Dr. Eduardo Perez Macho, Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
Advised by Dr. William Bristow
I’ve been involved in space weather research since my PhD degree in Brazil, focusing on analyzing the ionospheric dynamics, which are influenced by the solar activity, primary within low and medium latitudes and spanning a 11 years period, encapsulating and entire solar cycle. The importance of this research is that the ionosphere, located beyond the altitude of 100 km, impacts signals from high-orbiting satellites, especially those responsible for navigation, such as GPS. This interactions can make the navigation inaccurate or even unavailable. For this studies, we use several equipment: ionosonde, a specialized radar that emits signals vertically and gauges the time taken for them to return; GPS receiver, which measures the total electron content from the satellite to the receiver, so it is able to infer the electron density, and also analyses the scintillation of the signal; VLF (Very Low Frequency), an ionospheric device that is able to evaluate the traveling signal over very long distances; and riometer, which is an old kind of antenna that captures signal from the galactic center, so we know its absorption in the ionosphere.
My postdoctoral research continues the ionospheric studies, particularly focused on a very powerful HF radar called SuperDARN, composed by an array of 20 antennas at each site. The main purpose of this radar is to understand the plasma convection within high and medium latitude regions, among many other objectives. The SuperDARN is an international network with 35 radars, and our research group is responsible for four of them – two in Antarctica and two in Alaska.
What has been most gratifying about this research is the opportunity to embark on expeditions to remote locations, where our equipment is installed. Two great experiences include my expedition to the Brazilian Station in Antarctica, and an expedition to two remote sites in Alaska. The plan for this year is to return to Antarctica, where I will visit two different American Stations – McMurdo, the most populated station, capable of supporting up to 1500 people, and Amundsen-Scott, at the very hearth of South Pole.
Dr. Aagje Eijsink,
Aagje in front of a geothermal pool in New Zealand
Advised by Dr. Derek Elsworth
I moved to State College about a year ago, in May 2022 to join the Penn State Rock Mechanics Lab, after finishing my PhD degree at the Marum – Center for Marine Environmental Science in Bremen. I have always been interested in earthquakes even though they are not exactly common in the Netherlands, where I come from. I started doing laboratory rock friction experiments during my Bachelor degree at Utrecht University. For my Master thesis, I briefly ventured into the outdoors by studying rocks from a Precambrian subduction zone, but I decided that I prefer to study rocks in controlled laboratory experiments. Although it is not possible to see the rock during experiments, it is possible to control many of the variables, and measure what is going on inside the deformation device. The controlled environment that enables us to figure out exactly what is going on inside rock during the deformation process and sometimes earthquakes, is why I like this part of science so much.
There are many different types of rock friction experiments, but in general, we apply stress conditions that are representative for a specific setting inside the earths’ crust and then move one side of the laboratory ‘fault’ relative to the other. That way, we can study how the applied forces behave during sliding, specifically the frictional behavior of the fault. In my past work, I have studied a range of variables and how they influence friction and sliding stability, including fault surface roughness, host rock stiffness, lithology and interlayer water of clay minerals. The project that I work on at Penn State is about geothermal energy, and is focused mostly on the response of faults to increased temperatures and the permeability of faults during sliding. Geothermal energy is a great source of sustainable energy, but understanding the risks of induced seismicity and maintaining high levels of permeability to sustain enough flow of water to the surface to generate electricity are key components that have to be understood better before it can be widely adopted as a source for electricity.
Agje with the Nittany Lion in the All Sports Museum and setting up all sensors for an experiment in the pressure vessel.
Outside of research, which was the main reason to come to Penn State, I really enjoy living in State College, but especially the area around here. Although I enjoy spending time in nature in general, one of my favorite things to do in my free time is swimming, preferably in natural lakes, of which there are plenty around.
