Research
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The overarching goal of my research has been conducting cutting-edge research in the Critical Zone: examining linkages and mechanisms between climate change, soil formation and erosion, water chemistry and quality, and biogeochemical cycling for both natural and human-impacted regions.
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Instruments and Facility
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Our facility houses a Nu Plasma HR multi-collector ICP MS, Thermo Scientific iCAP ICP MS, Perkin Elmer 5300 DV ICP OES and a metal-free class-100 clean room.
These instruments provide precise and accurate isotopic composition analysis, major and trace element concentration analysis to support geological, biological, environmental, and nano-material research.
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Student Projects
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Tectonic and climatic influence on secondary
carbonate formation in the Rio Grande Rift
Victor Garcia, Ph.D. student
(co-advised with Dr. Jason Ricketts)
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Photo credit: VG
Chemical weathering, soil formation, and
elemental mobility on a tropical volcanic
island of French Guadeloupe: insights from
U-series and Nd isotopes and first principle
calculations
Jiye Guo, Ph.D. student
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Basse-Terre Island, French Guadeloupe
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Trace metal behavior in the nanoscale
components of coal fly ashes: insights from
combined microscopic and microbiological
studies
Matthew Costa, MS, 2018
(co-advised with Dr. Jie Xu)
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TEM Images
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Tracing anthropogenic salinity inputs to the Rio
Grande River: a multi-isotope tracer approach
Sandra Garcia, MS, 2017
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Irrigation canals of Rio Grande
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Applications of Uranium and Strontium
isotopes as salinity and paleo-environmental
conditions tracers: insights from the Rio
Grande river and pedogenic carbonates in
dryland soils of southwest USA
Syprose Nyachoti, Ph.D. 2016
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Sampling from Rio Grande
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Using geochemistry and gravity data to
pinpoint sources of salinity in the Rio Grande
and fault networks of the Mesilla Basin
Matthew Hiebing, MS, 2016
(co-advised with Dr. Diane Doser)
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Field Map Mesilla Basin
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Uranium-series and Strontium isotopes
ratios in soils from Base-Terre Island,
French Guadeloupe: insights for rapid
soil formation and impact of dust in a
tropical volcanic setting
Yvette Pereyra, MS, 2016
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Soil sampling in French Guadeloupe
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Quantifying weathering rates on tropical
volcanic Basse-Terre Island, French
Guadeloupe: insights from U-series isotopes
in weathering rinds
Jacqueline Engel, MS, 2015
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Andesite Quarry in French Guadeloupe
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Trace element behavior during coal
combustion: insights from Cadmium
and Zinc isotope analysis
Fotios Fouskas, MS, 2015
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Fly ash TEM sample
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