Education
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Doctor of Philosophy in Geology, 2016
Thesis: Morphodynamic effects of cohesive sediment on coastal systems across scales
Advisor: Chris Paola
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Science, cum laude, 2008
Positions held
Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico-Gallup, 2015-present
Pre-doctoral Teaching Fellow, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 2014-2015
Research Assistant, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2009-2015
Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota-Twin cities, 2009-2013
Teaching Interests
Earth system science; Physical Geology; Earth and the Environment; Environmental Science; Natural Hazards; Earth Resources; Physical Geography; Field Methods; Research Methods; Numerical and quantitative methods; Numerical Modeling; GIS; MatLab; Fluvial Geomorphology; Surface Processes; River and Stream Restoration; Wetland and Delta Restoration; Hydrology; Watershed Science; Sedimentology; Basin Analysis; Open Channel Flow; Fluid Dynamics
Teaching Experience
Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico-Gallup, 2015 to present
Courses taught:
EPS 101 and 105L - Introduction to Physical Geology (lecture and lab) – A course focused on understanding the physical processes that shape the earth from an introductory framework. This course was taught at the introductory level, primarily for non-majors.
ENVS 101 and 102 - Blue Planet (lecture and lab) – A course focused on understanding environmental issues and global changes. This course is taught in an interdisciplinary framework, connecting the fields of geology, ecology, chemistry, engineering and social science. This course was taught at the introductory level, primarily for non-majors.
NTSC 261 - Physical Science (lecture and lab) – A course designed for pre-service elementary education teachers, focused on an interdisciplinary study of geology, chemistry, physics and astronomy. The course focuses on developing curriculum around the scientific process and scientific investigation.
NTSC 263 - Environmental Science (lecture and lab) – A course designed for pre-service elementary education teachers, focused on an activity-based, interdisciplinary study of the major issues in environmental science. The course focuses on developing curriculum around the scientific process and scientific investigation.
Pre-doctoral Teaching Fellow, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2014-2015
One year visiting teaching fellowship to prepare for a faculty position. In this program I developed two new courses and helped implement the post-baccalaureate certificate program in Stream Restoration.
Courses taught:
GEOL 5095 - Creative Problem Solving in Earth Science – a primer course for understanding physical systems in earth science from a modeling framework and is designed to develop the necessary skills for setting up problems, evaluating criteria and assessing the quality of models. This course is aimed for upper level undergraduates and graduate students from a variety of backgrounds in the earth sciences.
GEOL 5601 - Introduction to Stream Restoration – an interdisciplinary course that provides an overview of stream restoration focusing on the main issues related to coupling the fields of civil engineering, ecology, geology, and social science. This course was taught at the undergraduate and graduate level to students from a diverse set of fields.
Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2009-2013
Courses taught:
ESCI 3005 - Earth Resources Discussion – A course focused on the ethics of the use of environmental resources and the potential consequences. In this course, I lead discussions on a variety of environmental issues that also utilized problem solving techniques. This course was taught at the sophomore and junior undergraduate level to students from a diverse set of fields.
ESCI 4911 - Advance Geology Field Camp – A 4 week field course focused on sedimentary deposition. As an instructor, I help students develop the skills to acquire, record and interpret geological data in a field based setting. This course was taught at a senior undergraduate level for earth science majors.
ESCI 3202 Fluid Earth Lab – A course focused on the physics of fluid flows in a variety of earth systems. As a teaching assistant, I helped students develop the mathematical and analytical skills to understanding fluid dynamics. This course was taught at the junior undergraduate level for earth science majors.
ESCI 1001 - Introduction to Physical Geology Lab – A course focused on understanding the physical processes that shape the earth. In this class, I lead lab demonstrations, exercises and activities. This course was taught at the introductory level primarily for non-majors.
ESCI 1005 - Geology and the Cinema Lab – A course focused on teaching concepts of geology through the use of films. In this course, I lead lab demonstrations, exercises and activities. This course was taught at the introductory level, primarily to non-science majors.
Research Interests
Delta restoration; stream and river restoration; fluvial systems; geomorphology; surficial processes; experimental modeling; hydrology; reservoir modeling; granular physics; stratigraphy; basin analysis; coastal processes; near shore processes; watershed science; citizen science.
Research Experience
Research Assistant, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2009 to 2015
Crowd source citizen science delta classification
The current system of delta classification relies on interpretation of features, rather than the features themselves. To address this, I have devised a new and novel method to create a classification system based on features alone through the form of citizen science.