Dr. Jena Jenkins, Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
Advised by Dr. William Brune
I’ve been a post doc in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science for about a year, but I first came to the department in 2017 as a graduate student. Previously, I had been working as an analytical chemist supporting preclinical drug safety testing, so applying to graduate programs in the atmospheric sciences was an unusual career move. But it’s a move I’m glad I made.
Jena generating sparks in the laboratory.
As a graduate student and now as a postdoc, my research has focused on how lightning and other electrical discharges in the atmosphere affect atmospheric chemistry and composition. In particular, I’m interested in the prodigious amounts of a molecule called hydroxyl radical generated by these discharges. The first step in removing many pollutants from the atmosphere is reaction with hydroxyl radical, so understanding all the sources of hydroxyl is key to understanding air quality. Most of my research is conducted in the laboratory, using a Tesla coil to generate different types of electrical discharges and laser-induced fluorescence to measure the resulting hydroxyl. But last summer I also went storm chasing in Texas and Louisiana to observe the hydroxyl-producing potential of electrical discharges in real thunderstorms.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy trying new arts and crafts, reading books from any genre, and meandering around campus and town.
Dr. Livio Santos, Energy and Mineral Engineering
Advised by Dr. Arash Dahi Taleghani
As a postdoctoral researcher specializing in geomechanics, my work centers on the critical aspect of wellbore integrity in the energy industry. Through years of developing both experimental and numerical research, I’ve gained an in-depth understanding of the importance of preventing fugitive methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
One area of particular interest to me has been the application of smart and nano materials in wellbore engineering. By incorporating these advanced materials into my research, I’ve been able to explore new ways of improving the strength and durability of wellbore structures, which helps minimize the risk of leaks and other failures. During my postdoc, I also expanded my research to include the rapidly growing field of geothermal energy, incorporating machine learning techniques to better understand subsurface reservoir behavior. I’m proud to have co-authored a book on wellbore integrity, which summarizes many of the advancements in the field.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy exploring the natural beauty of the area through activities like biking in the Rothrock and Bald Eagle State Forests. This year, I’ve challenged myself even further by training for the Happy Valley Ironman 70.3. It’s been a tough but incredibly rewarding journey, and I’m excited to see what I can achieve on race day!
Dr. Mark Ortiz, Geography
Mark speaking at an international youth climate conference in Vienna, Austria, 2018
Advised by Dr. Lorraine Dowler
Next to a piece of the Greenland Ice Sheet during the U.N. COP 21 Climate Conference in Paris, France, 2015
Dr. Erica Barlow, Geosciences
Advised by Dr. Chris House
I’m originally from Sydney, Australia, and moved to State College to start my two-year Postdoc at Penn State in the Fall of 2021. Although moving here was a shift, coming from a big city to a small, central PA town, I feel well and truly settled in and am loving my time here!
I’m a Postdoc in the Geosciences Department, working with Prof. Chris House and the Laboratory for Agnostic Biosignatures. I look at the characteristics of ancient (~2.4-billion-year-old) fossils to refine our understanding of the evolution and distribution of early life on Earth. My research starts with doing field work – mapping rock units, collecting samples, and documenting the relationship between different rock layers. I then look at very thin slices of the rock samples under a microscope to describe the minerals and textures contained within. Combining the field context and microscopic observations reveals the original environment that the rocks formed in – in this case – a shallow marine environment, somewhat like a coral reef in the modern day. I then use spatially-resolved, in situ techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to delve further into these rocks by studying the major, trace, and rare Earth element abundances and distributions. Characterising the morphology, chemistry, and environmental setting of these fossils helps inform the search for life elsewhere, in terms of knowing the type of environment in which to look for life and the type of rock that best preserves biological information across large timescales.
Outside of research, my favourite thing to do is spend time in the outdoors. Doesn’t matter the activity, as long as it’s out in nature! Last summer I was fortunate to be able to tag along on Prof. Jenn Macalady’s caving trip in Italy, where researchers are investigating various questions related to sulfur-cycling bacteria living within the caves. It was an amazing experience!
