Northern Illinois University

Geology and Environmental Geosciences

Graduate Students

Beth AarestadBeth Aarestad

B.S., Northeastern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Mark R. Frank
Research interests: Planetary Geology - High-pressure Mineral Physics
E-mail: aarestad@students.niu.edu

 


Richard AndersonRichard Anderson

B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Jim Walker
Research interests: Geochemistry, igneious petrology, volcanology
E-mail: randerson5@niu.edu


photo not availableMeredith Ayers

B.A., Thiel College, M.L.S., Kent State University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Perry
Research interests: Speleothem - Stable Isotopes
E-mail: mayers@students.niu.edu

 


Patrick BaldwinPatrick Baldwin

B.S., Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Kathy Kitts
Research interests: Movement of heavy metals through abandoned industrial sites using dendroanalysis & Secondary Geoscience Education
E-mail: pbaldwin@students.niu.edu

 


Eduard BreuerEduard Breuer

B.S. in Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia, M.S. Geology, Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Philip Carpenter
Research interests: Seismology, Down-hole geophysics, fluid flow modeling and GIS
E-mail: ed@opengeolog.com

 


Michelle BrickerMichelle Bricker

B.S., University of Connecticut
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mark R. Frank
Research interests: Mineralogy - Solubility Studies
E-mail: michellebricker@gmail.com

 


Jennifer CumpstonJennifer Cumpston

B.A., University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Paul Loubere and Dr. Winifred Creamer
Research interests: Paleoclimatology, Climate Change, Oceanography, Archaeology
E-mail: jknoll@niu.edu

 


Ryan CumpstonRyan Cumpston

B.S., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Melissa Lenczewski
Research interests: Geomicrobiology of Extreme Environments - Implications for Extraterrestrial Exploration
E-mail: z102203@students.niu.edu

 


Valeria DimovaValeria Dimova

B.S., Mine and Geology University, Sofia Bulgaria
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Melissa Lenczewski
Research interests: Contaminant Hydrogeology and Ecology
E-mail: z170189@students.niu.edu

 


John-Franklin DzuryakJohn-Franklin Dzuryak

B.S., Western Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Ross D. Powell
Research interests: Glacial geology and geomorphology
E-mail: jfdzuryak@niu.edu


Dean EkbergDean Ekberg

B.S., Wheaton College, M.S., University of Missouri - Rolla
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Colin Booth
Research interests: Karst Hydrogeology
E-mail: Ekberg94@aol.com

 


photo not availableJoseph J. Filomena

M.A., Queens College
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Jim Walker
Research interests: Igneous Petrology, Physical Volcanology and Metamorphic Petrology
E-mail: filomena@cdnet.cod.edu

 


photo not availableKendle Fraley

B.S., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mark Frank
Research interests: Economic geology, ore forming process, gold partioning of sulfides, mineral alterations associated with magmatic hydrothermal intrusions
E-mail: z169114@students.niu.edu

 


Amy GahalaAmy Gahala

B.S. Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Adviser: Dr. Melissa Lenczewski
Research interest: Environmental Geosciences: Human impacts on wetland hydrogeology and geomicrobiology
agahala1@niu.edu


Andrew GreenhagenAndrew Greenhagen

B.S., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Melissa Lenczewski
Research interests: Contaminant Hydrogeology
E-mail: agreenhagen@alumni.niu.edu

 


Chris GreerChris Greer

B.S., Millsaps College, M.S., Wright State University
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Colin Booth
Research interests: Hydrgeology - numerical modeling combined with field measurements and isotopic analysis to determine recharge pathways and volume into local glacial and regional bedrock aquifers
E-mail: cbgreer1138@yahoo.com

 


Selene GroveSelene Grove

B.S., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. James Walker
Research interests: Volcanology - Central American volcanism and geochemistry
E-mail: sgrove@niu.edu

 


Maggie HasanMaggie Hasan

B.A., Augustana College
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mark P. Fischer
Research interests: Climate change, paleontology
E-mail: mhasan2@niu.edu

 


Michelle HeiderMichelle Heider

B.S., Calvin College
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Reed Scherer
Research interests: Vertebrate paleontology
E-mail: mheider@niu.edu

 


photo not availableMichael Henderson

B.S., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Reed Scherer
Research interests: Paleobiology - Vertebrate Paleontology
E-mail: michael.henderson@burpee.org

 


Camilo Higuera-DiazI.Camilo Higuera-Diaz

B.S., Universidad Nacional de Colombia, M.S., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Mark Fischer
Research interests: Tectonic Geomorphology
E-mail: ihiguera@niu.edu

 


