Group Members

Principal Investigator:

Huan Cui (Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park)

Graduate Students:

Grace Halstead (B.A., Albion College), M.S. in Geology, Kansas State University, 2026-expected 2028
Amy Winstead (B.S., University of South Carolina; M.S. in Biology, Kansas State University), M.S. in Geology, Kansas State University, 2026-expected 2028
Brayden Rowley (B.A., Albion College), M.S. in Geology, Kansas State University, 2025-expected 2027

To Prospective Students

The Paleoenvironment Research Group at K-State is always seeking motivated students to join our team, particularly those interested in the evolution of Earth-life systems in deep time. Prospective students are encouraged to follow the instructions on the Geology Program webpage when submitting their applications.

Geology Graduate Program @ Kansas State University

Geology Program at K-State: k-state.edu/geology/academics/graduate
Student Success at K-State: k-state.edu/grad/student-success
Geology courses at K-State: k-state.edu/geology/academics/graduate/graduate_courses.html
At K-State, many exciting developments are underway. The Department of Geology, Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, Kansas Water Center, and Environmental Science Program are in the process of merging to form a new interdisciplinary unit—the School of Earth and Environment. In addition, the Department of Geology will relocate in May 2026 to two newly renovated buildings with updated office and laboratory space in the heart of K-State’s campus.

Discover life in Manhattan, Kansas (“the Little Apple”), a welcoming college town

Visit Manhattan, Kansas: manhattancvb.org
Kansas Tourism: travelks.com
Manhattan Regional Airport, KS: flymhk.com
Daily flights are available from Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) to both Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) on American Airlines. For additional options, Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is also conveniently located just a short drive from Manhattan.
Tripadvisor - Manhattan, Kansas: tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g38877-Manhattan_Kansas-Vacations.html

Carl Sagan: What is Science?

"Science is much more than a body of knowledge. It is a way of thinking. This is central to its success. Science invites us to let the facts in, even when they don't conform to our preconceptions. It counsels us to carry alternative hypotheses in our heads and see which ones best match the facts. It urges on us a fine balance between no-holds-barred openness to new ideas, however heretical, and the most rigorous skeptical scrutiny of everything — new ideas and established wisdom. We need wide appreciation of this kind of thinking. It works. It's an essential tool for a democracy in an age of change. Our task is not just to train more scientists but also to deepen public understanding of science".
Source: Carl Sagan, "Why We Need To Understand Science" in The Skeptical Inquirer Vol. 14, Issue 3 (Spring 1990)

International Students

International Student and Scholar Services at K-State: k-state.edu/isss
For international students, a TOEFL (>79 iBT) or IELTS (>6.5) test score is required. More detailed information can be found here (English proficiency requirements), here (G5. additional requirement for Teaching Assistants), and here (English Speaking Countries). GRE score is no longer required.

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that we live, teach, and conduct research on the ancestral lands of the Kaw, Osage, and Pawnee Nations. This land was taken from them, and we recognize this truth with respect and humility. For more information, please see the K-State Land Acknowledgement.

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