Floyd is a postdoctoral associate with research interests in bridging the gap between data science and organic geochemistry/astrobiology. More specifically, he employs unsupervised learning, supervised learning, and probabilistic modelling to unravel hidden patterns and features in organic geochemical and astrobiological datasets.

Outside of work, Floyd enjoys doing landscape and wildlife photography, hiking, cooking, and playing chess.

Email: floydnichols@vt.edu 

Maia is a research assistant with an interdisciplinary background in earth science and geomicrobiology. Currently, she is interested in remote sensing applications towards biosignature detection in Martian analog environments. Working with Floyd, she is interpreting satellite datasets of the Bristol Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert, and investigating how patterns observed from orbit may relate to the distribution of certain organics measured at ground level.

Outside of work, Maia can be found outdoors, hiking, backpacking, swimming, and crafting.

Anya is a junior computational modeling and data analytics major working with Floyd and Dr. Rachel Reid to combine Bayesian statistics, numerical modelling, and supervised machine learning to better understand the impact of climate and vegetation on bat guano.

Outside of school, Anya loves to crochet, play soccer, and read mystery novels! 

Pooja is a junior studying Computational Modeling and Data Analytics with a minor in Computer Science and Math. She is working with Floyd to develop a multi-input convolutional neural network model to improve biosignature detection in Mars-analog environments. 

Outside of school, Pooja loves hiking, playing board games, and watching movies.

Addie is a sophomore studying Materials Science Engineering. Addie is working with Floyd to better understand the behaviour of organic carbon in Mars-analog hypersaline environments including Bristol Dry Lake, California and the Basque Lakes in British Columbia, Canada.

Outside of school, she enjoys drawing, traveling, watching Premier League soccer, and reading books about astrophysics! 

Personal Website 

Jamie Osmena is a sophomore Computer Science major. She is aiding Floyd in the model development of a convolutional neural network to analyze satellite imagery of Mars-Analog environments (i.e. The Atacama Desert in Chile and the Hypersaline Lakes of the Cariboo Plateau in British Colombia) to aid geochemists with making comprehensive predictions. Her other technical interests outside of machine learning include: cybersecurity, game development, and astronomy.

Outside of school, Jamie enjoys playing volleyball, travelling, baking, singing/karaoke, axe throwing, and reading fantasy novels!

Grant is a second-year CMDA major. He is working with Floyd and collaborators from NASA Ames (Dr. Caleb Scharf and Dr. Ryan Felton) to help develop a graphical user interface to help teach machine learning concepts while reducing the barrier to entry from needing coding experience.