GRSS Student Member Q&A: Madeleine Dawson

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GRSS Student Member Q&A: Madeleine Dawson

Written by: Kevin Corbley

Madeleine Dawson is a PhD student in the Ocean Sciences Department within the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami in Florida. Her research focuses on air-sea interaction and remote sensing, particularly using synthetic aperture radar to study island wakes. Madeleine earned her undergraduate degree in Biological Engineering from the University of Missouri. She joined GRSS in June 2023
and recently became a member of the GRSS Communications Team.

Why did you decide to join GRSS?

I wanted to learn from top researchers and scientists in my field and connect with them as I hope one day to be a leader in the geoscience and remote sensing world. Additionally, as a PhD student, especially when you’re studying a specific topic, sometimes you can feel a little lonely or set in your niche, in your office, working. So, joining GRSS gave me a community to feel a greater purpose in where I’m headed.

In terms of your current academic pursuits, how do you expect GRSS to support you and advance your objectives?

The biggest thing I really wanted is that community, and GRSS as a society has really high standards. I wanted to be a part of that so as I grow as a leader, while learning from those with more experience. Their guidance can help shape my path, both in terms of my research and career pursuits.

So far, what GRSS activities have you taken part in, and what are some that you hope to take part in in the future?

The thing that got me to become a part of GRSS was I went to a couple of summer schools. Summer schools are opportunities where students, not just PhD students, but sometimes undergrads or masters students, can have an experience to learn from the top researchers in the field and network. Also, I love the webinars; those are great virtual events to connect with people. It’s really good to expand your mindset outside of your research focus.

Thinking more long term, how do you anticipate GRSS will benefit your professional career once you’ve completed your PhD program?

It will keep me engaged in my field while also helping me grow as a researcher in the field. GRSS fosters connections with experts worldwide, creating opportunities for collaboration. That global network is something I am excited to continue building into my future through GRSS.

Have your experiences with GRSS so far met your expectations?

I was not expecting GRSS to be so connected…and I was really welcomed quickly into the society with the feeling that people want to support you and help you. That was something that I was blown away by. I’ve joined other academic societies, and sometimes you can get lost in the numbers, but I really feel that GRSS makes you feel important as an individual, and [values] how much you can contribute.

At what upcoming GRSS events can people expect to meet you?

I submitted a paper to IGARSS which is in Brisbane, Australia, this year [2025], which I’m excited about. So, I would love to meet people there.

What words of encouragement would you offer to other people, whether they’re professionals or in the academic realm, to encourage them to join GRSS?

Something I would tell other PhD students is that if you’re feeling you need more of a community and to be a part of something bigger, GRSS can really uplift you in terms of your research but [also offer] networking for professional opportunities. It’s become a bridge for me to make that jump from my academic position into my next steps. There’s not much difficulty in getting in, and then there are so many opportunities. Joining will provide a good return on investment in your academic future. And then for professionals, it helps you stay connected, not just with professionals your age, but with younger researchers like me who want to get to know the leaders in the field.

Do you know an IEEE GRSS Student Member who deserves to be recognized? We invite you to submit a nomination by sending a brief message to ir_pub@grss-ieee.org with the subject: “Student Member Spotlight.”