Kathy Benison
Maya Bradford
Rich Angel
Comfort Onah
Emily Johnson
Mikki Vilasuso
Kathleen C. Benison
Professor of Geology
kcbenison@mail.wvu.edu
Ph.D., Geology, University of Kansas, 1997
M.A., Geology, Binghamton University, 1993
B.S., Geology and Chemistry, Bridgewater State College, 1990
Maya BradFord
Ph.D. Student
myb00001@mix.wvu.edu
M.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2023
B.S., Environmental Sciences, Emory U., 2020
working dissertation title: Environment and climate records from Permian and Triassic gypsum, Texas and Wyoming
RichARD D. Angel, JR.
Ph.D. Student
rda00013@mix.wvu.edu
M.S., Geology, Eastern Kentucky U., 2013
B.S., Earth Sciences, Eastern Kentucky U., 2008
interests include ancient microbes in evaporites and their implications for life on Mars
Comfort Ehigocho ONAH
Ph.D. Student
ceo00017@mix.wvu.edu
M.S., Geology, University of Lagos, 2023
B.S., Geology, Obafemi Awolowo University, 2017
interests include sedimentary geology, biogeochemistry
EMILY JoHNSON
M.S. Student
ecj00005@mix.wvu.edu
B.S., Geology, University of Washington, 2019
working thesis title: fluid inclusions and biosignatures in White Sands gypsum
NIKKI VILASUSO
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
navilasuso@mix.wvu.edu
in progress: B.S. in Physics and Environmental Geoscience
working thesis title: mathematical model for the movement of gypsum eolian grains
Recent past members of REO lab group:
MARTHA E. Gibson
Visiting Scholar
Ph.D., Palynology, University of Sheffield, 2021
M.Biol.Sci., Zoology, University of Sheffield, 2015
Research title: “Evaluating the Pangaean paleobotanical record from midcontinental U.S.A. evaporites” funded by a Lindemann Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship
MATTHEW ELLIS
UNDERGRADUATE ReseArcher
B.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2023
Karena GiLL
Post-Doctoral ReseArcher
Ph.D., Geology, University of Alabama, 2022
M.S., Geology, Auburn University, 2017
B.S., Geology/Geol. Eng., Colorado School of Mines, 2015
A.S., Natural Resource Management, University of Belize, 2011
research: Fluid inclusions in Mars-analog mirabilite; funded by NASA Mars 2020 grant
Maya Bradford
M.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2023
M.S. thesis: Continental saline environments interpreted from bedded gypsum of the Triassic Red Peak Formation (Chugwater Group), northcentral Wyoming
B.S., Environmental Sciences, Emry U., 2020
RYAN PRCHLIK
M.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2023
M.S. thesis: A study of accidental daughter crystals in fluid inclusions in bedded halite from the Permian Opeche Shale and Cedar Hills Sandstone of the midcontinental United States
B.S., Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 2020
SARA SCHREDER-GOMES
M.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2021
M.S. thesis: A snapshot of ancient microbial life: Microorganisms and organic compounds in primary fluid inclusions in bedded halite, Neoproterozoic Browne Formation of central Australia
B.S., Geology, St. Norbert College., 2019
Brigitte Petras
M.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2021
M.S. thesis: Refining the sedimentology and geochemistry of the mid-Permian Blaine Formation in the Rebecca K. Bounds core, Greeley County, Kansas
B.S., Geology, Youngstown State U., 2018
Bradley Smith
B.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2020
senior thesis: Fluid and solid inclusions in halite as an environmental indicator: Petrography and spectroscopy of the Permian Cedar Hills Sandstone and Permian Salt Plain Formation, Kansas
Jonathan Knapp
Ph.D., Geology, West Virginia University, 2020
dissertation title: Evolution of extreme continental saline environments: Alluvial fans, loess plains, lakes, and distributive fluvial systems: Depositional systems of the Permian-Triassic redbeds and evaporites of Wyoming (U.S.A.)
B.S., Geology, Env. Studies, History, Central Michigan University, 2009
Anna Sofia Andeskie
Ph.D., Geology, West Virginia University, 2020
dissertation title: Evolution of extreme continental saline environments: a sedimentological investigation of Permo-Triassic redbeds and evaporites in Northern Ireland and Kansas
M.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2016
M.S. thesis: Depositional and diagenetic history of the Triassic red beds and evaporites from the Mercia Mudstone Group in the Carnduff 02 core of County Antrim, Northern Ireland
B.A., Geology, Binghamton University, 2014
Jackson Jakeway
M.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2019
M.S. thesis: Beneath the dunes: Cenozoic history of wind and water from a core drilled at White Sands, New Mexico
B.S., Geology, Central Michigan University, 2016
JEREMIAH BERNAU
M.S., Geology, West Virginia University, 2017
M.S. thesis: Testing the acid origin of the Neoproterozoic Browne Formation of central Australia through fluid inclusion analysis of bedded halite
B.S., Earth Science, Vassar College, 2014
Red Earth Observatory lab group, Spring 2023