: : : : : : : home : : : : : : : : : papers : : : : : : : : : people : : : : : : : : : vita : : : : : : : : : links : : : : : : :


graduate students


Brad Kuntz
B.Sc. in Geosciences, Penn State University, 2008
M.S. student, 2008-present

Brad is exploring solute transport in the fractured shale at the Shale Hills Observatory. He's using lab and field data, as well as numerical models, to explore the operation of parameters controlling transport tailing in soil and shale core. He's estimating parameters at the lab scale and scaling up using tracer tests to the field scale. Besides looking at subsurface processes, he enjoys carpentry, the outdoors, and spending time with his family. E-mail Brad.

Chen Li
B.Sc. in Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, China University of Geosciences-Beijing, 2005
M.S. in Hydrogeology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2009
Ph.D. student, 2009-present

Chen is interested in numerical simulation of groundwater flow and solute transport in porous media, the application of geophysical methods in studying hydrogeology problems, and efficient ways to combine the two approaches together. He is working on resolving preferential flow paths and their impacts on transport dynamics from the laboratory to the watershed scale using stochastic filtering, electrical methods, and coupled surface-subsurface modeling. Chen is co-advised by Patrick Reed. When Chen is not working, he likes hiking, reading, listening to music, watching movies and playing billiards. E-mail Chen.

Aaron Regberg
B.Sc. in Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, 2005
Ph.D. student, 2005-present

Aaron is working on better quantifying the real-time kinetics of dissimilatory iron reduction. To do so, he's combining biogeochemical analyses with electrical geophysical methods. Aaron is co-advised by Sue Brantley and is a member of the Center for Environmental Kinetics Analysis (CEKA). When not finding ways to integrate geobiology, geochemistry, and geophysics into one dissertation, you can find Aaron exploring his love for rocks by climbing all over them. E-mail Aaron.

Ryan Swanson
B.Sc. in Geophysics, University of Minnesota, 2009
Ph.D. student, 2009-present

Ryan is interested in combining hydrogeology and geophysics to understand contaminant fate and transport. He is exploring how we can estimate mass-transfer length scales using spectral induced polarization, with application to radionuclide transport at Hanford, and working in part with Roy Haggerty on his research. Outside of geology, Ryan enjoys playing disc golf, trying his hand at cooking, and enjoying the outdoors in general. E-mail Ryan.


undergrad researchers


Nathan Barber
B.Sc. student, Geosciences, 2006-present

Nathan is exploring changes in redox potential at Green Lake, a small, permanently stratified (meromictic) lake in upstate New York. The chemocline in this lake varies seasonally, suggesting that it controlled, perhaps, by sulfur cycling by biota. In conjunction with Lee Kump's group, Nathan is using self potential to obtain high temporal and spatial resolution profiles of redox potential in the lake. When not thinking about analogs to ancient ocean environments, Nathan likes traveling and being outdoors--especially camping and hiking. E-mail Nathan.

Julianne Hagarty
B.Sc. student, Environmental Systems Engineering, 2006-present

Julianne has been collecting and analyzing electrical geophysical data associated with stream tracer tests in the Leading Ridge watershed near campus for a part of the dissertation of Adam Ward, a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering. She's a master of geophysical inversion, and is working on a research paper associated with her undergraduate work. In her free time, she serves as the hydro group's Renaissance woman: she reads, climbs trees, plays bassoon, works with the Solar Decathlon, cross-stitches, and does yoga. E-mail Julianne.

Nathaniel Wysocki
B.Sc. student, Geosciences, 2008-present

Nate is interested in groundwater-surface water interaction, and has been conducting fieldwork exploring how rainfall response is controlled by heterogeneity in antecedent moisture at the Shale Hills Observatory. Besides the fascinating world of stormflow dynamics, Nate is involved in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' student council and Theta Chi Fraternity, and fund raises for Thon through both organizations. Additionally, Nate enjoys playing volleyball, and plays the trumpet in the the Pride of the Lions basketball pep band. E-mail Nate.


expatriates


Sean Culkin
B.Sc. in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins, 2005
M.S., in Geosciences, Penn State, 2007

M.S. Thesis title: Implications of Rate-Limited Mass Transfer for Aquifer Storage and Recovery Efficiency

Position post-PSU: MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Oakland, CA

Terryl Daniels
B.Sc. Geosciences, Penn State, 2009

B.Sc. Thesis title: Characterizing the Lithologic Controls on Flow in the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory

Position post-PSU: applying for graduate programs for Fall 2010

Ted Donovan
B.Sc. in Geosciences, Penn State, 2008

B.Sc. Thesis title: Predicting temperature-dependent hydraulic conductivity variation and its implications for contaminant transport near pumping wells

Position post-PSU: Electrical engineer on Long Island, NY

Kristen Jurinko
B.Sc.in Geobiology, Penn State, 2008

B.Sc. Thesis title: Developing saturated hydraulic conductivity pedotransfer functions within a small pedologically and topographically diverse Chesapeake Bay catchment

Position post-PSU: M.S. student in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University

Nicholas Rubert
B.Sc. in Physics, Penn State, 2008

Undergrad research in: solute mass transfer, spectral analysis of in-stream temperature data

Position post-PSU: Ph.D. student in Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Scot Russell
B.Sc. in Geosciences, Penn State, 2007

B.Sc. Thesis title: Exploration of Karst Development in Laurel Caverns Using Geochemical and Geophysical Techniques

Position post-PSU: M.S. student in Karst Studies, Western Kentucky University

Daniel Wheaton
B.Sc. in Geology, University of Missouri-Rolla, 2005
M.S., in Geosciences, Penn State, 2009

M.S. Thesis title: Investigating the Impact of Advective and Diffusive Controls in Solute Transport on Geoelectrical Data

Position post-PSU: currently applying for jobs