Preparing for the Field, One Opportunity at a Time

Published: August 9, 2026

Chicas aboard the Petty during the Marine Geology & Geophysics Field Camp in Port Aransas.

This summer, Healthyhorns student assistant Mia Chicas traded her campus office for the Texas coast, where she spent three weeks applying her classroom knowledge during the Marine Geology & Geophysics Field Camp.

A geophysics major in the Jackson School of Geosciences from Houston, Texas, Chicas participated in an immersive field experience that took students from the Pickle Research Campus in Austin to Port Aransas on the Texas Gulf Coast. There, they collected sediment cores, grab samples, seismic data and sonar data from Aransas, Nueces and Corpus Christi bays before analyzing the information and presenting original research. Mia's group investigated why the bays contain different amounts of natural gas.

Chicas aboard the Petty during the Marine Geology & Geophysics Field Camp in Port Aransas.

While the field camp introduced new technical skills, Chicas says many of the professional skills she relied on were developed during her time as a Healthyhorns student assistant.

"The student assistant role taught me how to work with different people in different situations," she said. "I also became more comfortable balancing multiple projects without feeling overwhelmed."

Those experiences prepared her for the pace of field camp, where students balanced long days of data collection with research, analysis and presentations. They also helped her adapt quickly as projects evolved and priorities shifted throughout the three-week program.

Chicas and fellow students prepare equipment to collect a sediment core.

Working with Healthyhorns also strengthened Chicas' communication skills. Through collaborating with professional staff, fellow student employees and campus partners, she learned how to work effectively with people from different backgrounds and roles. She says that confidence carried over to field camp, making it easier to communicate with professors and graduate students, ask questions and build professional relationships.

Her campus job also sharpened her problem-solving abilities. During one Healthyhorns project, Chicas researched campus resources, identified key contacts and worked across departments to complete a scanning and archiving initiative. That experience taught her how to navigate unfamiliar situations, think critically and find solutions, all of which proved valuable while conducting field research.

One of Chicas' favorite memories came while collecting a sediment core near Mustang Island.

"Getting to collect the data ourselves helped me better understand the entire research process," she said. "Working in the field and seeing everything come together was my favorite part of the experience."

The experience reinforced Chicas' interest in pursuing a career in geophysics. After graduation, she hopes to work for an energy or consulting company before earning a master's degree. While she's still at UT, she plans to broaden her education by exploring subjects outside her major, including media and the arts.

Chicas enjoys the view overlooking Austin during a hike.

Looking back, Chicas encourages other students to take advantage of opportunities that build skills beyond the classroom.

"Do it, even if it sounds scary," she said. "The skills and experiences you gain will stay with you throughout your career and your life."

For Chicas, her Healthyhorns student assistant position has been more than a campus job. It has helped her build the communication, adaptability and problem-solving skills that supported her success in the field and will continue to serve her throughout her career.

Mia Drago, assistant to the associate vice president of Health and Well-being and Chicas’ supervisor, has watched her grow since she joined the Healthyhorns student assistant team in spring 2024, during her freshman year. Chicas will continue working with the department as she begins her senior year in fall 2026.

Chicas participates in the Texas Folklorico student organization, one of the many ways she stays involved outside the classroom.

"It's been such a joy working with Mia and watching her grow during her time at UT and with Healthyhorns," Drago said. "I've seen her confidence grow in working with a wide range of professional staff and rising to the challenge of managing multiple projects. I'm excited to see what's ahead for Mia in her senior year and the years that follow. I know she will do great things."