Chris JackolskiChris Jackolski

B.S., Geology and Physics, Appalachian State University
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Ross Powell
Research interests: Geophysical well-logging of glacial sediment
E-mail: cjackb@gmail.com

 


Brittani DuhamelBrittani Jacobsen

B.S., Central Washington University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Paul Loubere
Research interests: Global Change - Paleoclimatology
E-mail: brittani.christine@gmail.com

 


James JacobsenJames Jacobsen

B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Melissa Lenczewski
Research interests: Fate and Transport of Volatile Organic Compounds
E-mail: z091405@niu.edu


Brian A. KarpesBrian A. Karpes

B.S., Indiana State University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Paul Stoddard
Research interests: Planetary Geology
E-mail: bkarpes@niu.edu

 


David P. KeatingDavid P. Keating

M.S., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: Ph.D. in Geology, B.S. in Mathematics
Advisor: Dr. Mark P. Fischer
Research interests: Structural Geology - Laramide-style folding
E-mail: dkeatin1@niu.edu

 


Matt KonfirstMatt Konfirst

B.M., Berklee College of Music, B.S./B.A., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Reed Scherer
Research interests: Antartctic climate evolution, Milankovitch cyclicity, diatom biostratigraphy
E-mail: mk@mattkonfirst.com

 


Michael MadisonMichael Madison

B.S. Geology, Illinois State University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mark P. Fischer
Research interests: Geometry, spatial distribution and mechanics of joints, small faults and clastic dikes
E-mail: mpmadison60516@yahoo.com


Raymond Patrick R. MaximoRaymond Patrick R. Maximo

B.S., University of the Philippines
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. James A. Walker
Research interests: Volcanology, (Mayon Volcano) - volitiles in the magma using melt inclusions in early crystallizing phases and implications to explosivity of the eruption
E-mail: maximo1@niu.edu

 


Margaret McKeeMargaret McKee

B.S., The Ohio State University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Ross D. POwell
Research interests: Sedimentary Geology
E-mail: mhaack@students.niu.edu

 


Andrew McleanAndrew Mclean

B.S. Environmental Geology - Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Adviser: Dr. Reed Scherer
Research Interests: Micropaleontology, the evolution of a diatom species over time
E-mail: z166075@niu.edu


photo not availableCheyenne Morgan

B.A., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Melissa Lenczewski
Research interests: Environmental Geology - pathogen-transport systems
E-mail: p20cmm1@wpo.cso.niu.edu

 


Joseph e. PetersonJoseph E. Peterson

B.S., Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Reed Scherer
Research interests: Vertebrate paleontology, taphonomy, sedimentology
E-mail: joe-peterson@niu.edu

 


Daniel PrawicaDan Prawica

B.S., Geology, Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mark P. Fischer
Research interests: Numerical and physical models to study the deformation and flow of glaciers and ice sheets
E-mail: messerschmitt@sbcglobal.net

 


Shan RayrayShan Rayray

BBA, Pacific Lutheran University, B.S. Geoscience, Pacific Lutheran University
Degree seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Paul Loubere Research interests: micropaleontology - foraminifera, paleoclimatology
E-mail: srayray1@niu.edu

 


Adam SmithAdam Smith

B.S., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mark P. Fischer
Research interests: Structural Geology
E-mail: z083198@students.niu.edu

 


John SosulskiJohn Sosulski

B.A., University of Colorado
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Ross D. Powell
Research interests: Ichnology and paleoecology of high latitude continental shelves
E-mail: jsosulsk@niu.edu
Homepage: jove.geol.niu.edu/students/sosulski/


Jo UesugiJo Uesugi

B.S., Physics, Pennsylvania State University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mark R. Frank
Research interests: Mineralogy
E-mail: juesugi@niu.edu

 


David VaccaroDavid Vaccaro

B.S., Northern Illinois University
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Mark R. Frank
Research interests: Magmatic-Hydrothermal Mineral Alterations - Economic Geology
E-mail: dvaccar1@niu.edu

 


Joshua VanceJoshua Vance

B.S., University of Dayton, Ohio
Degree Seeking: M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Jim Walker
Research interests: Volcanology and Igneous Petrology
E-mail: z1554684@students.niu.edu

 


Jonathan WarnockJonathan Warnock

B.S. Geology, Northern Illinois University
M.S. University of Chicago
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Reed Scherer
Research interests: Micropaleontology, diatom dissolution processes
E-mail: jwarnock@niu.edu


Karel WaskaKarel Waska

B.S. & M.S., Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
Degree Seeking: Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Melissa Lenczewski
Research interests: Environmental hydrogeology and geophysics
E-mail: kwaska@niu.edu