Influence of offshore dynamics on sediment mass balance
Fluvial sedimentation modeled on large space and timescales is often evaluated in a source to sink framework, where depositional changes are interpreted as tectonic and climatic signals originating in the hinterland. If we adopt a “sink to source” view of sediment mass balance on coastal-plain rivers, we can explore the impact of offshore process on coastal rivers.
Transport models of flocculated clay sediment
Models which describe the transport of fine grain sediment, such as clays, have been based on the idea that clays are transported as individual grains. However, clays are commonly transported in the form of aggregates due to flocculation. We are examining how well classical empirical equations of bedload transport capture the bedload transport of flocculated clay sediment.
Interaction of prograding deltas on deformable substrates
A delta prograding over a mechanically week layer, such as salt, can result in preferential subsidence. It has been suggested by previous researchers that the mechanically weak layer could contribute to the abundance of mass failures observed in the Gulf of Mexico. To test this, a series of experiments were conducted to test the role of mechanically weak layers on slope stability.
Connectivity of mud deposits on delta topsets
An issue important to industry is understanding the connectivity of reservoirs and the spatial relations of mud drapes. To address these questions and to constrain the horizontal geometries and spatial relationships of mud deposition, a delta experiment was conducted using a highly cohesive sediment mixture to generate statistics on the geometries of mud drapes on delta topsets.
Temporal and spatial distributions of bars in different basinal conditions
To understand what factors influence the occurrence of bar deposition, spatial and temporal statistics on bar deposition were collected on experimental deltas that have been subjected to external influences (fluvial, tidal wave, subsidence and tectonic regime). This allows us to understand how these external forces influence the morphology and behavior of bar deposition.
Influence of cohesive sediment on delta morphology
Many physical models on deltas often use non-cohesive sediment. The presence of clay in these physical models can lead to complex behavior that better captures the dynamics of deltaic deposition. This project focuses on exploring the role of cohesive sediment has on the morphodynamics of deltaic deposition.
Influence of fluvial, tidal and wave forcings on delta morphology
The Galloway classification separates deltas into being dominated by fluvial, wave and tidal forces. This classification relies on qualitative interpretation of sub-areal geomorphology. To put the Galloway system in a quantitative framework, experimental deltas were used to measure the impact of various fluvial, tidal and wave strengths on delta morphology.
Mass failures in weakly cohesive clinoform foresets
Previous studies on mass failures often used methods that could not focus on how changes in sediment and water supply influence slope stability. Using new methods, this project investigated how changes in supply rate influenced the size and frequency of mass failure events.
Undergraduate Research mentor, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2011 to 2014
I mentored and guided undergraduate students on research projects. With each student, I helped them establish a project, work on research skills and help them develop the confidence to be a scientist.
Undergraduate research projects included:
- Flocculated clay sediment in delta morphodynamics
- Crowd sourced citizen science to understand delta deposition
- Developing methods to create flocculated clay sediment in an experimental environment
- Study of the interactions between deformable substrates and prograding clinoforms.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2007
Prior experiments on mass failures are often done by injecting a mixture of sediment and water into ambient water, artificially creating these flows. This project focused on developing a sediment mixture that would periodically over-steepen and fail, generating mass failures. Such a mix would allow for a better understanding of mass failures in regards to the size, frequency and properties of failure events.
Publications
Abeyta, A., Paola, C. Transport Dynamics of mass failures along weakly cohesive clinoform forests. Sedimentology, DOI: 10.1111/sed.12149
Publications-In Submission
Abeyta, A., Swenson, J., Foreman, B., and Paola, C. Sink to source: The effects of offshore dynamics on upstream processes. [in submission to Basin Research]
Publications-In Preparation
Abeyta, A., Baumgardner, S.E., and Paola, C. The morphodynamic influence of cohesive sediment in experimental deltas. [in preparation]
Abeyta, A., *Chatmas, E., Baumgardner, S.E., Im, D., Nguyen, C., and Paola, C. Crowd source based approach to delta morphology classification. [in preparation]
Abeyta, A., Foreman, B., *Chatmas, E. and Paola, C. The role of deformable substrates on marine slope stability. [in preparation]
Baumgardner, S. E., Abeyta, A., Cazanacli, D., and Paola, C. The Influence of Laboratory-Generated Tides on Experimental Deltas. [in preparation]
Abstracts and Presentations
Dugan, B., Abeyta, A., and Paola, C. (2015) Exploring Submarine Mass Failures with Physical Experiments and Numerical Models. 2015 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco, California.
