Josef in the field collecting water samples
This month we are excited to shine the GEOS spotlight on Josef Franco! Josef is a soon-to-be graduate of our BIS in Environmental Science program, which has officially been housed in our department for the last couple of years. Learn more about Josef and his experiences in our program over the last few years in our Q&A below!
Where are you from originally?
I am originally from the city of Lilburn in Gwinnett County.
Where did you go to school before coming to GSU?
Before coming to GSU I went to Brookwood High School.
What year in school are you? / How long have you been a student at GSU?
I am in my final year of undergrad at GSU and have been here for 4 years.
What’s your major/concentration?
I am a BIS Environmental Science major, with a double minor in geology and geosciences.
Which class has been your favorite to take in the Department of Geosciences?
My favorite class that I have taken while here at Georgia State (despite there being many) has probably been Surface Water Hydrology with Dr. Ledford because that is where I developed an immense interest in hydrologic studies pushing me to get the certificate in Water Sciences. A close second would have to be any one of my GIS classes with Dr. Dai!
What is your favorite thing about being a GEOS major at GSU?
My favorite thing about being a part of this department here at GSU is the diversity. I have met, collaborated, and researched with so many wonderful students and teachers all of which have left lasting impacts on myself and my time here at GSU.
What are you working with or researching right now? Feel free to share any interesting experiences you had in past internships, teaching assistantships, and/or research projects.
Currently I am working on some GIS research with my partner Jake Abney, analyzing salamander populations at risk in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains in relation to Toxic Release Sites provided by the EPA. For the past 3 semesters I have also been interning and working with Dr. Ledford's Urban Hydrology Lab and the South River Watershed Alliance, collecting water samples from and around Atlanta streams in the South River watershed and testing them for E.coli using the IDEXX method. Getting to go out into the community and feel like you’re making a difference in helping to push for clean/safe water is something that has kept me working with this internship for so long.
What are you planning to do after GSU and how do you think your GEOS degree at GSU has prepared you for that?
After GSU I am planning to get my feet wet in the job market and earn some experience under my belt. I have currently secured an internship with an environmental consulting company over the summer and will be exited to gain insight into the industry and earn experience that I can take with me into the next phase of life for me. I do want to pursue my masters degree hopefully after about a year of working and hopefully I can do that here at GSU.
My degree has prepared me for this by providing a detailed, and well-rounded education regarding the natural earth systems, environmental sciences, and data analysis just to name a few. It has made me confident that I know enough regarding my fields because of the excellent professors and classes I have had the pleasure of taking while here at GSU.