Research Group & Opportunities

ERVPT

The Evergreen State's Research in Volcanology and Petrology Team

Sophia Ioli

Email: iolis@wwu.edu

In progress: MS, Geology, WWU

BS, Geology, Miami University

Sophia's MS thesis focuses on the evolution of isotopic chlorine in magma though geochemical analyses of melt inclusions in olivine crystals from the Lassen Volcanic region in California. When not thinking about geology, Sophia enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy, hiking, dancing, and watching hockey.

Sam Randall (he/him)

Email: randals8@wwu.edu

Website: https://samrandall.co/

In progress: MS, Geology, WWU

BS, Geoscience and Environmental Studies, Eckerd College

Sam's MS thesis focuses on the magmatic and eruptive processes of Mt. Baker, integrating petrological and geochemical techniques to study magma evolution. Prior to graduate school, Sam worked at the USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, FL. When not immersed in geology, Sam can be found reading sci-fi, hiking, playing beach volleyball, rock climbing, snowboarding, or writing songs on the guitar.

UG student Claire Rowan-Arnett at AGU 2023

MS student Amanda Florea at AGU 2023

MS student Saisha Brody at AGU 2024

MS student Sam Randall at AGU 2025

Student Research Opportunities

I’m always on the lookout for talented and motivated students broadly interested in igneous petrology! I’m continually inspired by the Earth system and I have a passion for understanding the processes that form igneous rocks and minerals. I am in awe of volcanoes and have an undeniable love for the mantle. If you share that drive, curiosity, and enthusiasm, we should be able to have a lot of fun doing science together.

WWU undergraduate students: At this time, I am looking for students interested in 1-term independent study projects and senior thesis research projects in the 26/27 academic year. If you are generally interested in research opportunities, please reach out and we can chat!

Prospective MS students: WWU typically admits students to start in the fall term (applications due in the first week of January). The admissions process for the 2026/2027 academic year is complete, and I am not taking on new students during this cycle. If you are interested in opportunities in that begin in the Fall of 2027, please contact me in the Fall of 2026.

What research is going on in the group?

Our group pursues a broad range of topics related to volcanic and mantle processes. We rely on a mix of fieldwork, geochemical analyses, physical volcanology techniques, and numerical modeling. See the Research page for more information on the active projects in the group!

What type of background should you have?

Above all else, you should have a passion for igneous processes and scientific research. If you’re creative and passionate about your work, you can pick up other skills and knowledge along the way. More than any specific skill set, I value your excitement and self-motivation to find interesting papers to read or explore new data analysis techniques and methodologies. All that being said, I’m generally looking for students who have strengths and/or passion for mineralogy, petrography, analytical geochemistry, computer modelling, statistics, and/or remote sensing.

Past Research Students

Saisha Brody (she/hers)

Email: brodys2@wwu.edu

MS, Geology, WWU, 2025

BA, Geology & Environmental Studies, Whitman College

Saisha’s MS thesis focused on magma evolution during storage and ascent via a petrological and geochemical analysis of melt inclusions within tephra deposits from St. Augustine Volcano in Alaska. When not thinking about geology, Saisha enjoys hiking, dancing, listening to 70s African Rock, and bothering her cat.

Saisha is now a PhD student at the University of Texas, at Austin!

Ananya Freeman (she/her)

In progress: BS, Geology, WWU

Ananya's independent study work was centered around determining the temperature of magmas erupted from Augustine Volcano ~1100 ypb eruption of Tephra C.

Marcos Muñoz (they/them)

Email: munozm5@wwu.edu

BS, Geology, WWU

Marcos worked on multiple projects as an undergraduate student. First, they did an independent study project centered around determining the temperature of magmas erupted from Augustine Volcano ~450 ypb. They identified Fe-Ti oxide pairs to calculate equilibrium temperature from felsic, mafic, and banded clasts to provide additional insight into why this older eruption at Augustine was more explosive than modern eruptions. They also worked on developing microCT methods for better understanding the drivers of explosivity of mafic explosive eruptions.

Chey Drew (she/her)

Email: drewc2@wwu.edu

BS, Geology, WWU, 2025

Chey's undergraduate research focused on identifying and characterizing unclassified and/or unidentified ash layers within alpine lake core samples obtained near Mount Baker. She aimed to determine whether these ash deposits are related to known eruptions at Mt. Baker (e.g., the ~6.7 ka BA tephra), known eruptions from nearby volcanoes (e.g., Glacier peak), or represent previously unknown eruptions from Mount Baker.

Chey is now a PhD student at Rice University!

Amanda Florea (she/hers)

Email: aflorea@umich.edu

MS, Geology, WWU

BS, Geology, WWU

Amanda’s MS research is focused on the SC tephra which was erupted from the Schreiber’s Meadow cinder cone on the south flank of Koma Kulshan (also known as Mount Baker). Amanda hopes to expand her knowledge of the transcrutal magma system through petrological analyses of this tephra. Outside of her geologic interests, Amanda also enjoys hiking, scuba diving, and spoiling her pets. Amanda completed her MS Thesis in Spring 2024, and is now a PhD student at the University of Michigan!

Annabelle Carozza (she/hers)

BS, Geology, WWU - Honors Thesis 2023

Annabelle's Honor's Thesis Research research is based on Cinder Cone volcano, which erupted in northern California during the year 1666. Currently, she is working with Shae Fairchild to determine magma ascent rates during the three phases of its eruption. She plan to explore several other topics revolving around Cinder Cone such as quartz reaction rims and eruptive plume height in upcoming terms. In my free time, however, I enjoy reading, drawing, and playing Mario Kart. Annabelle is now a graduate student at the University of Oregon!

Mahinaokalani Robbins (she/her)

Email: mahinaok@hawaii.edu

MS, Western Washington University, 2023

BS, Geology, William & Mary

AS, Thomas Nelson Community College

Mahina's MS research focused on the geochemical and petrological properties of tephra deposits from one of Alaska's intermediate arc volcanoes -- Augustine Volcano. Outside of her passion for geology, Mahina loves hiking, cooking (and eating) Asian/Hawaiian cuisine, and spending time with family and friends. Mahina is now a PhD student at the University of Hawaii! For more info, see Mahina's personal website!

Sloane Kennedy (she/her)

Email: kennedsl@oregonstate.edu

MS, Western Washington University, 2023

BS, Geology, Eastern Michigan University

Sloane’s MS study was focused on magma evolution through a petrological analysis of erupted material from St. Augustine Volcano in Alaska. On her spare time she enjoys camping, exercising, and cuddling with her kitties. She is now at PhD student at Oregon State University!