Principal Investigator
Professional preparation
Postdoc, Sandia National Laboratories, 2010-2012 Postdoc, Amherst College, 2008-2009 Ph.D., Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, 2008 M.S., Department of Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2004 B.S., Department of Geological Sciences, Bradley University, 2001 |
Current students
Past MS students (graduation year)
Christa Anhold (2023)
Christa examined impacts of woody encroachment on the fate of soil CO2 in grassland watersheds at Konza Prairie. Thesis link: krex.k-state.edu/handle/2097/43572
Camden Hatley (2022)
Camden used mixing calculations and hydrologic data to better understand the sources of water to a headwater stream at Konza Prairie Biological Station. He is currently working on his PhD at the Kansas Geological Survey/University of Kansas. An article describing his research is freely available online (Hatley et al. (2003)). Thesis link: krex.k-state.edu/handle/2097/42211
Brooklyn Armijo (2022)
Brook analyzed groundwater samples from private wells screened in the Great Bend Prairie aquifer, a part of the High Plains aquifer in south-central Kansas. She is currently employed at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/handle/2097/42209krex.k-state.edu/handle/2097/42209
Katherine Andrews (2021)
Katie examined groundwater residence time and the fate of CO2 in carbonate bedrock aquifers at Konza Prairie. She is currently employed as an environmental consultant. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/41486
Javil Hansen (2021)
Javil used anaerobic bioreactor experiments to test environmental controls on interactions between an iron-reducing microorganism and a methanogen. Javil works the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/41490
Stephan Koenigsberger (2020)
Stephan studied variation in the redox state of upland soils and its relationship to soil carbon storage across the Kansas precipitation gradient. Stephan is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of New Hampshire Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/40617
Breanna Waterman (2020)
Bre examined surface water-groundwater interactions across the Kansas precipitation gradient using hydrograph separation and aqueous geochemistry. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Kansas. An article describing her research is freely available online (Waterman-Rivera et al. (2022)). Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/40593
Christina Richardson (2019)
Christina studied groundwater and soil microbiology in the High Plains aquifer, Kansas Groundwater Management District 5. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/39758
Alexandria (Richard) Lane (2018)
Allie studied spatial and temporal variation in groundwater chemistry in the High Plains aquifer system, Kansas Groundwater Management District 5. She is currently employed as a geologist with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/38941
Kyle Marquart (2017)
Kyle's graduate work examined pH as a control on interactions of iron reducers and methanogens. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/35567
Michael Tummons (2017)
MS student. 2017 graduation. Mike studied factors affecting the rate of methanogenesis from coal and oil using samples from the Cherokee Basin. He is currently employed at Datamine, a global geologic software company. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/35565
Brien Wilson (2015)
Brien studied the biogeochemistry of coalbed methane in the Cherokee basin. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/19032
Christa examined impacts of woody encroachment on the fate of soil CO2 in grassland watersheds at Konza Prairie. Thesis link: krex.k-state.edu/handle/2097/43572
Camden Hatley (2022)
Camden used mixing calculations and hydrologic data to better understand the sources of water to a headwater stream at Konza Prairie Biological Station. He is currently working on his PhD at the Kansas Geological Survey/University of Kansas. An article describing his research is freely available online (Hatley et al. (2003)). Thesis link: krex.k-state.edu/handle/2097/42211
Brooklyn Armijo (2022)
Brook analyzed groundwater samples from private wells screened in the Great Bend Prairie aquifer, a part of the High Plains aquifer in south-central Kansas. She is currently employed at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/handle/2097/42209krex.k-state.edu/handle/2097/42209
Katherine Andrews (2021)
Katie examined groundwater residence time and the fate of CO2 in carbonate bedrock aquifers at Konza Prairie. She is currently employed as an environmental consultant. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/41486
Javil Hansen (2021)
Javil used anaerobic bioreactor experiments to test environmental controls on interactions between an iron-reducing microorganism and a methanogen. Javil works the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/41490
Stephan Koenigsberger (2020)
Stephan studied variation in the redox state of upland soils and its relationship to soil carbon storage across the Kansas precipitation gradient. Stephan is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of New Hampshire Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/40617
Breanna Waterman (2020)
Bre examined surface water-groundwater interactions across the Kansas precipitation gradient using hydrograph separation and aqueous geochemistry. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Kansas. An article describing her research is freely available online (Waterman-Rivera et al. (2022)). Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/40593
Christina Richardson (2019)
Christina studied groundwater and soil microbiology in the High Plains aquifer, Kansas Groundwater Management District 5. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/39758
Alexandria (Richard) Lane (2018)
Allie studied spatial and temporal variation in groundwater chemistry in the High Plains aquifer system, Kansas Groundwater Management District 5. She is currently employed as a geologist with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/38941
Kyle Marquart (2017)
Kyle's graduate work examined pH as a control on interactions of iron reducers and methanogens. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/35567
Michael Tummons (2017)
MS student. 2017 graduation. Mike studied factors affecting the rate of methanogenesis from coal and oil using samples from the Cherokee Basin. He is currently employed at Datamine, a global geologic software company. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/35565
Brien Wilson (2015)
Brien studied the biogeochemistry of coalbed methane in the Cherokee basin. Thesis link: https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/19032
Other past researchers and laboratory technicians
Eresay Alcantar-Velasquez. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2022 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program, 2022-2023 K-State DSP, 2023 TRIO McNair, and fall 2023 Kansas Groundwater Geopaths.
