Welcome!

Hello! I'm Sierra Ramsey, a PhD candidate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). I'm an igneous petrologist, high-temperature geochemist, and planetary scientist interested in using meteorites and returned samples to better understand how the solar system formed and how rocky bodies (including the Earth, Moon, and Mars) have evolved through time. 

My PhD research program at UNLV, under the direction of Dr. Arya Udry, uses martian meteorites to constrain vital information using well-established analytical techniques and methodologies developed for terrestrial systems, which have not been tested on Mars. The culmination of my PhD work will improve the current knowledge of how martian magmas are generated and erupted at or near the martian surface and eventually ejected through impacts. 

After completing my PhD program, my goal is to continue in academia, teaching and researching geology at the collegiate level. My post-PhD research plans include continuing to study the formation and evolution of planetary bodies in the solar system, including Mars, using meteorites and returned samples, and expanding to incorporate terrestrial analog studies. 

While research is a critical aspect of my career path, I also place a large emphasis on the significance of teaching and student engagement. One of the most influential experiences of my academic career thus far was as an undergraduate at Western Carolina University, where I was able to work with lunar meteorites within and outside of class. This experience strengthened my curiosity and desire to pursue planetary science during my MSc and PhD programs. Due to my own experiences, engaging undergraduate students by creating opportunities not traditionally available outside of graduate studies is a major aspect of my academic career goals, as is making geology and planetary science accessible to everyone.