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IUPUI Earth Sciences Graduate
Students |
Georgia Aquarium,
Atlanta, Georgia |
Amber Adamczyk, Arthur Mirsky
Graduate Fellow
B.S. Biology and English, Hillsdale College,
Michigan, 2005
Final Year
I have enjoyed the past year with the
department; I have had great opportunities
to learn about geologic methods both in the
field and in the lab. My previous
undergraduate research consisted of an
analysis of three peat cores taken in close
proximity in a single bog basin. This study
was done to test the traditional methodology
of bog ecosystem reconstruction based on
single peat core analysis, and resulted in
some interesting variation in rarer species
subfossil composition between the three
cores. My thesis research involves a
cladistic analysis of the Monticuliporidae
family of Bryozoa, as well as an
investigation of water flow patterns within
Stenolaemate Bryozoans.
Faculty Advisors:
Dr. Joseph Pachut |
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Anchal Bangar
B.S. ?
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Pierre Jacinthe |
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Slawa Bruder
B.S. Biological Science, Colorado State University
M.A. Education, University of California-Irvine
Secondary Science T |
near Dana Point, Southern
California |
Angie Cowan
B.S. Biological Science, Colorado State University
M.A. Education, University of California-Irvine
Secondary Science Teaching Certificate,
University of California-Irvine
First Year,
SL 018, no phone
"Multi-Organizational Physicochemical
and Biological Assessment of Indianapolis
Reservoirs"
I was born and raised in Indiana and after
12 years of studying biology in Colorado and
teaching marine ecology in Southern California,
Hawai’i and the British Virgin Islands, I have
returned to pursue my Master’s degree in
geology—with an emphasis on limnology and the
biogeochemistry of Midwestern watersheds. I am
especially interested in exploring the causes
and effects of eutrophication in our local
reservoirs and in identifying and enumerating
potential sources of toxic and nuisance algal
species. My thesis work will focus on a
multi-organizational physicochemical and
biological assessment of Eagle Creek, Geist and
Morse Reservoirs throughout the summer. Our goal
is to provide a baseline of data that can be
utilized to support adaptive management
strategies throughout the area—as well as
improve upon the sustainability and aesthetic
quality of the reservoirs. In addition, I will
be sharing my work with local high school
students and teachers as a National Science
Foundation GK-12 Fellow. The fellowship will
afford me opportunities to use my teaching
background and outreach experience to involve
students in experiential science education
through authentic research, while promoting an
ethic of conservation and stewardship. I am
extremely excited to be a part of the CEES team
and look forward to beginning this new
adventure!
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Lenore Tedesco |
Central Canal, Indianapolis |
Pilar
Cuadra
Previous Degrees
First Year,
SL 060, 274-3864
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Philippe Vidon |
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Katelin Fisher
B.S. ?
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Pierre Jacinthe |
Beartooth Mountains, Montana |
Andrew Gamble
B.A., Business Administration, Hanover College, 2006
First Year, SL 022, 274-7292
I am currently in the planning stages of a
research project. My project will most likely
involve the use of multivariate techniques to
analyze water quality or water flow at
unmonitored watersheds in the White River
watershed.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Babbar-Sebens |
Lilly ARBOR site, Indianapolis, Indiana |
Carrie Hatcher
B.G.S., IPFW, 2002
Second Year, SL 022, 274-7292
I am analyzing total mercury (Hg(T))
concentrations in soils and sediments in central
Indiana to search for a link between those
mercury levels, their man-made sources, and
amounts available for methylation.
I have been spatially analyzing the distribution
patterns of Hg(T) concentration along
with wind direction, emission source locations,
emission source output, and hydrologic pathways
to provide a better understanding of urban
influences on Hg(T) distribution and
deposition. This research is important because
Hg(T) accumulates in the river bank
sediments where microbes take up the Hg(T)
in metabolic processes making it bioavailiable
for fish. Higher Hg(T)
concentrations in sediment are linked to higher
levels of methyl mercury production in the
reducing environments of bank side sediments.
After which, can find its way to the human
population through fish consumption.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Gabe Filippelli |
Leary Weber
Ditch, Hancock County, Indiana |
Matt Hennessy
B.S., Geology, IUPUI, 2008
First Year, SL 060, 274-3864
My research focuses on nutrient export to
streams through overland flow in an agricultural
watershed. Studies have shown that overland flow
can have a significant influence on nutrient
export into streams but have failed to quantify
the importance of overland flow relative to
other flow pathways at the watershed scale. The
research area is a small watershed, draining
2.79 mi2, known as Leary Weber Ditch Basin,
located in Hancock County, IN. My research will
attempt to identify the quantity of contaminants
such as phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfate, silica,
and major cations being exported to the stream
by overland flow. The overland flow site has 24
piezometers, 6 wells, and a flume for data
collection. I will also examine the outlet of
the watershed in order to determine discharge
and to compare the nutrients leaving the
watershed to those leaving the overland flow
site. I expect overland flow to be a significant
medium for nutrients leaving the watershed. My
results will be analyzed in conjunction with
those of fellow graduate student
Pilar Cuadra in an attempt to create a
water mass balance for the entire watershed.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Philippe Vidon |
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Zuoning Jiang
B.S. Geology, Jilin University, 2007
Second Year, SL 060, 274-3864
My undergraduate research was focused on using
structural and geochemical evidence to
reconstruct the tectonic history of Songliao
Basin in Northeastern China. My graduate
research will be aimed at examining
hyperspectral remote sensing technologies for
monitoring and assessing vegetation health and
mapping biochemical parameters of vegetation.
