Student Faculty Research
We strongly encourage our students to engage in geoscience research from their first semester at Millersville. Students learn how to ask scientific questions, make observations, design experiments, conduct literature reviews, and ultimately present their results. Our students present at not only our own undergraduate research conference Made In Millersville, but also regional and national meetings of the Geological Society of America. These experiences are invaluable and give students the edge when applying for graduate school or jobs after graduation.
Dr. Sam Earman
Dr. Earman focuses on water resources issues, including studies of groundwater and surface water. His specialty is using stable isotopes and hydrogeochemical data to better understand water systems. Recent research projects have included an analysis of pre-dam vs. post-dam flooding on the Schuykill River near Reading PA; how early COVID lockdowns impacted sewage plant discharge rates in the Lancaster area; and use of machine-learning algorithms to model water-quality impacts from the Susquehanna River on the Chesapeake Bay.
Dr. Lynn Marquez
Dr. Marquez specializes in hydrothermal systems in the oceanic crust, and igneous and metamorphic petrology. Her current work focuses on the origin and evolution of the Baltimore Mafic Complex. The Baltimore Mafic Complex extends from Baltimore into southeast Pennsylvania and Dr. Marquez focuses her work on the State Line portion of the complex. Field and petrographic studies suggest that the complex intruded a sedimented margin during the early stages of Appalachian mountain building.
Baltimore Mafic Complex
Jessica Hetrick '23 conducted field and petrographic studies for her senior thesis.
Dr. Talor Walsh
Dr. Walsh focuses his research on fracture analysis of drill core as well as analog modeling of structural processes.