Hello! I'm Sierra Ramsey, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and I'm a planetary geologist, petrologist, and high-temperature geochemist 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 Ph.D. 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 that have not been tested on Mars. The proposed work for my research program is divided into three projects, all with a common theme of improving our current knowledge of martian magmatic and volcanic processes. 

1. The first project uses a recently found and previously unstudied martian rock from the nakhlite group. Nakhlites are an important group of martian meteorites thought to originate from the same location on Mars based on their similar ages and chemistries. To date, there are only 32 nakhlites, and every new nakhlite can increase the diversity of this group, providing insights into relatively recent volcanic processes and systems on Mars. 

2. Crystallization pressures are not well constrained on Mars, and the second project for my dissertation uses volatile (e.g., H2O, CO2) contents in glassy melt inclusions (=pockets of trapped magma) to estimate pressures at which a suite of martian meteorites began to crystallize. This approach has been used for terrestrial systems but has not been applied to Mars. By constraining crystallization pressures and depths, we can better understand Mars’ interior and how martian rocks form. I will also test if this method can be used on meteorites that have been shocked while being ejected from Mars. 

3. My final project uses X-ray computed tomography, 3D visualization, and quantitative textural analyses to assess how magmas erupted at or near the surface of Mars. New 3D and existing 2D data for emplacement can be evaluated to determine the most robust and representative technique. 

The culmination of this work will improve the current knowledge of how martian magmas are generated and erupted at or near the martian surface.

After completing my Ph.D. program here at UNLV, my goal is to continue in academia, both teaching and researching geology at the collegiate level. My post-Ph.D. research plans include continuing to study the formation and evolution of planetary bodies in the solar system, including Mars, using meteorites and returned samples. 

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 WCU, 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 M.S. and Ph.D. 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 for everyone, especially historically marginalized and underrepresented groups.