Undergraduate Research
Please keep an eye on this page for specific opportunities.
Note: If you are interested in research opportunities with other faculty, please contact them directly…most faculty will create and tailor a research project to your particular interests.
SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES (Alphabetical by Faculty Mentor)
Devon Burr
Title: Image analysis of inverted fluvial features on Mars
Project: This work would entail learning how to access, process, and analyze high-resolution images showing inverted river channels and floodplains on Mars. Requirements include: at least 2 courses in geology, familiarity with spreadsheets, and an interest in geomorphology. Wondering what Mars looks like close-up, or what an 'inverted river channel' is, anyway –contact Devon Burr.
Status: support is available at $10/hr for 10 to 20 hours per week.
Josh Emery
Title: Composition of Kuiper Belt objects
Project: This project is on the astronomy side of planetary, but it is all about surface composition, which is a very geologic parameter. I have data (images) of about 30 Kuiper Belt objects (and more coming in all the time) from the Spitzer Space Telescope. I need someone to calculate the brightness, then albedo, of the KBOs from the images. The student will have to use some software that I have written, but a fair amount of discretion is required, so they have to have the ability to pay attention to detail. The infared albedos that we calculate will be combined with spectra at shorter wavelengths to help determine surface compositions of KBOs.
Status: this project is available for pay or Geology 493 (Independent Study) credit.
Mike McKinney
Title Marble Springs water contamination study.
Project: Tim Gangaware at the Center for Watershed Solutions has contacted the Department about an on-going study of Marble Springs (the home of Governor John Sevier) which has some hydrological contamination with interesting geological aspects. Any undergraduates interested in this opportunity should contact Mike McKinney. Students will be mentored by the Center for Watershed Solutions and will learn skills involved in site-measurement and watershed contamination.
Status: This opportunity is available for Geology 493 (Independent Study) credit.
Larry McKay
Title: Bangladesh Sediment Sieving.
Project: Graduate student Peter Knappett has about 50 hours worth of sieve analyses to do on sediment cores from his dissertation study area in Bangladesh. We don’t expect this project to evolve into a senior thesis but the student will get an opportunity to do some hands-on data collection and to learn more abut Peter’s project, whch involves the contamination of rural water sources. Any interested student should contact Peter Knappet at at 974-0075 or pknappet@utk.edu.
Status: for pay, at $8/hour
Hap McSween and Larry Taylor
Title: Characterization of meteorites.
Project: The Department is acquiring new meteorite specimens that have never before been described. Undergraduate geology majors, after completing mineralogy and petrology, should be able to do petrographic descriptions and, in conjunction with auditing the electron microprobe course, perform mineral analyses. This work could involve chondrites or igneous samples (achondrites), and would be accompanied by readings and discussions on meteorite petrology, chemistry, and interpretations.
Status: The project is available to one or more students, initially for Geology 493 (Independent Study) credit.