Undergraduate Research

Current and Past Undergraduate Research Projects

Investigation of Bedrock Lithology and Fracture Patterns in the Junction House Range, Reno, NV

Funding Source or Course: Special Topics in Geology (GEOL-198) Research
Student Authors: Allison F. Laskoski and Aaron J. Ziolkowski
Faculty Mentor: Roger Putnam
Dates of the Project: Spring 2023
Description: A field investigation was conducted on the fracture patterns in the bedrock geology of the Junction House Range north of Reno—an area of rapid suburban expansion to accommodate the rising population of the Reno-metro area. Preliminary mapping of fracture orientations, epidote veins, and bedrock mineralogy suggest the Junction House Range is most affected by the stresses of the highly-active Peavine Fault System. Given the regional prophyllitic alteration that has weakened the bedrock, future development in the range should proceed with caution. Weakened bedrock may pose increased risk for subsidence and mass movement events during earthquakes which would be hazardous for nearby developments and infrastructure. View poster.

Investigation of the Stratigraphy and Structure of the Miocene Hunter Creek Sandstone in West Reno, NV

Funding Source or Course: Nevada NASA Space Grant Community of Practice
Student Authors: Aaron J. Ziolkowski and Jack N. Norton
Faculty Mentor: Roger Putnam
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2023/24
Description: A study was done on Hunter Creek Canyon to investigate contradictions on the published geologic map of the region and to more-accurately log the stratigraphy of the exposed section of the middle Miocene to the late Pliocene Hunter Creek Sandstone Formation. The stratigraphic survey created a decimeter-scale stratigraphic column of the region that can be used in future physical correlation efforts. Detailed field survey revealed the contradictions on the geologic map to likely be mapping errors. View poster.

Investigating Enigmatic Vertical Vegetation Bands in the Virginia Range, NV

Funding Source or Course: Nevada NASA Space Grant Community of Practice
Student Authors: Ana I. Amaya
Faculty Mentor: Roger Putnam
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2023/24
Description: The study was within the Virginia range of the Great Basin where vegetation often grows in vertical bands on andesitic talus slopes. These bands are surrounded by denser plant communities creating dark stripes on mountainsides visible from kilometers away. This study used Google Earth and ArcGIS to investigate topographic features that may encourage them to form. Results suggest they are more likely to form on south or west-facing slopes with high slope angles (but well below the angle of repose) that are low in elevation compared to the regional topography. This is perhaps because the northern slopes collect more snow and hold precipitation for longer. This may change the total amount of water and light available, causing reduced levels of weathering, lower sediment production, and thus soil production rates that are slower than the rates of uplift. View poster.

TMCC Community Garden Soil Survey in Support of Prosperous Crops

Funding Source or Course: Special Topics in Geology (GEOL-198) Research
Student Authors: Riley A. Sherman, Melinda Gadda, Jennifer Perico, Jesse Vázquez
Faculty Mentor: Roger Putnam
Dates of the Project: Summer 2024
Description: Working alongside the TMCC Gardening Club, the Reimagining Sustainability Club analyzed the soil of the Dandini campus vegetable garden to determine its potential effects on plant growth. Three soil test pits were dug and the layers were analyzed for color, texture, and organic content. Our results revealed that the soil surrounding the garden is sandy clay with very little organic matter–a combination that is very poor for crop growth. We suggest that soil layering and crop rotation be implemented in order to enhance the soil to make the TMCC vegetable garden more productive. View poster.

Bedrock Lithology Controls on Rockfall Debris Field Morphology in the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin

Funding Source or Course: Nevada NASA Space Grant Community of Practice
Student Authors: Kathleen McKinnon
Faculty Mentor: Roger Putnam
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2024/25 - In Progress
Description: This project is using geotechnical tools to assess the characteristics of rockfalls that are sourced in high-angle terrain to answer a basic question: Do rockfalls sourced in different kinds of bedrock create slopes of different characteristics? This project controls for a variety of factors by assessing only rockfall debris fields in the Great Basin that occurred in places that were glaciated during the Last Glacial Maximum, 15 KA. This ambitious work will help us understand rockfall hazard and perhaps suggest mitigation strategies.

