Christy Grettenberger – characterizing a new Cyanbacterial group, the Aurora, as well as characterizing Melainabacteria from microbial mats in Lake Vanda, Antarctica. Christy is also leading a Biological Integration Institute planning grant on the origin of photosynthesis.
Graduate Students
Jessica Mizzi (Microbiology) – understanding the organism that produces O2 oases in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica
Emilia Hernandez (Geology) – understanding iron and sulfide cycling in Neoarchean environments and Lake Fryxell, Antarctica
Sydney Salley (Geology) – understanding nutrient cycling in Antarctic microbial mats with an emphasis on diffusion processes; applying insights to Neoarchean microbial communities
Undergraduate Students
Angela Micheletti – Archean microbialites
Maggie Duran – Soil crusts
Ana Menchaca – Discussions with the lab group
Alumni
Postdoctoral Scholars
Marion Nachon – Sedimentology and diagenesis of sedimentary rocks in Gale Crater, Mars
Bekah Shepard
Ryoji Shiraki
Graduate Students
Megan Dillon – Currently a postdoctoral scholar at Lawrence Berkeley National Labs.
Ph.D., 2018. The Phylogenetic and Metabolic Structure of the Benthic Microbial Mats in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica: Effects of Photosynthetically Active Radiation and Oxygen Concentration.
Ph.D. 2018. Establishing Diagnostic Criteria for Identifying Ancient Perennially Ice-Covered Lakes in the Sedimentary Record of Earth and Mars.
Tyler Mackey – Currently a postdoctoral scholar at MIT; Agouron Geobiology Fellowship recipient.
Ph.D. 2016. Sand, Mud, and Calcite: Microbial Landscapes on Antarctic Lake Beds.
M.S. 2012. Initiation of branched growth in conoform stromatolites as a response to microbial community and water depth changes in Lake Joyce, Antarctica.
Marisol Juarez Rivera – Currently a Ph.D. student at ASU.
M.S. 2016. Recreating Microbial Ecosystems at the Dawn of the Great Oxidation Event.
Amy Williams – Currently an Assistant Professor at University of Florida.
Ph.D. 2014. Microbial Biosignature Preservation at Iron Mountain, California.
Cara Harwood (Theisen) – Worked at UCDavis to promote excellence in teaching for several years. Currently working as Director of Professional Development in Teaching and Learning at WISCIENCE, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Ph.D. 2013. Microbial and Metazoan Influences on Microbialite Growth Structures: Insights from Recent Lacustrine Microbialites in Pavilion Lake, BC, and Cambrian Thrombolites from the Great Basin, CA and NV.
M.S. 2009. Multiple Origins of Diverse Microbial Fabrics in Co-occurring Thrombolitic and Stromatolitic Structures from the Neoproterozoic Beck Spring Dolomite.
Bekah Shepard
Ph.D. 2009. The Significance of Cell Motility to Microbial Community Morphogenesis.
James Bishop – Currently working as a geologist at Chevron.
Ph.D. 2008. Sedimentation and Diagenesis During the Late Paleozoic Ice Age: Arrow Canyon, Nevada, and the Capitan Backreef, Slaughter Canyon, New Mexico.
M.S. 2004. A New Model for Molar Tooth Structure, Facies, and Stratigraphy of the Neoarchean Monteville Formation, Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa.
Greg Chavdarian – Worked in the petroleum industry for several years. Currently working as an environmental tour guide and freelance drone videographer.
M.S. 2008. Polygonal Cracks and Mineral-Atmospheric Water Cycling in Hydrous Sulfate Sands: An Analog to Martian Outcrops.
Nic Huerta – Completed a M.S.E. in petroleum engineering and Ph.D. in geology at the University of Texas, Austin, and is now working as a geologist at the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory.
M.S. 2007. Neutron Computed Tomography and Porosity in Geologically Relevant Samples.
Murphy, Megan – Worked as a geologist at Chevron for several years.
