Dating the Carpathian mountains
After graduating in Geology at the University of Bucharest, Iuliana Vasiliev came to Utrecht to write her PhD thesis at the faculty of Earth Sciences. ‘Working here has been an inspiration to me. Utrecht almost feels like home.’
‘Utrecht has an excellent reputation in Earth Sciences. That’s why I came here. I work at the Paleomagnetism Laboratory, which offers unique research facilities and provides a very stimulating working environment. I particularly enjoy the lively discussions with my colleagues and supervisors. I’m also impressed by the students: they take an active part in academic life, organising conferences and excursions, and are not afraid to challenge their teachers in class.’
‘I made a conscious choice to do my doctoral research abroad. The new ideas you come across when you work in a different research environment help you to maintain an objective view. My dissertation concerns the dating of sediments in the Carpathian Mountains system. I’ve always been fascinated by nature. I’d like to get a better grip on how the earth has evolved. Although my research is only a tiny drop in a mighty ocean, I find it very exciting that I can contribute to a better understanding of geology.’