Sthapatya Saketh Kotamraju

“My goal was to pursue something I loved that could be both my career and my passion, since I knew committing to an industry would mean dedicating 40 years to it.”

It wasn’t until Sthapatya Saketh Kotamraju travelled to Chennai for a scuba diving trip that he discovered a new passion: marine life and chemistry. But it was a niche field – most universities focused on chemistry-related programmes in manufacturing or pharmaceuticals, and only a few offered specialisations in marine chemistry. Having grown fond of the underwater world, Kotamraju wanted something that would allow him to integrate diving into his professional work.

That’s when he came across the MPS in Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Miami. Kotamraju pursued the Exploration Science track, which offers course topics centered around scientific research diving, motorboat operations, citizen science, exploration technology and media, among others. It was the perfect choice.

“One course that really stood out to me was ‘Theoretical and Practical Issues of Exploration Science,’ taught by Dr. Kenneth Broad. It was the best course I’ve taken here,” says Kotamraju, who is now the President of the Marine Science Graduate Student Organisation (MSGSO).

“The class was structured around seven to eight lectures, with guest speakers from diverse exploration backgrounds. Experts from National Geographic came in to speak with us. They taught us how to write research grants and even practical skills like rock climbing and knot tying – things that are essential in real-world exploration. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to learn these hands-on, practical lessons.”

An education here means receiving the best faculty support available. Kotamraju completed an internship with Dr. Amanda Oehlert, Assistant Professor of the School. They are working together to publish research for the National Science Foundation (NSF) on the Delta 5 Mass Spectrometer project. At the same time, he’s collaborating with Dr. Ali Pourmand, Associate Professor of the School, on uranium-thorium age dating research. These opportunities benefit Kotamraju, who is currently applying to PhD programmes to continue contributing new knowledge to the field.