Meet Oxford-Kellogg Graduate Scholar Miao Sun (DPhil Earth Sciences)

Oxford-Kellogg Graduate Scholar Miao Sun is joining us this upcoming academic year to undertake a DPhil in Earth Sciences.

Read about Miao’s academic journey to Oxford and how she feels about starting her DPhil as a Kellogg Scholar:

What is your field of research and what led you to apply to Oxford?

During my undergraduate years, I observed phytoplankton using a microscope in the laboratory. While these close-range observations advanced my knowledge of phytoplankton, I wondered: instead of relying solely on our eyes to look through microscopes, are there better observation methods to enable temporal analysis over vast spatial scales? Motivated by these thoughts, I pursued a master’s degree in physical oceanography (ocean remote sensing stream).

After working on my research project titled “Evaluation and Calibration of Ocean Remote Sensing Products based on BGC-Argo,” I became eager to use satellite technology to explore more mysteries of marine phytoplankton. When I came across the [University of Oxford’s] project page on the DPhil in Earth Sciences, I found my dream project: “The ecological and photosynthetic properties of marine phytoplankton in the subpolar North Atlantic and its impact on the ocean’s carbon cycle”. This is the field of research I have always aspired to and wanted to pursue.

What are you looking forward to the most about starting at Oxford?

I am excited and honoured to be awarded the scholarship, and I eagerly look forward to joining the Kellogg community.

What I look forward to most is immersing myself in the excellent academic atmosphere of Oxford, learning from exceptional teachers and peers in diverse academic activities at Kellogg, and becoming a more confident person.

I am so grateful for the Oxford-Kellogg Graduate Scholarship. It will allow me to dedicate myself to future research without financial stress. It is also an honour for me, giving me a lot of energy to continue my efforts and encouraging me to keep improving.

Kellogg College offers a wide range of scholarships each year, for students studying full-time or part-time.

Find out more about the Department of Earth Sciences at Oxford.