into the subject matter and made the everyday world fascinating.”

As a Natural Science major, Saupe has had the opportunity to study topics in geology as well as environmental science, biology and chemistry. She has participated in many research projects, including analyzing the oil and gas reserves of the Gulf Coast with the United States Geological Survey and working on a dinosaur dig during summer field research in Montana.

Saupe has presented her research at two National Geological Society of America meetings as well as participated in Posters on the Hill, a national event where student’s research is presented to congressmen in Washington D.C.

“Perhaps my favorite research experience was during my internship at the Smithsonian’s National Museum for Natural History. I was able to research with the top scientists in the world and learn tremendously from all the resources around me. I never would have been able to participate in that program had I not had the excellent scientific background CSB/SJU provides,” Saupe said. She is currently working on publishing the results of her summer research.

Saupe’s time as a laboratory teaching assistant has inspired her to continue to graduate school. “I hope I can become an inspirational professor like the ones who have taught me at CSB/SJU,” Saupe said.