CV

Mandala Pham

Email: mandaphm@gmail.com | Phone: (512) 998-5950 | GitHub: github.com/mandaphm | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mandaphm

Education

University of Texas at Austin – Bachelor of Science in Geophysics, Bachelor of Arts in History
August 2021 – May 2025

Cumulative GPA: 3.6026
Major GPA: 3.8404
Scholarships and Awards:
- Karl Frederick Hagemeier, Jr. Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship (2024-2025)
- Mr. and Mrs. L. F. McCollum Scholarship in Geology (2023-2024)
- John C. and Marian B. Maxwell Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Geological Sciences (2022-2023)
- Houston Geological Society Undergraduate Scholarship Nomination (2023)
- Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District 2021 Kent S. Butler Memorial Groundwater Stewardship Scholarship, Groundwater Essay Contest Winner
Clubs and Activities:
- Collaboration for Undoing Racism in Environmental Sciences (CURES) - Founder
- AustinYAD (2022-2025) - PR Officer (2023-2025)
- Undergraduate Geological Society (2022-2025)
- UT Young Historians (2021-2022)
- Texas Digital Humanities (2021-2022) - Social Media Officer (2022)
Relevant coursework:
- Geology
  - GEO 401: Physical Geology
  - GEO 338J: Marine Geology
  - GEO 416K/E: Earth Materials/Solid Earth Processes
  - GEO 416M: Sedimentary Rocks
  - GEO 420K: Intro to Field and Stratigraphic Methods
  - GEO 365P: Potential Fields and Their Applications in Geophysics
  - GEO 352P: Python for Geoscience Research
  - GEO 348K: Marine Geology and Geophysics Field Course
  - GEO 465K: Seismic Exploration
  - GEO 371T: Ice Sheets, Sediments, and Sea Level
  - GEO 325G: Computational Applications in Geoscience
  - GEO 325M: Numerical Modeling in Geoscience
  - GEO 371C: Glaciology
  - GEO 325C: Continuum Mechanics
  - GEO 354: Physics of Earth
  - GEO 315L: Earth From Lab to Planet
- Nuclear Science
  - ME 377C: Intro to Nuclear Systems
- Physics
  - PHY 315: Wave Motion and Optics
- Math
  - M W427J: Differential Equations with Linear Algebra
  - M 427L: Advanced Calculus For Applications II
- Environmental Science
  - EVS 311: Introduction to Field Seminar in Science & Sustainability
  - GEO 371T: Science of Environmental Justice
  - GRG 369D: GIS Applications in Social/Environmental Science
- History
  - HIS 320W: Thinking Like a Historian
  - HIS 343G: Italian Renaissance 1350-1550
  - HIS 354F: Three French Wars, 20th Century
  - HIS 331E: Arah-Israeli Conflict
  - HIS F355N: Main Currents in American Culture Since 1865
  - HIS 340R: European Empires in Asia
  - HIS 366N: Trash/Treasure in Europe, 1400-1800
- Law
  - Governor Pataki-Roberts Pre-Law Fellowship Program (2022)
    - Topics covered: Civil Procedure, Torts, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Contracts, Case Briefing, Mock Exam

Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School – High School Diploma
August 2017 – May 2021

Graduated top 10%
AISD Trustee Award (2018)
National Merit Scholar Finalist (2020-2021)
Honors Orchestra officer (2019-2021)

Experience

Undergraduate Research Assistant

The University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
August 2022 – Present

Supervisor: Dr. Ginny Catania
UTIG Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2022, 2023)
Glacier Terminus Modeling and Remote Sensing
- Expanded terminus-driven numerical model project to apply the model towards the rest of Greenland’s glaciers with aims to determine and categorize terminus velocity driving factors over periods of seasonal variability
- Designed and completed a project studying ice melange seasonality in West Greenland utilizing self-taught Python to navigate through the extraction and analysis of remote sensing data from NASA’s EarthData granule library
- Conducting machine learning analysis of glacier termini, training AI to recognize terminus positions
- Created glacier shape files for AI training to automate terminus delineation in Antarctica and Greenland
- Used satellite imagery from Landsat 8 to manually trace glacier terminuses in Antarctica across different time periods and weather conditions
- Compared satellite imagery to find the most accurate representations of glacier termini and fjord boundaries
Glacier Modeling and Climate Data Analysis
- Running MMAster modeling for Antarctic and Greenland glaciers, including glacier shape file creation and climate data extraction from NASA satellite databases
- Conducted GHRSST Level 2P and 3 MODIS Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data extraction from NASA EarthData granules using Harmony API, modeling seasonal SST variability in West Greenland proglacial mélange
- Studied ice mélange seasonality in West Greenland glaciers, analyzing its relationship to terminus stability, improving models developed in the Ice Research Group (Kevin Shionalyn, Enze Zhang, Mikayla Pascual, Alexandra Stephens)
- Identified and updated glaciers in the Antarctic Ice Sheet ID file for improved terminus change tracking
Collaborative Research
- Participating in bi-weekly research meetings discussing scientific literature on ice-sheet dynamics and glaciology

Summer Research Intern

Carnegie Mellon University – Pittsburgh, PA
May 2024 – August 2024

Supervisor: Dr. David Rounce
Ran model simulations using PyGEM-EB, an energy balance model developed by PhD student Claire Wilson based on Dr. Rounce’s PyGEM framework
Perturbed input datasets by modifying temperature profiles for Gulkana Glacier to analyze sensitivity to extreme warming events
Created synthetic heatwaves as model inputs to observe energy balance responses and their impact on glacier mass balance over a melt season
Compared model outputs to assess how heatwaves affect glacier surface energy fluxes and seasonal melt patterns
Designed a research poster and presented findings at Carnegie Mellon’s CEE Summer Research Program poster session
Published an abstract to AGU 2024 (Abstract ID: 1602284)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

