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Baylor BU Office of Engaged Learning Undergraduate Research Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Geoscience
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Geoscience

Student Research Opportunities in Geoscience

Below you will find a listing of all available research opportunities in Geoscience. Please use the contact information listed in each posting for further information regarding the research opportunities.


Scott James

Numerical Modeling

Various projects require student interns to manage model runs, analyze model outputs, and summarize results in reports. Projects include modeling for marine renewable energy projects (current energy conversion), forecasting ocean-wave conditions using deep learning, modeling kelp growth for a DOE biofuels project, and other machine learning applications.

Recommended Pre-requisites: Must have strong computer skills including some programming.
Course Credit Offered: No
Start Date: Open
Semesters Available: Fall/Spring/Full Summer
Contact Information: SC_James@baylor.edu


James Fulton

Applications of organic chemistry and microbiology to geological systems and biogeochemistry.

Recommended Pre-requisites: Chemistry, Biology, and/or Geology courses
Start Date: Open
Semesters Available: Fall, Spring, Full Summer
Contact Information: James_Fulton@baylor.edu


Steven Farmer

Land-atmosphere interactions with extreme climate variability

Research is centered on understanding changes in land surface process with extreme droughts and floods in the past 100,000 years. These studies identify the interactions between the atmosphere and land surface that enhance the extreme climate response. Many studies concentrate on historic droughts, like for 1930s Dust Bowl Drought and future hazards with human-induced global warming.

Recommended Pre-requisites: Sophomore level or above students who have done well in geosciences courses, have a strong quantitative skill and course-work in physics and chemistry.
Course Credit Offered: Yes
Start Date: Rolling
Semesters Available: Fall, Spring, Full Summer
Contact Information: Steven_Forman@baylor.edu


William Hockaday

Paleolipid biomarkers of natural and human systems

Multiple opportunities are available for students interested in using organic molecules as fossils to address questions in geology and archaeology. Research assistants are needed for collecting samples in the field and analyzing samples in a geochemistry laboratory. Completion of a course in organic chemistry is highly desirable.

 

April 2022: We are seeking a motivated undergraduate student for a paid position as a Student research lab worker in the Biogeochemistry Lab starting Summer 2022. Assistant will participate in a project focusing on the chemical alteration of Texas native plant tissues in the lab under simulated wildfire conditions. Duties will include the collection and preparation of vegetation samples, and the performance of humidity-controlled pyrolysis reactions. This position will also include the opportunity for training in several quantitative laboratory methods and spectroscopy techniques including solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Must be able to work 20 to 40 hours per week in the Baylor Sciences building. If interested, please contact Dr. Bill Hockaday (William_Hockaday@baylor.edu) and Vinothan Sivapalan (vinothan_sivapalan1@baylor.edu) for more information.(10 weeks from start date so dates could vary depending on start date). A link to the job description can be found here https://ejof.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/12717/?utm_medium=jobshare https://sites.baylor.edu/william_hockaday/

Course Credit Offered: Yes
Recommended Pre-requisites: CHE 1301/1101, CHE 1302/1102, BIO 1403
Start Date: Anytime
Semesters Available: Fall, Spring, Full Summer
Contact: William_Hocaday@baylor.edu or (254) 710-2639


Joe Yelderman

Hydrological and Surface Processes

Hydrological and Surface Processes, Hydrogeology (Water management; Springs/ground water/surface-water interactions), Wastewater, Human-environment interactions

Recommended Pre-requisites:
Course Credit Offered:
Begin Date: ongoing
Contact Information: Joe_Yelderman@baylor.edu


Kenny Befus

Geology

Research Areas: Solid Earth and Planetary Sciences: Volcanoes and magmas, Mineralogy; Lithospheric Processes: Geochemistry, Volcanoes and magmas, Tectonics, Mineralogy, Remote sensing

Recommended Pre-requisites:
Course Credit Offered:
Begin Date: ongoing
Contact Information: Kenneth_Befus@baylor.edu


Daniel Peppe

Geology

Specific research areas: Paleoclimatology, paleobotany, paleoecology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, ecology, biostratigraphy, paleomagnetism, geochronology, human evolution

Recommended Pre-requisites:
Course Credit Offered:
Begin Date: ongoing
Contact Information: Daniel_Peppe@baylor.edu

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