Andy
Hock
 Who
I Am and what I Do
My name is Andy Hock and I am a third-year
graduate student en route to a Ph.D. in Geophysics and
Space Physics from the University of California, Los
Angeles Department of Earth and Space Sciences. I use
geophysics to study aqueous environments on Earth and
Mars in an effort to better understand their ability
to support biological communities. In particular, I
am interested in the habitability and longevity of heated
lake environments on Mars and targeting astrobiology
missions to the red planet. I was recently awarded a
NASA Graduate Student fellowship, which provides support
for my participation in the Licancabur expedition as
well as my collaboration between UCLA and NASA Ames
Research Center for my thesis research.
Career Journey
My career technically began in Ohio,
where I grew up with my mother, father, two brothers,
and more than enough dogs. I think my interest in science
began with my parents' fostering and a love of airplanes-I
remember my dreams of learning how to fly and understanding
more about aerodynamics. From there, my interest in
the space program was an easy transition: as soon as
I figured out that you could go faster and farther and
actually study other worlds, I was hooked. I left for
New England after High School in Worthington, Ohio with
a passion for science and attended Colgate University
in Hamilton, New York.
How did you get to where you are?
I was initially torn between the study
of medicine and astrophysics. After my first year, I
did research on pediatric pneumonia at a hospital in
Ohio. I had a wonderful experience, expanded my interest
in biology, but learned that practicing medicine in
a clinical setting wasn't for me. In a further attempt
to discover a fusion between astrophysics and the life
sciences, I found NASA's Astrobiology website, learned
as much as I could and began working. Through the course
of time and several research endeavors (Quasar Variability
- Colgate, Convection and Lightning on Jupiter - Cornell,
Underwater Ecology - University of New Hampshire, Asteroid
Rotation - Colgate, Biogeography of Hydrothermal Vent
Worms - Colgate) I graduated with a major in Astronomy-Physics
and a minor in Biology, focusing on planetary science
and molecular evolution.
Hobbies, Interests, etc.
Outside of the academic arena, I enjoy
hiking and camping, sports, and traveling; I grew up
hiking around the Midwest, and since then have taken
my backcountry adventures across the U.S., Canada, and
Mexico. I rowed competitively in college, and much of
my spare time in Los Angeles is taken up coaching for
one of the finest high school rowing programs in the
nation at the Marina Aquatic Center. I also have a passion-as
do many of you-for seeking out new experiences and new
places. My travels abroad have taken me across Europe
and through parts of Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. Next
on the list, after an amazing adventure exploring the
world's highest lake in Chile, is Turkey or Thailand.
Parting Words or Advice
If I were to impart any advice upon
students, it would be to remain in touch with your individual
passions and follow wherever they lead. Additionally,
whether your interest is in business, sports, science,
or something out of this world, higher education will
provide you the leverage to grab on to an amazing opportunity
when the time comes. Experience the world around.
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