This will be achieved by spectroscopic
interpretation, image processing and modeling of
hyperspectral remote sensing data. Specifically,
I will focus on estimating vegetation water
content from hyperspectral spectral reflectance.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr.
Lin Li |
Goose Pond, Indiana |
Joe Johnstone
B.S. Environmental Geology, Purdue University, 2002
Final Year, SL 060, 274-3864
The nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus are water
pollutants, and contribute to water quality
issues such as eutrophication and the hypoxic
zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Midwestern
watersheds are a major source of these
contaminants. Previous Midwestern studies on
nutrient export have focused on net export. The
export of these nutrients during storms is
significantly higher than during dryer periods.
My project focuses on examining the patterns of
the export of these nutrients during storms on a
larger watershed, and seeing how they compare to
work done on two smaller nearby watersheds.
Hopefully this can assist in the development of
improved management practices to minimize this
problem.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr.
Philippe Vidon |
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Copan, Honduras |
J. Brice Mabry
B.A. Economics, IUPUI, 1999
Second Year, SL 048, 278-3958
My research involves using core sediment from a
glacial lake in California (Dry Lake) to
pinpoint evidence of a sudden cooling event
which occurred about 8200 years ago. This event,
which lead to global temperature and sea level
changes, has been identified in ice and sediment
cores world wide. Evidence of the event in North
America has not been so prominent, which leads
researchers to question whether the cooling
event was felt evenly over the entire planet.
With greater attention on current global
warming, studying past climate change could lead
to a greater understanding of possible future
changes. Using geochemical analysis of the lake
core, I hope to find evidence of the 8200 year
event and assess the magnitude of the regional
climate change while comparing it to past
climate data already collected globally.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Gabe Filippelli |
Hawthorn Park,
Indianapolis, IN |
Debbie
Morrison
A.A.S., Aviation Technology, Purdue University,
1992
B.S., Management, Purdue University, 1994
M.P.H., Epidemiology, IU School of Medicine,
Department of Public Health, 2007
First Year,
SL 060, 274-3864
"Correlating
high lead blood levels in children in an urban
setting using geospatial analysis and
geographically referenced health data"
My research interests include studying the
interaction between the environment and human
health, specifically determining the influence
of heavy metals in soil and sediments as it
relates to low-dose chronic lead exposure in
children in high risk environments. Looking at
heavy metal contamination problems from a
multi-disciplinary viewpoint including
epidemiology, health behavior, health promotion,
earth science, geospatial analysis and
geochemistry will ultimately allow for improved
risk-based mitigation in these high risk areas.Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Gabe Filippelli
Learn more at
Ms. Morrison's Webpage |
San Bernardino Mountains, California |
Sarah Needy
B.S./M.S.
Program, Geology, IUPUI
Second Year, SL 060, 274-3864
My undergraduate research encompassed a
3D velocity profile of the eastern Transverse
Ranges, including regional pressure and
temperature profiles from plutonic rocks.
Current research includes geochronology on
zircons from volcanic and plutonic rocks in the
Chocolate Mountains in southeastern California
(photo at left). Possible avenues for this
research include the regional transition from
extension to strike-slip and its relation to
magmatism; utilizing melt inclusions to
determine magma source(s) and the evolution of
the magma(s) through time; changes in
composition of zircon grains in 3D; and how
different geochemical methods of determining
temperature and pressure can affect results.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Andrew Barth |
Indianapolis Zoo |
Ange Robertson
B.S., Biology, University of Evansville, 2005
Second Year, SL 022, 274-7292
As a biology undergraduate, I focused heavily on
marine science as well as ecology and zoology.
As an IUPUI geology undergraduate, I researched
mercury levels in ocean basin sediment from the
Sorbas Basin in Southern Spain. This research,
advised by Gabe Filippelli, sought to discover
if mercury could be used as a potential proxy
for ocean productivity. No conclusive
determination could be made regarding mercury’s
potential. As a graduate student, I will be
geochemically analyzing ocean sediment from the
equatorial Pacific Ocean to determine how the
nutrient mass balance was controlled by previous
glacial and interglacial cycles. By using
samples with a high resolution, this research
intends to contribute to the greater
understanding of previous climate cycle’s
influence on the global nutrient mass balance
distribution over the past 500,000 years.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Gabe Filippelli |
Mount Rainier, Washington |
Tony Robertson
B.S., Biochemistry, Purdue University, 2003
Second Year, SL 022, 274-7292
For my graduate research, I am interested in the
identification and differentiation of biological
toxins found in the aquatic environment. Inland
eutrophic waters contain a variety of algae taxa
including cyanobacteria. Some of these
cyanobacteria species produce chemicals that
alter water taste, and toxins harmful to people
and wildlife. Therefore delineation of toxic
from non-toxic algae has important implications
for drinking water management. The methods of my
research will involve using High Performance
Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to separate and
identify algal pigments found in eutrophic
reservoirs located in central Indiana. These
HPLC data will be tied to remotely sensed
spectral reflectance through
spectral-compositional models to achieve remote
detection and quantification of toxic blue-green
algae.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr.
