Research Group

Sara Warix – Solute production and transport in watersheds

PhD student 

I am a PhD student in hydrology. I am interested in how climate change is impacting groundwater resources, particularly in dry regions within the western United States. I have a BS in Geological and Environmental Sciences from University of the Pacific where I focused on groundwater geochemistry in the Spring Mountains, NV as it relates to the larger Death Valley Regional Groundwater Flow System. I completed a MS at Idaho State University where I investigated the role that groundwater plays in controlling spatiotemporal stream drying patterns at the Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory. In my free time I enjoy swimming, skiing, biking, and climbing.

Kenny Swift Bird – Metal fate and transport in the hyporheic zone

PhD student 

After graduating with his M.S. from Mines and then spending some time in industry, Kenny decided to study how metal(loid) fate and transport in river corridors is impacted by hydrologic events for his Ph.D. His work is investigating how and when the hyporheic zone mediates fate and transport by investigating the dynamic interplay between surface water-groundwater interactions, subsurface geochemistry, and meta(loid) cycling in the critical zone. In his free time, he enjoys reading, nearly any activity in the mountains, and playing disc golf

Anna LIttlefield – Geochemical baseline monitoring for CCUS

PhD student 

I am interested in the role that Carbon Capture and Storage will play as part of the energy transition.  As a PhD student, I am focusing on the geochemical impacts of injecting CO2 into the subsurface, both within the injection interval and with regards to groundwater quality.  The overlap of geotechnical considerations with policy implementation as it relates to CCS will also be central in my research. I received my BS in Geology from Appalachian State University in 2010, and my MS from Texas A&M University in 2012 where I studied the impact of forest fires on soil infiltration and runoff in a Front Range watershed impacted by the Fourmile Canyon Fire. I am involved in helping establish the CCUS program at Mines, and excited to be part of the work being done across departments here.  Outside of school and work, I enjoy playing music, camping and backpacking, travel, and spending time with my family. 

Connor Newman – Residence time controls on metal fluxes in groundwater

PhD student 

I am interested in weathering reactions in the subsurface, particularly of sulfide minerals that form acid mine drainage. The weathering of sulfides is a primary control on water quality in mineralized areas but it remains difficult to differentiate weathering influenced by humans from natural weathering. My research focuses on how groundwater residence times may be used to understand weathering controls and to quantify changes in sulfide weathering through time in several areas of Colorado. This research draws on geochemical data and modeling applications. Aside from geochemistry and hydrology I enjoy climbing, snowboarding, and camping with my wife and our two dogs.

Jacob Peterson – phosphorous fate and transport post wildfire

PhD student 

I am a PhD student in Geochemistry. I am interested in water-rock interactions and synthetic rock analogues. I have a B.S. in Geosciences with an emphasis in Geophysics from the University of Utah. My undergraduate research focused on mapping mineralogy in a seawater inflow zone of Surtsey volcano, Iceland. Prior to starting graduate school, I contributed to research on Roman concrete. At Mines, I have also participated in research on synthetic rocks and mineral dissolution rates. In my free time I enjoy hiking, reading, and cooking.  

Sophie D’ Arcy

PhD student 

I am a PhD student in Hydrology. My research focuses on using reactive transport modeling of a montane watershed to uncover key relationships that drive the spatial and temporal scale of geochemical reactions in the subsurface. I earned a B.A. in Mathematics from Smith College, where I did research on subduction zone earthquakes. I also completed a Graduate Certificate in Hydrology from Portland State University. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, hiking, and swimming.

Ian Gambill – Role of stream blocking in hyporheic exchange

ms student 

Abigail W.

ms student