Effects of Dams on Sediment Flux in Streams on the Northeast Sierra Nevada

Funding Source or Course: Nevada NASA Space Grant Community of Practice
Student Authors: Madison Toalson and Hunter Brown
Faculty Mentor: Roger Putnam
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2024/25 - In Progress
Description: This is a project of vital importance to hydrologists in our water-poor region. It seeks to assess the degree to which fluvial sediment flux is disrupted by dams in our region and what are the dams’ effects on those streams' downstream geomorphology. Streams are selected with gauging stations upstream and downstream of a reservoir. Field work is then done, including a sediment grain size analysis of the transported sediment upstream and downstream of the dam and a survey of the topography of stream channels. This allows our team to make an assessment of the health and stability of the river system.

Wildlife and Weather Patterns: A Data-Driven Exploration

Funding Source or Course: Nevada NASA Space Grant and the INBRE Grant
Student Authors: Alec Brooks and Seth Miller
Faculty Mentors: Minsung Jung, Megan Lahti, Eriko Sakamura, Cecilia Vigil
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2023/24 to present
Description: This project utilizes data gathered locally by faculty and students from the biology department at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), supported by additional data from iNaturalist, an app where citizen scientists share geo-tagged observations of plant and animal life. With over 1.8 million observations recorded within the US, iNaturalist serves as a powerful resource for our research. Through this collaboration, we aim to explore the complexity of weather's impact on our local biodiversity. View poster.

Effects of urbanization on water quality in northern Nevada

Funding Source or Course: Nevada EPSCoR UROP Grant and Nevada NASA Space Grant
Student Authors: Kyleah Smith
Faculty Mentor: Sameer Bhattarai
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2023/24 to present
Description: In northern Nevada, urban development is increasing rapidly. Urban development leads to increased runoff and less infiltration. Pollutants from urban development can be transported to receiving water bodies. The objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of urban development on water quality of the Truckee River in northern Nevada.

Trends in Energy Usage and Carbon Footprint at a Nevada Higher Education Institution

Funding Source or Course: Nevada EPSCoR UROP Grant and Nevada NASA Space Grant
Student Authors: Sophie Scott
Faculty Mentor: Sameer Bhattarai
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2022/23
Description: The objectives of this project are 1) to examine how the ratio of renewable energy to nonrenewable energy usage has changed at a Nevada Higher Education Institution in recent years, and 2) to explore how the carbon footprint of this institution has changed over this time period. Renewable energy (solar and wind) and non-renewable energy usage data for the years 2010 – 2018 were collected from the office of the Facilities, Operations and Capital Planning at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC). Freely available online calculator at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) website was used to calculate TMCC’s carbon footprint and carbon offset for each year between 2010 and 2018. Results indicated a general upward trend in renewable energy usage and a downward trend in nonrenewable energy usage at TMCC. Interestingly, although the carbon footprint was overall higher than the offset, per kilowatt hour more carbon was saved than released, indicating it is possible to be a carbon neutral institution. Findings of this study indicate that transitioning from nonrenewable energy resources to renewable energy resources by higher education institutions in Nevada can benefit the environment.

Evaluating capacities of various bacteria to desalinate water

Funding Source or Course: Nevada EPSCoR UROP Grant and Nevada NASA Space Grant
Student Authors: Marley Anderson
Faculty Mentor: Sameer Bhattarai and Lazaro Perez (Desert Research Institute)
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2022/23
Description: The objective of this project was to examine if microbially-induced biomineralization results in removing calcium, magnesium, and sodium chloride from water. The question is asked, “Can bacteria effectively desalinate water through biomineralization?” A microfluidic experimental observation was performed. Four species of bacteria were utilized for the experiment: E. coli, R. rubrum, B. subtilis, and M. luteus. Results were visualized via video. E. coli was capable of surviving saline conditions as high as 10g/L NaCl. Results indicated that E.coli has the potential to desalinate it by precipitating struvite (phosphate mineral).

Effects of an urban wetland on water quality in a high-desert ecosystem of northern Nevada

Funding Source or Course: Nevada EPSCoR UROP Grant
Student Authors: Samuel Binger
Faculty Mentor: Sameer Bhattarai
Dates of the Project: Academic Year 2022/23
Description: The objective of this project was to evaluate the influence of an urban wetland on water quality in northern Nevada. It was hypothesized that the quality of water improves as it flows through an urban wetland. Results indicated that ammonia concentration lowered as water flowed through an urban wetland. This is a positive impact because higher levels of ammonia in a water body can be toxic to aquatic organisms. Findings of this project support the conservation and creation of wetlands in urban environments of high-desert ecosystems of northern Nevada.