Opportunities with Vinson’s Hydrogeochemistry Lab in the MS Program in Earth Sciences
Possible focus areas include:
- Groundwater chemistry, evolution, and water quality (arsenic and other naturally occurring elements) in the Piedmont region
- Groundwater-surface water interactions and water quality in restored forest watersheds
- Watershed-scale studies of groundwater and surface water chemistry and hydrology at Redlair Observatory, a critical zone research site on the Piedmont
- Funded TA positions are available to begin the MS program in August 2023
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orcid.org/0000-0002-4343-7531Research areas
- Water-rock interaction in the redox-active subsurface with connections to water resources, public health, and energy production (arsenic and other natural water contaminants, biogenic methane, stable isotopes…)
- Groundwater in Piedmont watersheds, urbanization, and critical zone processes (stream restoration, weathering and watersheds at Redlair Observatory…)
Environments of interest range from urban streams to deep saline groundwater. As tools, I use natural elements and isotope fingerprints to trace processes such as water-rock interaction, biogeochemical reactions, and mixing. My research program is highly interdisciplinary, and currently involves collaboration with colleagues in soil science, environmental engineering, and geospatial science.
At UNC Charlotte, I teach courses in earth science, geochemistry, hydrology, and hydrogeology. My research group includes undergraduates, master’s, and doctoral students (see recent thesis topics).
Education
- Ph.D (2011) Duke University – Earth & Ocean Sciences
- M.S. (2002) University of New Mexico – Earth & Planetary Sciences
- B.S. (2000) University of Alabama – Geology / American Studies