Abeyta, A. (2015) Research Methodologies at the National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics. Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science National Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
Gran, K., Abeyta, A., Voller, V., and Paola, C. (2015) Stream Restoration Science and Engineering graduate program at the University of Minnesota expands. Abstract P-16, Partners in River Restoration in the Upper Midwest meeting in Debuque, Iowa.
*Batts, V., *Bass, G., *Eiden, R., *Mitchell, N., *Targos, C., Abeyta, A., and Gran, K. (2015) Analysis of the resilience and future effectiveness of habitat improvement project following a high magnitude flood: Sucker River, Duluth, MN. Abstract P-10, Partners in River Restoration in the Upper Midwest meeting in Debuaue, Iowa.
Abeyta, A., Baumgardner, S.E., Im, D., Nguyen, C., and Paola, C. (2014) When Scientists know too much – using citizen science to understand delta morphology. Abstract 28280, 2014 American Geophysical Union Fall meeting in San Francisco, California.
*Carey, J., Abeyta, A., Foreman, B., and Paola, C. (2014) Effects of basin subsidence on experimental delta sedimentation patterns and surface morphology. Abstract 237745, 2014 Geological Society of America North Central Meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Abeyta, A., Paola, C., and Swenson, J. B. (2013) Sink to source: The effects of offshore dynamics on upstream processes. Abstract 1802466, 2013 American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, in San Francisco, California.
Baumgardner, S. E., Abeyta, A., Cazanacli, D., and Paola, C. (2013) The Influence of Laboratory-Generated Tides on Experimental Deltas. Abstract 1805875, American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, in San Francisco, California.
*Chatmas, E.S., Foreman, B., Abeyta, A., and Paola, C. (2013) Experiments evaluating the interaction between deformable substrates and prograding clinoforms. Abstract 1799493, 2013 American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, in San Francisco, California.
Foreman, B., Chatmas, E. S., Abeyta, A., and Paola, C. (2013) Experiments evaluating subsidence generated within a subaqueous deformable substrate due to varying differential sediment loading patterns. Abstract 1799724, 2013 American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, in San Francisco, California.
Abeyta, A. and Paola, C. (2012) Transport dynamics of mass failures along weakly cohesive clinoform forests. Abstract 1488144, 2012 American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, in San Francisco, California.
*Denotes student mentee
Professional Activities
Geoscience Alliance Advisory Board member, 2017-present
Geoscience Alliance (GA) is a national organization of individuals committed to broadening participation of Native Americans in the geosciences. The advisory board is charged to plan and organize the GA conference.
National Science Foundation panel participant, 2017
I served as a panelist for the National Science Foundation’s Division of Earth Sciences on the Sedimentary GEO and Paleobiology Program. The Panel reviewed several proposals for the Post-Doctoral Fellowship program.
Science Education Resource Center Review camp, 2016-2017
The Science Education Resource Center (SERC) hosts an online repository, where members of the earth science community can submit materials that can be utilized and modified by others. I evaluated teaching activities to determine pedagogical quality and merit. The review camp was hosted at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI.
American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund proposal reviewer 2016-2017
The Petroleum Research Fund is an endowed fund, managed by the American Chemical Society that supports fundamental research directly related to petroleum or fossil fuels at nonprofit institutions. I reviewed proposals for the ACS Petroleum Research Fund for my expertise on the topic.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Proposal Reviewer, 2014
I reviewed proposals for University of Minnesota-Duluth’s Undergraduate Research opportunities program. This program provides students with a unique educational experience to collaborate with a faculty mentor on the design and implementation of a project.
Technical Coordinator, National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics, 2013-2014
I organized and coordinated the Summer Institute for Earth Surface Dynamics (SIESD). SIESD is a two week interdisciplinary course about Earth-surface processes, focusing on the integration of theory, physical experiments, field work and numerical modeling. The course is aimed at advance graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and early-career faculty. The institute typically features 30 students and 10 lectures from across many disciplines and institutions.
Summer Institute Themes:
- Complexity and predictability in depositional systems, 2014
- Subsurface to surface – recovering surface dynamics from stratigraphic records, 2013
Developer of outreach material, National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics, 2013
To explain the concept of the sinking Mississippi River delta and efforts to restore the delta, I designed and built a flume demonstration. This demonstration was built to be featured in the National Science Foundation’s exhibit at the National Science and Engineering Festival at Washington, DC. Over 20,000 school aged children came and visited the demonstration.
