Recent Undergraduate Research Projects

Erica Dalman (B.S. Geology) and Elizabeth Koeman (B.S. Geology) worked with Pat Videtich on using a rock tumbler to simulate erosion of clasts in a stream.

Kent Walters (B.S. Geology) received a Michigan Space Grant Fellowship for the summer of 2010. His project compares carbon storage in first- and second-order streams.  His faculty mentor is Patrick Colgan.

Elizabeth Koeman (B.S. Geology) received a Michigan Space Grant Fellowship for the summer of 2010.  Her research investigates the amounts of organic carbon stored in pre- and post-settlement alluvium in the GVSU ravines.  Her faculty mentor is Patrick Colgan.

Nathan Hansen (B.S. Geology) is a 2010-2011 McNair Scholar and is working on a project studying the geoarcheology of the lower Grand River Valley. His faculty mentor is Patrick Colgan.

Steve Zdan (B.S. Geology) is working with Patrick Colgan on a paper about the geotechnical properties of glacial till in Ottawa County.  Steve is also working on developing a groundwater mapping tool for the City of Grand Haven with Prof. Peter Riemersma. 

Mallory Morrell (B.S. Geology) is working with John Weber on using OSL dating methods to determine the age of a raised marine terrace in Trinadad as part of a student summer scholars project.

Anthony Rodriguez (B.S. Geology) is working on a project with John Weber using GPS measurements to quantify movement along a newly discovered fault in Trinadad.  This work was partially funded by the McNair Scholars Program.

Chirs Denison (B.S. Geology) is working on a project with John Weber using fission track thermochronology to explore the denudational history of Northern Trinidad.

Kathryn Barnard (B.S. Geology) is working with John Weber and Carl Campell on mikrotecktites associated with the Cretaceous impact.  Kat will present her research at next years Michigan Academy of Science meeting in March of 2007.

Heather Brusnahan (B.S. Geology), is working with John Weber on Shock-metamorphic effects in lattice structure of sphalerite (ZnS) in breccia of the Kentland Crater in Indiana.  Heather will present her research at next years Michigan Academy of Science meeting.

Nicole Kildau (math/education/honors) is working with Steve Mattox on a math/geology paper predicting when and where the next submarine Hawaiian volcano will begin erupting.

Rhiannon Mulligan (B.S. Biology, Earth Science minor) is working with Patrick Colgan on a vibracore of alluvial sediments in the campus ravines to determine recent sedimentation rates (see picture at left).  Rhiannon will present her research at next years Michigan Academy of Science meeting.

Rhiannon Mulligan (B.S. Biology, Earth Science minor) and Figen Mekik are working on figuring out if Fe/Ca ratios in planktonic foraminifer shells can be used as a sea surface water temperature indicator.

Caitlin Wolfinger (B.S. Integrated Science) is working with Steve Mattox to revise a manuscript on gender and racial bias in children's Earth science trade books.

Patrick Womble (B.S. Geology) is working with Peter Wampler on runoff and human-induced changes to the campus ravines system. Patrick will present his research at next years Michigan Academy of Science meeting.

Eric Laney (B.S. Integrated Science) is working with Steve Mattox on modeling the movement of lahars.  A manuscript was submitted to Science Scope this year.



Page last modified April 26, 2017