Gonzalo Alcantar. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2019 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program.
Adam Anderson. Undergraduate laboratory technician..
Hugo Juarez Avalos. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2021 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program.
Camille Bradshaw. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2019 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program and 2021 K-State DSP.
Shae Carrendar. Undergraduate researcher. 2018 graduate. Shae is now working as a GIS Analyst at Black & Veatch.
Ben Haller. Undergraduate researcher. 2017 graduate. Ben studied environmental controls on aquifer microbiology and arsenic concentration. He is now working as an environmental specialist with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Sarah Lamm. Undergraduate researcher. 2018 graduate. Sarah studied the distribution and origin of manganese oxides on Mars as part of the ChemCam team for the Curiosity Rover mission. She is currently working on her PhD at the University of Kansas.
Lucas Leininger. Geology BS student. Project: Seasonal variation in the influence of groundwater discharge on stream biogeochemistry. Lucas is now working as an environmental soil scientist at Kiewit.
Mark Mathis. Undergraduate researcher. Mark studied water quality along Wildcat Creek.
Andres Pacheco Olivas. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2014 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program. For his project, he studied water quality impacts in urban and rural reaches of Wildcat Creek. See the final presentation for his 2014 RiPS project here.
Janet Paper. Postdoctoral researcher. Currently an assistant professor in Biology at Benedictine College.
Ganiyat Shodunke. Undergraduate researcher. Ganiyat carried out culturing experiments designed to grow methanogenic microorganisms under a variety of conditions. She is currently working on her MS in geology at K-State.
Gabriela Villani. Undergraduate researcher. Currently a student at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Brazil. Formerly an exchange student at K-State. Project: influence of DOC on microbial activity in Cherokee Basin coalbeds
Matthew VanderPutten. Undergraduate researcher. Matt studied variation in organic carbon and nitrogen content of streamflow across the Kansas precipitation gradient. He is currently working as a field technician/geologist at SCS Engineers.
Sara Vero. Postdoctoral researcher. Currently a research officer with the Agricultural Catchments Program in Teagasc, Ireland
Gonzalo Alcantar. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2019 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program.
Adam Anderson. Undergraduate laboratory technician..
Hugo Juarez Avalos. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2021 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program.
Camille Bradshaw. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2019 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program and 2021 K-State DSP.
Shae Carrendar. Undergraduate researcher. 2018 graduate. Shae is now working as a GIS Analyst at Black & Veatch.
Ben Haller. Undergraduate researcher. 2017 graduate. Ben studied environmental controls on aquifer microbiology and arsenic concentration. He is now working as an environmental specialist with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Sarah Lamm. Undergraduate researcher. 2018 graduate. Sarah studied the distribution and origin of manganese oxides on Mars as part of the ChemCam team for the Curiosity Rover mission. She is currently working on her PhD at the University of Kansas.
Lucas Leininger. Geology BS student. Project: Seasonal variation in the influence of groundwater discharge on stream biogeochemistry. Lucas is now working as an environmental soil scientist at Kiewit.
Mark Mathis. Undergraduate researcher. Mark studied water quality along Wildcat Creek.
Andres Pacheco Olivas. Undergraduate researcher. Participant in the 2014 Kansas LSAMP RiPS program. For his project, he studied water quality impacts in urban and rural reaches of Wildcat Creek. See the final presentation for his 2014 RiPS project here.
Janet Paper. Postdoctoral researcher. Currently an assistant professor in Biology at Benedictine College.
Ganiyat Shodunke. Undergraduate researcher. Ganiyat carried out culturing experiments designed to grow methanogenic microorganisms under a variety of conditions. She is currently working on her MS in geology at K-State.
Gabriela Villani. Undergraduate researcher. Currently a student at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Brazil. Formerly an exchange student at K-State. Project: influence of DOC on microbial activity in Cherokee Basin coalbeds
Matthew VanderPutten. Undergraduate researcher. Matt studied variation in organic carbon and nitrogen content of streamflow across the Kansas precipitation gradient. He is currently working as a field technician/geologist at SCS Engineers.
Sara Vero. Postdoctoral researcher. Currently a research officer with the Agricultural Catchments Program in Teagasc, Ireland