Lin Li |
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Top Hat Mountain,
Black Hills, South Dakota |
Jenny Roell
B.S./M.S.
Program, Geology, IUPUI
Second Year, SL 060, 274-3864
My research involves determining the age and
geothermobarometry of garnet-bearing metamorphic
rocks in the Little San Bernardino Mountains,
southern California. Mylonated gneisses are also
present in this area, which suggests that these
rocks are in the middle of a shear fault zone. A
possible avenue for this research would include
studying the age and movement of this fault zone
by examining mylonites.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Andrew Barth |
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Northport, Maine |
Alex Rowan
B.S. Chemistry, Ball State University, 1991
Second Year, SL 022, 274-7292
As a recent newcomer to geology, I plan to apply
my chemistry background to paleoceanographic
studies of the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Specifically, my thesis project will revolve
around questions involving the impact of El
Nino-like climate phenomena and ocean
circulation patterns on biological productivity
through the Pliocene-Pleistocene periods. I will
be performing elemental and isotopic ratio
analyses on sediment core samples from several
ODP (Ocean Drilling Project) sites dispersed
across the equatorial upwelling region. The
intent is to combine this biogeochemical
information with established knowledge of sea
surface temperatures and other physical ocean
parameters, in order to explore how nutrient
cycling patterns respond to climate change over
geologic time scales.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Gabe Filippelli |
North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park |
Andrea
Schilling
B.A. Geology, IUPUI, 2007
First Year,
SL 048, 278-3958
"Determining Paleo-Ice Flow Paths using
Zircon Geochronology, West Antarctica"
As an undergraduate, I completed a research
project which involved characterizing glacial
till from the Byrd and Nimrod Glaciers, East
Antarctica by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The
goal of this project was to determine a unique
sediment composition signature from these outlet
glaciers, which drain the East Antarctic Ice
Sheet, to help in reconstructing past ice flow
paths in the Ross Embayment during the Last
Glacial Maximum (~17,000 yrs ago). My master’s
research will focus on collecting detrital
zircon geochronology data from samples under
West Antarctic ice streams, East Antarctic
outlet glaciers, and along a transect in the
Ross Sea. The U-Th-Pb detrital age distributions
will be used to identify distinct signatures
from the sample sites which will then give more
constraints on the past ice flow paths of the
region. Constraining the behavior and extent of
Antarctica during the Last Glacial Maximum is
essential in developing accurate models of ice
sheet behavior. Provenance of detrital zircons
is one method for constraining such models.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Kathy Licht |
Need Photo!
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Barbara
Simpson
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Lenore Tedesco |
Arches National
Park, Utah |
Allyson Smith
B.S., Geology, Indiana University, 2003
First Year, SL 032, 278-0133
I am in the
beginning phase of developing a research
project, but my research interest includes
investigating an aspect of nutrient conversion
from agricultural runoff using constructed
wetlands. As part of my first year here at
IUPUI, I am working with the
CEES
Discovering the Science of the Environment (DSE)
environmental science education program as a NSF
GK-12 fellow. Once I decide on a research topic,
I will design a lesson for the DSE program based
on my research.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Pierre Jacinthe |
Eagle Creek Watershed, near Lebanon, IN
photo by WRMcAtee |
Mike
Stouder
B.A. Geology,
IUPUI, 2007
First Year,
SL 018, no phone
My research is a
continuation of the Central Indiana Water
Resources Partnership (CIWRP)
project and includes an investigation of
nutrient export dynamics in a large scale
watershed dominated by agriculture. Nutrients
such as nitrogen and phosphorus are commonly
found in substances applied to these areas as
they increase productivity. However, when
transported to bodies of water they can become
detrimental to both water quality and aquatic
habitats. Objectives of this study
include:
- tracking
changes in concentration of the nutrients
during storm events,
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understanding of the timing of peak nutrient
concentrations relative to stream discharge
to aid in more effective water management
practices, and
- using
nutrient data, in addition to various cation
and δ18O levels, to determine
water/nutrient flow pathways and pre-event
water contributions to the streams.
These results
will be compared with those obtained by similar
studies carried out in smaller watersheds that
lie in the Upper White River Basin.
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Lenore Tedesco |
Need Photo!
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Angie
Tilton
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Lenore Tedesco |
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Shuangshuang Xie
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Babbar-Sebens |
 IUPUI Earth Sciences Department
723 West Michigan
Street, SL118
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
317.274.7484
317.274.7966 (fax)
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