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Investigate Careers in the Environment

Tue Oct 12, 2010. 05:00 pm - 06:00 pm
Koelbel 235

A Panel of 7 Graduate Students,

This Week’s Guests: A Panel of 7 Graduate Students

Seven graduate students from 4 CU departments will talk about their career paths up to and including graduate school, and will answer questions you have about their career paths and grad school. The panel is composed of:

Tommy Detmer, Biology, PhD
Tommy is a third-year PhD student in the Biology Program with a focus in aquatic ecology. His research focuses on the transfer of energy across trophic levels; food web modeling; watershed ecology; and biogeochemistry. Before entering graduate school, he received B.A. from the University of Colorado with majors in Environmental Studies, Geography, and Biology.

Mary Oppold, Geography, Masters
Mary is a first year Geography student. She attended the University of Iowa after which she joined the Lewis Lab as a professional research assistant and conducted research on water quality. Her graduate research focuses on the relationships between natural hazards and vulnerability related to water.

Jennifer Petrzelka, Geography, Masters
Jennifer studies snow hydrology in the Geography department. Her research involves studying climate manipulation experiments that use near-infrared heaters and how they effect the energy balance of the snow surface (e.g. snowmelt timing and runoff). She studied physical geography and geology in undergrad at Texas State University, followed by a year as a geologist for the oil industry throughout western Wyoming and 1.5 years as a ski/climbing bum in Jackson, WY.

James Meldrum, Environmental Studies- Emphasis on Economics, PhD
James is a fourth-year PhD student in the Environmental Studies with a core focus in Environmental Economics. His broad research interests are in understanding sustainability through the links between human well-being and environmental processes, and he currently is working on research on the economics of invasive species management (dealing with White Pine Blister Rust in high elevation forests). He has a B.S. in Physics and Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology and worked as an engineering physicist for a medical device company before changing paths by entering graduate school.

Teresa Chapman, Geography, PhD
Teresa is a Ph.D. student in the Geography Department. This past year, she was awarded a Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Award for research on mountain pine beetle and fire influences on the regeneration of lodgepole pine in northern Colorado.

Jessica Axson, Chemistry and Biochemistry, PhD
Jessica is working on a Ph.D in Atmospheric and Analytical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She received a B.S. in Chemistry from Randolph-Macon College where she did research in environmental and atmospheric chemistry. Early on at Randolph-Macon College Jessica used electrochemical methods to measure metabolic by-products of bacteria in natural waters. She then had the opportunity to intern at NASA Ames research center where she first became involved in atmospheric studies. She worked on mass spectrometry studies of uptake reactions of propanal and ethanol in sulfuric acid solutions and continued this project using NMR techniques for her undergraduate thesis work. She currently is working under Professor Veronica Vaida on the “Atmospheric Processing of Methylglyoxal and Glyoxal in Aqueous Environments.”

Caitlin Crouch, Environmental Studies, Masters
Caitlin works with Dr. Diane McKnight (Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research) studying the geochemistry of acid rock drainage in the Rocky Mountains. She is interested in the potential impacts of climate change on high mountain surface water and ground water resources. While pursuing the Certificate in Hydrologic Sciences, Caitlin is also dedicated to coursework in the social and policy sciences and to studying the ways in which humans interact with, perceive, and exist as a part of the natural world. Working at this crucial junction between science and policy is the most interesting and productive way that Caitlin can figure to live in this world. Her long-term goals include making this planet a healthier, happier and more just place for us all. On weekends, Caitlin works as the coordinator of the water quality assessment stream teams for the Boulder Creek Watershed Initiative. In this capacity, she strives to engage community members to work together toward enhancing the health of the Boulder Creek watershed through education, information, and action. Previous work experience includes: project manager at an environmental consulting firm, environmental organizing and advocacy, outdoor education, Division I collegiate athletic coach, community outreach facilitator for Girl Scouts, and undergraduate research assistant. Caitlin graduated with honors from Vassar College in 2005 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies (emphasis in Political Science) and a minor in Geology.

For more information on the talk or series, contact Dale Miller, 303-492-6629.

Free Pizza and organic juice!

Co-sponsors: Environmental Studies Program, Environmental Center, CU Environmental Program & Career Services

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About:

- Faculty Focus -

William Travis

Interaction of environment and society, including land use and anthropogenic transformations of land cover, with a focus on the American West.

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Grad Student Work Crew