Abseiling (rappelling) vertically down a muddy hole in Grotta Bella cave, Frasassi
Maybe it’s a bit cliche, but I also love food and lately have had a lot of fun making interesting meals from the Ottolenghi SIMPLE cookbook. If you enjoy cooking, I’d highly recommend checking it out – the meals are diverse, super easy to make, and taste delicious!
Dr. Jake Carstens, Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
Advised by Dr. Anthony Didlake, Jr. and Dr. Colin Zarzycki
Email: carstens@psu.edu
Twitter: @JakeCarstens
Website: carstensweather.com
I arrived at Penn State in August 2022, after completing my undergraduate and graduate studies at Florida State University. I was drawn to weather from a young age, but my interest in tropical meteorology stems from riding out Hurricane Hermine in 2016, my senior year at FSU. Hermine was the first of 3 hurricanes (along with Irma and Michael) that I covered with other students on the “FSU Weather” TV show, whose significant impacts in northern Florida motivated me to better understand hurricane physics and weather communication. Accordingly, my Master’s work used simulations to study hurricane formation, including ways this can happen near the equator. As I transitioned to my Ph.D. under Dr. Allison Wing, I looked more broadly at rain-producing systems in the tropics. Specifically, I was interested in how thunderstorms interact with their environment, and cluster together into more organized systems with extreme rainfall. This includes interactions between clouds, water vapor, atmospheric radiation, and circulations, processes which also influence hurricane intensity.
At Penn State, I have started to work more with climate models and atmospheric reanalyses, with a focus on hurricane structure. While we think of these as circular, symmetric storms, there are asymmetries that influence the impacts from extreme wind, rainfall, and storm surge. While climate models have improved substantially, they are unable to resolve many small-scale processes important to hurricanes. My work assesses how wind shear (change in wind with height) affects hurricane structure, and how well these interactions are captured in these relatively coarse datasets compared to observations and high-resolution modeling.
Jake presenting his poster at the American Meteorological Society’s Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, held in New Orleans in May 2022.
I am passionate about teaching, mentorship, and community service, and aim to remain in academia as a professor. Along with my current role as the Chairperson of PoEMS, I participate in a Florida-based K-12 outreach initiative called “Scientist in Every Florida School”, and serve on our department’s Committee on Belonging. Outside of the lab, odds are you can catch me on the golf course, at any sports game I can get to, searching for nearby waterfalls, or playing with our cat, Nezzie.
Dr. Michelle Frazer, Geosciences, climate scientist
Advised by Dr. Lee Kump
I came to Penn State in September 2021 after completing my PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from Princeton University. While at Princeton, I developed proficiency in climate modeling while collaborating with NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. My research focus was clouds, particularly how changes in extratropical mixed-phase (liquid and ice) clouds with warming are represented in models. I also pursued a certificate in science policy, which opened opportunities for climate change communication, a highlight of which was attending a mass communication educators conference to present on how to communicate climate change to religious audiences.
In coming to Penn State, I pivoted in my research to paleoclimate modeling, my original motivation for entering the field of climate science. With my advisor Dr. Lee Kump (EMS college Dean) and collaborator Dr. Andy Ridgwell (at UC Riverside), I am exploring the ocean carbon cycle’s role in deglaciation. Using an intermediate complexity earth system model and proxy records of d13C and CaCO3, we are using data assimilation methods to reconstruct ocean circulation and carbon chemistry in the Last Glacial Maximum and Holocene periods. I am also passionate about teaching, with my first official experience being teaching physics at a maximum-security New Jersey prison while at Princeton. At Penn State, I taught METEO 5 this past summer to LEAP students and am teaching GEOSC 320 this spring. I hope to bring both the research and teaching experiences I have gained at Penn State to bear on expanding earth sciences learning and research at a liberal arts college. In my free time, I play violin at my church and compete in regional professional disc golf tournaments.