The University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
June 2023 – May 2024

Supervisor: Dr. Derek Haas
Assisted grad student Madi Brooks in the chemistry and nuclear radiation lab on the Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) project, part of the MSRR Material Activation Experiment
Irradiated shielding materials to induce radioactive decay and observe the radionuclides produced
Quantified radiation activity to assess the environmental impact of activated materials
Evaluated whether radiation levels complied with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) safety standards as outlined in 10 CFR Part 20 – Standards for Protection Against Radiation

Undergraduate Research Assistant

The University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
June 2022 – May 2023

Supervisor: Dr. Jay Banner
Conducted field sampling and hydrogeologic surveying in Austin-area watersheds to assess urban impacts and watershed health
Monitored calcite growth patterns and sampled dripwater in Central Texas caves, analyzing speleothem formation and water chemistry
Performed strontium isotope chemistry in a clean lab to trace hydrogeochemical processes in karst systems
Inventoried field records and sampling data from 1994 to present, organizing physical samples, field notebooks, and an Access database for archival purposes
Photographed and indexed speleothems from local caves to document calcite deposition patterns
Conducted ICP-MS analysis on dripwater samples, measuring cations, anions, hydrogen isotopes, oxygen isotopes, and alkalinity
Titrated and aliquoted collected water samples prior to chemical analysis
Scraped calcite plates deployed over 4-6 week intervals to run strontium isotope analysis, creating an isotopic map of deposition patterns
Prepared and dried soil samples for geochemical analysis
Performed acid and non-acid cleaning of lab equipment, including glassware, Teflon containers, syringes, pipettes, and filters
Created Excel graphs based on past geochemical data for project proposals and presentations
Participated in fieldwork at Westcave, Inner Space Cavern, Cave Without a Name, and Natural Bridge Caverns, sampling dripwater, monitoring karst hydrology, and studying calcite precipitation
Sampled major Austin-area streams (Bull Creek, Onion Creek, and Waller Creek) to analyze chemical and microbial water quality, including microbial source tracking
Studied correlations between dripwater chemistry and prior calcite precipitation (PCP) in Cave Without a Name samples

Creative Development Intern

The Hideaway Entertainment – Beverly Hills, CA
September 2022 – December 2022

Supervisor: Sedona Rose Saulnier
Provided detailed script coverage and analysis for four feature screenplays or novels per week, evaluating story structure, character development, and marketability
Attended weekly intern meetings discussing film industry mechanisms, career development, and market trends
Conducted weekly research on industry trade articles to stay updated on trends in film production, distribution, and emerging talent
Maintained an average script coverage time of 2.5 hours per feature, ensuring concise, insightful, and actionable feedback for development executives

Shift Supervisor

Starbucks – Austin, TX
August 2020 – August 2022

Supervisor: Elise Loomis
Led and coordinated daily shifts, ensuring smooth operations and team efficiency
Trained and mentored three new hires, fostering a productive and customer-focused work environment
Maintained high customer satisfaction despite staffing shortages, keeping customer connection scores in the high 50s
Managed store revenue averaging $10,000 per day, ranking as the top-performing store in the district
Handled money management and inventory accountability, ensuring financial accuracy and stock efficiency
Effectively communicated with fellow supervisors to ensure seamless shift transitions
Filed incident reports and managed high-stress situations calmly and professionally to maintain store safety and service standards

Field Work

San Salvador Island, Bahamas

The University of Texas at Austin February 24, 2024 – March 1, 2024

Tracked dune to foreshore transitions and upper-shoreface to foreshore transitions with in-situ GPS measurements to track sea level elevation during the last interglacial maximum
Piloted a drone to photograph various outcrops around the island
Identified characteristics of various units pertaining to the LIG time-period utilizing geologic reasoning and stratigraphic methods

Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Woodwell Climate Research Center July 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023

Conducted intensive field work researching the effect of climate change on tundra ecosystems focusing on mycologic biodiversity in areas affected by wildfires via field surveys and in-lab analyses
AGU2023 poster and abstract presentation (Abstract ID: 1297586)

Port Aransas, Texas

The University of Texas at Austin May 2, 2023 – May 31, 2023

Deployed and recorded seismic data via CHIRP and Sparker instruments as well as multibeam and side scan instruments
Processed data from CHIRP and Sparker seismic surveys to evaluate river channel history
Cleaned up and visualized multibeam and backscatter data using EIVA program for the first time
Collected grab samples and vibra-core samples for later lab analysis to determine total organic carbon composition for reconstruction of past extreme weather events in the area

Projects

Project Name

GitHub Repository

Brief description of the project.
Technologies used: Python, JavaScript, etc.

Another Project Name

GitHub Repository

Brief description of the project.
Technologies used: C++, SQL, etc.

Skills

Programming: Python, Java, C++, JavaScript
Tools & Frameworks: Git, Docker, TensorFlow, React
Other: Technical Writing, Public Speaking

Certifications & Awards

Certification Name – Issuing Organization (Year)
Award Name – Details about the award (Year)

Extracurricular Activities

Leadership Role, Organization Name – Month Year – Present
Volunteer Work – Brief description of role

Education

B.S. in Geophysics, The University of Texas at Austin, 2025
B.A. in History, The University of Texas at Austin, 2025

Work experience

Spring 2024: Academic Pages Collaborator
- Github University
- Duties includes: Updates and improvements to template
- Supervisor: The Users
Fall 2015: Research Assistant
- Github University
- Duties included: Merging pull requests
- Supervisor: Professor Hub
Summer 2015: Research Assistant
- Github University
- Duties included: Tagging issues
- Supervisor: Professor Git