Kayla Duarte -
Kayla Duarte is a third year EAS major concentrating in planetary science and will be graduating in May 2019. She has been working on NASA’s Dawn Mission with Dr. Britney Schmidt since her freshman year studying geomorphological features on dwarf planet Ceres and the role of ground ice in its subsurface. She has a first-authored paper in revision pertaining to an intermediate class of landslides identified on Ceres, and recently gave a talk at the Division of Planetary Sciences Annual Meeting in Knoxville, TN on her current research involving potential ground ice related features in Occator crater on Ceres.
During her time at Georgia Tech, Kayla was awarded both the Rutt S. Bridges Undergraduate Research Award and the President’s Undergraduate Research Award. She was also a member of Lambda Sigma Honor Society, a sophomore-only honor fraternity.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending hours in the kitchen creating organic cosmetics, playing guitar, and skateboarding.
Jacob Buffo -
Jacob Buffo is a 4th year PhD student whose line of research is Ice-Ocean interactions both here on Earth and on icy moons in our solar system. Right now Jacob is specifically studying sea ice and ice shelves here on Earth, and Jupiter's moon Europa, which harbors a large subsurface ocean. He is working under the advisement of Dr. Britney Schmidt. Jacob received his B.S. from the University of Iowa, a double major, awarded in Physics and Astronomy. In his spare time Jacob enjoys the outdoors, specifically hiking, biking, snowboarding and xc skiing.
Click here to read more about Jacob Buffo.
Biao Wan -
Biao Wan is a 2nd year PhD student under the supervision of Professor and advisor Dr. Yuanzhi Tang. Biao has been working on exploring the role of exogenous polyphosphate in the precipitation of calcium phosphate minerals in the marine environment. He received his B.Sc and M.Sc degrees in Environmental Sciences from Huazhong Agricultural University and enjoys listening to music, watching movies, NBA games, cooking, and traveling in his spare time.
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Shelby Ellis -
Shelby Ellis is enjoying her 2nd year as a graduate student in EAS. Working very closely with faculty advisor Dr. Kim Cobb, Shelby’s specific line of research is paleoclimatology. Shelby received her B.A. in Chemistry from Florida Gulf Coast University. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, going to the beach and drinking margaritas.
Pan Liu -
Pan Liu is a 2nd year PhD student. Working with faculty advisor Dr. Yuanzhi Tang, Pan is investigating the influence of microbial activities on the behaviors of a group of intriguing metals, the rare earth elements. He is also working on developing methods to harness microbes to recycle those metals from solid wastes, like coal fly ashes. Pan Liu earned his B.S. from Nanjing University in Nanjing, China. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, hiking, and playing basketball.
Amy Williamson -
Amy Williamson is a 5th year PhD student. Working with faculty advisor Dr. Andy Newman, Amy’s current research focus is geodesy, specifically modeling the source of tsunamigenic earthquakes. Amy earned her BS in Geoscience from Denison University. When not preparing for her upcoming defense Amy enjoys going for runs on the weekend and beating fellow grad student Lucas Liuzzo in Scrabble.
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Tiegan Hobbs -
Tiegan Hobbs is a 4th year PhD student with EAS. This summer she will also be graduating with an MS in Civil Engineering. Her line of research is Geophysics where she specializes in the study of subduction zone physics and natural hazards. Tiegan is advised by Dr. Andrew Newman, with whom she studies postseismic recovery of the Nicoya megathrust. In her spare time Tiegan enjoys calligraphy and doing outreach with kids. She has been working with Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Integrating Science for about 3 years, either as an Instructor or Group Leader.
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Justin Lawrence -
Justin Lawrence is a 2nd year PhD student. His line of research is planetary science & astrobiology, with a good bit of oceanography mixed in. Justin’s notable projects include Icefin, underwater submersible vehicle work and exploration in Antarctica with Dr. Britney Schmidt, as well as prior field work that included deployments to Antarctica in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017 with UC Davis and Montana State University. Justin received his BS in Geoscience from Boston College. He enjoys hiking, cycling, sailing, diving and surfing in his spare time.
Click here to read more about Justin Lawrence.
Aishwarya ‘Ria’ Joshi -
Ria Joshi is a 4th year EAS major with a concentration in Oceanography and Sustainability. Her line of research interest includes the Study the dynamics of density currents on underwater volcanic eruptions and currently working with Dr. Josef Dufek and grad student Ryan Cahalan.
While at Ga Tech, Ria has enjoyed the leadership role as the EAS Club President, a teaching assistant for EAS 2600, team leader for GT1000. In the future Ria hopes to work as an environmental consultant.
Ria considers "spare time" is the equivalent of "stopping time", and because of this enjoys activities which allow her to capture a moment and indulge. Cuddling up and loosing herself in a novel or a journal article (usually about the environment) or traveling and hiking with her family. When hiking, she likes to blend her knowledge from her undergrad work and the world around her, by sharing geology knowledge to her hiking mates. Over the past 13 years when Ria wants to escape from nature and school, she enjoys practicing Tae Kwon Do, which she has the rank of 3rd Degree Black belt.
Nicholas Hitt -
Nicholas Hitt is a 5th year senior graduation December 2016. His line of research is Paleoclimatology and Oceanography and has worked in Dr Kim Cobb’s Lab since spring 2015. While working with Dr. Cobb, Nick was awarded the Rutt S. Bridges Undergraduate Research Award and the PURA Travel Grant. He spoke at the AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans in 2016 and will be speaking at the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2016. Nick was able to go on a field expedition to Christmas Island in March 2016 for 10 days collecting water samples to study the 2015/2016 El Nino and coral for future paleoclimate work.
He has also really enjoyed teaching and being a TA for EAS 1601 since fall 2015.With Nick’s research over course of his undergrad experience, he will be publishing a methodology paper on using young fossil corals for 20th century mean climate reconstructions.
In Nick’s spare time he plays guitar, hunts, fishes and hikes. He also likes to drive around the country for music festivals.