Matan Elad

“I hold a master’s degree in Marine Geo-Sciences and am nearing the completion of my PhD in Marine Technologies. In my current role, I am a geologist at Ratio Petroleum.

After earning my bachelor’s degree in geology from Ben-Gurion University, I started working for a company specializing in hydrogeology and groundwater. A significant part of my work involved mapping and analyzing subsurface data.

After two years of work, I sought a suitable place to pursue a master’s degree. I felt that the master’s program in Marine Geo-Sciences met all my needs in the best way. Several factors were important to me when choosing a program: interest in the research field, applicability, and flexibility in terms of time (to allow for work alongside studies).

During my master’s, I worked with sediment cores and performed various analyses on them. Throughout the degree, I developed a strong desire to work with seismic data, leading me to shift my focus from my master’s to my PhD. I particularly enjoyed the courses on processing and interpreting seismic data.

There is very high-quality research in the department, which provides inspiration. There are also projects in collaboration with the industry, so in terms of connections, it can open many doors. Besides gaining extensive professional knowledge, I appreciated that most of the studies were conducted in English, which significantly improved my language skills and is very relevant today, as most of my work is done in English. I also met good people along the way, with whom I am always happy to talk and consult.

It is not trivial to develop a career in something you love doing, and for me, that is very important. Of course, the financial aspect is also crucial, especially in an expensive country like ours.

For anyone considering whether to enroll in a degree program, I would recommend reaching out to a few potential supervisors based on the student’s interest in different research areas. In the end, it all comes down to the people, and if there is a connection with a supervisor, that’s excellent.

Following a project I did at the beginning of my PhD, I received the offer to join Ratio Petroleum as a geologist. Thus, it can be concluded that studying at the School of Marine Sciences has had a significant impact on my career.”