Graduate Student Representative, National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics, 2010
The National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics, an interdisciplinary group focused on understanding earth-surface processes, featured a large group of researchers across the country (10 institutions, 20 PIs, 10 post-docs and 74 grad students). As the graduate student representative, I was the liaison between the graduate students and the PIs, communicating the needs of the students to the center. I also organized professional development and networking opportunities for the graduate students.
University Service
Faculty Senator, 2016 – present
I was elected to serve as a representative for the UNM-Gallup Campus at faculty senate held in UNM-Main Campus. Faculty senate is a recommending body for campus governance.
Operations Committee, 2016-present
Operations Committee is charged with addressing faculty concerns and setting the agenda for Faculty Assembly.
Long Range Resource and Planning committee, 2016 – present
The charge of this committee is to generate faculty input on what the overall concerns and goals for the future of our campus.
Library committee, 2015 – Present
The charge of this committee is to promote and advocate for Zolligner Library and library services. Our most notable effort is National Library week, where the committee organizes events such as read outs, movie showings, and scavenger hunts. I served as secretary for the library committee from 2015-2017. Secretary is charged with taking minutes and archiving the committee’s activities.
Roads to Achieving Degrees Grant committee, 2015-present
The RADS program is designed to give financial support to students interested in STEM career fields. In the committee, we reviewed scholarship applications and current recipients progress for continued support. I am currently organizing an invasive mentorship program for current scholarship recipients.
Community Outreach
University of New Mexico Gallup Career Day, 2017
I participate in the Career Day held by Career Services at UNM-Gallup, to introduce school age children about potential career paths in STEM and earth sciences. I lead students through an experiment on river management.
Developer of outreach material, National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics, 2014
To explain the concept of land loss in the Mississippi River delta and efforts to restore the delta, I designed and built flume demonstrations. Demonstrations were interactive and allowed participants to see the effects of land management through time on the delta. The demonstrations were featured in the National Science Foundation’s exhibit at the National Science and Engineering Festival at Washington, DC. Over 20,000 school aged children came and visited the demonstration.
Mentor, Exposure Project, El Colegio, 2014
Exposure Project is a project co-sponsored by Community of Scholars Program and the University of Minnesota’s Office for Public Engagement. I mentored a high school senior at El Colegio Charter School by helping them with a research project on an issue that impacts the Latino community.
Mentor, Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence, University of Minnesota 2010-2012
A mentoring project from the University's Presidents office which links high-ability undergraduate students of color with distinguished faculty members and graduate students who serve as mentors for the students' personal and professional growth. As a graduate student mentor, I mentored students on how navigate the university system and to develop professional relationships with their faculty mentor.
Awards
University of Minnesota-Duluth Diversity Pre-Doctoral Teaching Fellowship, 2014-2015
Outstanding Student Paper, American Geophysical Union (2012)
Professional Development
National Science Foundation Unity of Purpose for Equitable Representation in Geosciences Workshop, 2017
I was invited to participate in a workshop sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Geological Society of America. The purpose of the summit was to address the issue of decades long persistence of underrepresentation across geoscience discipline by bring a group of representatives to build multi-partner collaborations.
Grantsmanship Training Program, 2016
The Grantsmanship Training program is a course designed to teach a model for writing and developing proposals. The course emphasizes collaboration, tools to find funding, the review process, and assessing outcomes.
Earth Educators Rendezvous, 2016 -2017
A conference aimed at discussing and learning the best practices in improving STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in the earth science. I participated in workshops on adapting curriculum to be inclusive to cultures of underrepresented groups in STEM.
Innovative Approaches to Teaching Sedimentary Geology, Geomorphology, and Paleontology, 2014
A one week workshop on teaching courses in sedimentary geology, geomorphology, paleontology, marine geology, and paleoclimatology aiming to address questions of how to teach these disciplines most effectively at the undergraduate level.
Stream Restoration Certificate, 2012
A one-year post-baccalaureate certificate focused on how to blend engineering, physical, biological, and social sciences in prioritizing, designing, implementing, and evaluating stream restoration projects.
Summer Institute for Earth Surface Dynamics, 2011-2014.
Participated in an interdisciplinary 2 week course on Earth-surface processes, focused on integration of theory, physical experiments, field work and numerical modeling.
Preparing Future Faculty Program, University of Minnesota, 2010
Preparing Future Faculty program is a semester long teaching and learning forum focused on learning theory and strategies, teaching skills, and classroom development. The program also focused on developing the skills required for success as a faculty member.
Professional Affiliations
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
American Association of University Women
American Geophysical Union
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Association for Women Geoscientists
Geological Society of America
Geoscience Alliance
Earth Science Women’s Network
Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.