Chemistry / Geochemistry

Research the movement of organic carbon out of the mountains and into the stream -- the “forgotten flux” of the global carbon budget. Assess how climate extremes, including both floods and drought, will alter carbon and other nutrient cycling. Lead a scientific paper on an aspect of this research that excites you.

This opportunity focuses on integration of geophysical modeling with constraints on alteration mineralogy from spectral measurements on drill core and hyperspectral remote sensing data.

This study will examine centennial- to millennial-scale North Pacific hydroclimate variability over the late-glacial and Holocene from Alaskan peatlands using cellulose extraction from peatland plants. Hydroclimate analysis will be coupled with vegetation and carbon dynamics to better understand how peatlands respond to long-term climate variability.

Biological productivity in the Gulf of Alaska is limited by availability of the micronutrient iron. Dust derived from Alaskan glacial flour and from Asian deserts, and ash from Alaskan volcanoes, episodically supply iron from the atmosphere. This internship would carry out studies on archived material from a variety of dust and ash samples to examine controls on the supply of this micronutrient.

The goal of the project supported by the internship is to evaluate mineral assemblages in drill hole core collected from Yellowstone National Park using spectral methods, determine subsurface structures using electromagnetic methods, and to evaluate the distribution of rare earth elements and other trace metals associated with minerals using scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe.

The need for better models and more effective use of data to characterize river corridor transport processes is keenly felt, from evaluating the effectiveness of river and watershed management practices all the way to clarifying regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act.

We are looking for a student to join our multi-disciplinary and multi-institution team exploring the relationships between energy development and air quality in the southwestern U.S. This research provides an exceptional opportunity for students to explore the complexities of land use and ecosystem function, as well as experience the diverse work environments found within the federal government.