Ph.D. 2006. Variations in Microbialite Morphology with Depositional Environment in a Precambrian Ramp Deposit, Hamersley Group, Western Australia.
Maris Tabor
M.S. 2004. Applications of Neutron Computed Tomography for 3-D Imaging of Microbial Structures in Archean Carbonates.
Kat Perkins – Currently working as an academic advisor at a community college.
M.S. 2003. Sequence Stratigraphy of a Portion of the Lower Cambrian Grand Cycle C, Southwestern Nevada and Southeastern California.
Nat Stephens – Currently working as a Senior Geologist at ExxonMobil Exploration Company.
Ph.D. 2002. Late Devonian Stratigraphy, Stable Isotopic Analyses, and Paleoecology in the Napier, Oscar, and Emanuel Ranges, Canning Basin, Western Australia.
Sarah Tourre – Worked in environmental consulting.
M.S. 2000. Cave-Filling Herringbone Calcite: Morphology and Geochemistry of an Unusual Carbonate Cement from Egypt.
Undergraduate Students (incomplete list)
Caleb Dumlao, 2018-2019 – characterizing water characteristics in Spring Creek Reservoir, Iron Mountain, CA
Brian Troupin 2018-2019 – looking for magnetotactic bacteria
Emma Hoffman-Davies, 2019. Causes for the Formation of Ordovician Thrombolites in the Hueco Mountains, Texas, USA
Sramek, Natasha, 2018. Quantifying pinnacle morphology using 3-dimensional reconstructions of microbial mats in Lake Vanda, Antarctica.
Liedman, Sasha, 2014. GIS Analysis of the Water Balance of Lake Vanda, Antarctica. Currently a graduate student at Rutgers University.
Juarez Rivera, Marisol, 2013. Unraveling the three dimensional morphology of Archean microbialites. Completed a M.S. at UC Davis. Currently a graduate student at Arizona State University.
Dolezal, Lauren, 2009. 2D and 3D Analysis of Thrombolites: Stromatolite Diagenesis or Originally Clotted Texture.
Stevens, Eric, 2009. Microbialites in 2D and 3D. Completed a M.S. at University of Minnesota.
Stork, Natalie, 2008. CaCO3 Precipitation in Freshwater Biofilms Dominated by Oscillatoria sp. Completed a M.S. at University of Connecticut. Currently working in the environmental consulting industry.
Senge, Patrick, B. S. 2006. Development of the Late Archean Microbialite Support and Drape Structures of the Gamohaan Formation, Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa. Currently working in the mining industry.
Chavdarian, Gregory V., B.S. 2005. Cracks and Razorbacks: Pieces of Mars at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. Completed a M.S. in Geology with Sumner in 2008. Currently working as an environmental tour guide.
Alexander, Kathryn, B.S. 2005. “MISS” in a Laboratory Setting: Observations and Mechanisms of Formation. Completed a M.S. in Geobiology at Arizona State University.
Huerta, Nicolas, B.S. 2003. Neutron Computed Tomography: A Characterization of the System at McClellan Nuclear Radiation Center and Presentation of Groundwork Research for Use by Sedimentary Geologists. Completed a M.S. in Geology with Sumner in 2007, a M.S.E. in petroleum engineering and Ph.D. in geology at the University of Texas, Austin, and is now working as a geologist at the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory.
Lee, Gina, B.S. 2003. Thirty-nine Years of Cache Creek Migration and Embankment Erosion. Completed a M.S. at San Francisco State University after working as an environmental consultant.
Snyder, Jason, B.S. 2002. Isotope Geochemistry of Egyptian Cave Deposits. Completed a M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences and a Ph.D. in Geography at UC Davis.
Fenger, Tracy L., B.S. 2000. Glacial Interpretation for the Rainstorm Member of the Johnnie Formation, Eastern California. Completed a M.S. in Paleoclimatology at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, after working as an environmental consultant.