Personal & Academic Goals:

My long-term goal is to become a college professor, where I can combine research, teaching, and mentorship. I hope to teach at a college or university with a strong geology program located in a geologically diverse region, where field experiences can be central to learning. I am passionate about connecting classroom concepts to the outdoors, mentoring students in research, and expanding inclusion within the geosciences.

Skills:

I have a range of research and teaching skills I've learned through my work in volcanology and igneous petrology. My background includes hands-on experience with analytical tools such as SEM, electron microprobe, EBSD, XRD, and spectroscopy, as well as petrographic and image-based techniques including thin section microscopy, ImageJ, and crystal size distribution analysis. I also use R for statistical analysis and data visualization, and have strong field skills in mapping, sampling, and leading field-based learning. Through my teaching experience, I have developed curriculum and taught at the high school and university levels, presented research at professional conferences, and mentored students through research and outreach activities.

Research Interests:

My research interests are physical volcanic processes and the connection between volcanic and plutonic systems. I am interested in eruption dynamics, magma plumbing system evolution, and igneous petrology, and crystallography and conditions of crystallization. I also am interested in eruption environments, including lava–water interactions, to better understand how these processes shape both terrestrial and planetary systems.

Project Description:

My current project focuses on investigating the spectral signatures of volcanic deposits at Mud Lake, Idaho, to better understand lava-water interactions. Using a TerraSpec Halo NIR spectrometer, I am analyzing different rock types (including spatter, lacustrine deposits, and lithic clasts) to identify mineralogical changes and establish spectral “end members.” These data will be compared with physical features and mineral analyses (XRD, microscopy, SEM) to improve our ability to recognize similar environments on Earth and Mars, with implications for understanding habitability on other planets.

For 12/10:

• Work on manuscript (writing and revisions)

• Try again on XRD

• Read/summarize Rogers (2025)

• LPSC abstract

  • pick figures from manuscript

  • review requirements/format

• Implement daily writing plan

For 12/3:

• Send draft to SKN

  • {SKN give feedback by end of semester}

• Read/summarize:

  • Paladino dissertation

  • Rogers (2025)

• Hold: LPSC abstract

• Try again on XRD

For 11/19:

• Manuscript

  • work on text

  • bring draft next week

• Read/summarize:

  • Paladino dissertation

  • Rogers (2025)

  • Leight (2024)

• Compile info for meeting with GeoClub 11/14

• Hold: LPSC abstract

• Try running XRD

For 11/12:

• Manuscript

  • work on text

  • bring draft next week

• Read/summarize:

  • Paladino dissertation

  • Rogers (2025)

  • Leight (2024)

• GSA undergrad support program

  • Pick name

  • rough draft of calendar 

  • aiming to present to GeoClub 11/14

• Start thinking about LPSC abstract

For 11/5:

• Slow burn: GSA undergrad support program

• Jump back into manuscript

  • expand on interpretations

  • read/review results section (flag areas for revision)

• Read/summarize:

  • Paladino dissertation

For 10/15:

• GSA poster!

  • Meet with ER on Friday

  • Rehearsal on 10/15

• Volc midterm

• Secondary focus on manuscript

• Only after GSA poster finalized: Orientation reading (write short synopsis of each):

  • SKN proposal

  • Paladino dissertation

For 10/8:

• Focus on GSA poster

• Secondary focus on manuscript

• Only after GSA poster finalized: Orientation reading (write short synopsis of each):

  • SKN proposal

  • Paladino dissertation

Questions I have for this week- do you know how to look at .emsa and .esi files (EDS maps)? I'll also ask kendra.
Next week- can we practice my gsa poster? 

For 10/1:

• <lol coursework! grading! haha!>

• Work on edits to draft

  • data processing (spectral) focus on Thursday

  • present data to SKN at next meeting

• GSA poster: first draft to ER by 10/2

• Orientation reading (write short synopsis of each):

  • SKN proposal

  • Paladino dissertation

For 9/24:

• Work on edits to draft

  • data processing (spectral)

• GSA poster: first draft to ER by 9/26

• Orientation reading (write short synopsis of each):

  • SKN proposal

  • Paladino dissertation

For 9/17:

• Want to look into volunteering with "Geo Girls" next summer

For 9/10:

• Draft to ER

• Work on GSA poster (starts Oct 19) (use poster as well for iLife, depending on flight options?)

• Orientation reading (write short synopsis of each, including questions):

  • Kyleigh's draft

  • Dali's draft

  • SKN proposal

  • {included Paladino dissertation, expect to not finish this week}

• Add stuff to website

For 9/4:

• Nothing. Enjoy Seminar trip!