Current Students

Leigh Anne Roble '12

Leigh Anne has been working with me since 2008 on the biomineralogy of Mn-oxide deposits in Appalachian caves, using a variety of analytical techniques (TEM, SEM, XRD, FT-IR) to determine the mineral structures and chemistries of these deposits. Her senior thesis is a pioneering microscopy study on biomineralizing fungi from caves. She has received funding from Appalachian's Office of Student Research for this project, and presented her findings at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in October 2011.

Aubry DeReuil '13

Aubry is working on a geochemical and paleontological study of the Frasnian-Fammenian boundary in China, which represents the Devonian mass extinction.
co-advised with Dr. Johnny Waters

Oliver Burns '14

Oliver is examining the role of geologic substrate in biomineralization of Mn oxides in caves

Joshua Feierstein '15

Josh is attempting to create romanechite in the lab using Leptothrix sp.

Former Students

Kaylee Barket '13

FT-IR analysis of nepheline water content in volcanic carbonatites, northern Tanzania.

H. Cody Amakali '12

Pb-Zn deposits and their geochemical tracers in the Shady Dolomite in the Austinville District, southwest Virginia.

Seth Hewitt '11

Petrographic and geochemical analysis of the volcanic region surrounding the Lake Natron Homo sapiens footprint site, northern Tanzania
co-advised with Dr. Cynthia Liutkus