Letter to Prospective Graduate Students 2011-2012,

Thank you for your interest in our program! I hope that you take the time to check out some of the projects and links associated with my research group. My colleagues and I in the Earth & Planetary Science and Biology departments are working on some terrific projects.

My research emphasis is on the interaction between water and Earth materials, including biogeochemical interactions. These interests have taken me to the experimental laboratory, sedimentary core repositories from Denver CO, Ames IA, and Bakersfield CA to Canberra, Australia; modern sedimentary geochemistry settings in the Rio Grande rift, Jemez Mtns, and San Juan basin, NM, Lechuguilla Cave in Carlsbad Caverns, NM, the Australian Mound Springs of the Simpson Desert; and the sedimentary geologic record in Creede CO (Tertiary), the San Juan Basin NM (Cretaceous and Jurassic), and Proterozoic sequences of the Grand Canyon AZ, Uinta Mtns UT, and Death Valley CA.

I am involved in many research and outreach activities at Grand Canyon, entailing action-packed trips (raft-based) on the Colorado River--- lots of opportunities for student participation! I am currently fascinated by spring and travertine deposits (ancient and modern) in the western U.S., with a major focus on the Rio Grand Rift, the Grand Canyon/Colorado Plateau, and Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Whether you're in a modern stream bed, an arid soil, or deep in a sedimentary basin, the presence of water, minerals and microbes ensures that action is underway… Neil Young said it succinctly: "Rust Never Sleeps".

My students obtain practical experience generally either in aqueous geochemistry [from installing and monitoring wells to geochemical analysis (major ion chemistry, field parameters, trace element and stable isotope geochemistry)] and more recently, gas chemistry; more rock-oriented students focus on sedimentary geochemistry/diagenesis through standard petrographic analysis and application of analytical tools such as the scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffractometer, electron microprobe, stable isotope mass spectrometry, and radiogenic isotope analyses (including Sr87/86, U-series geochronology, and noble gases). Students take advantage of our many first-rate analytical laboratories, as well as interacting with colleagues elsewhere.

I am also involved with a number of science education projects. I am part of a sustained effort to provide a comprehensive geoscience interpretation for Grand Canyon (with UNM's Karl Karlstrom and others) through construction of the Trail of Time at the South Rim (Trail of Time). The exhibit recently opened at the South Rim (October 2010). Karl and I also worked with GCNP on their recent new visitor center film- check it out! Some of the recent projects may be seen on the Diagenesis research pages on the UNM EPS website, as well as listed in the publications portion of my UNM home page.

Graduate students since 2000 include:

Deb Bergfeld (PhD, 2001; co-advised with Fraser Goff of LANL), Susan Block (MS, Dec. 2002), David Vinson (MS, Dec. 2002), Ron Amato (MS, 2004; Water Resources Program), Tom Loveland (MS, 2004), Armand Groffman (PhD, 2002), James Dyer (MS, 2006; Water Resources Program), Barton Faulkner (PhD, 2006; co-advised with Michael Campana) and Dennis Newell (PhD, 2007; co-advised with Zach Sharp). Matthew Kirk (PhD 2008). Eileen Embid completed an M.S. on travertines of the Springerville volcanic field in 2009. Jan Curtis finished her MS in the Water Resources Program on water quality in Bluewater Creek of the Zuni Mountains also in 2009. Amy Williams just completed her MS looking at water quality in the Rio Grande rift at the Sevilleta LTER site with a focus on the influnce of saline springs. Jessica Lopez-Pearce completed an MS on the paleohydrology of the Hualapai Limestone in Arizona. Zabe Premo is working on an MS on the groundwater biogeochemistry in southeastern NM. Ara Kooser is working on an MS looking at the geochemistry and geomicrobiology of cave pool precipitates in Carlsbad and Lechuguilla caves, NM. Brandi Cron is working on an MS linking microbial processes in terrestrial CO2-rich springs and marine vent systems. Lauren Sherson is working on an MS involving surface water quality and groundwater/surface water interactions in the Valles Caldera. Alexandra Priewisch is working on a PhD that examines major travertine occurrences throughout NM and AZ. April Tafoya is pursuing an MS on travertine and groundwater connections in southern NM. Graduate students often work closely with undergraduate EPS or Envi Sci majors on related projects within the research group.

I work closely with a number of other graduate students when their projects intersect my research interests. I also work with a number of undergraduate students on senior thesis projects. Though students work on individual projects, the group collaborates on field and analytical efforts when possible. Weekly research meetings with colleagues within EPS and Biology are often a component of the program. I am involved in joint research with Biology colleagues through our long-term integrated Hydogeoecology Group.

A major current effort is with a group of faculty at UNM and other state institutions examining the future of NM water resources through the New Mexico EPSCoR Program. Another continuing effort is with Scott Collins in Biology: we are directing a program working with graduate student Fellows in middle schools in Socorro, Belen and Laguna Pueblo (E-MRGE: Ecohydrogeology of the Middle Rio Grande- a GK-12 Fellow Program). I am also the Institutional Coordinator for the UNM Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LS-AMP) and the Director for the AMP Bridge to the Doctorate: both programs provide opportunities for eligible minority students. I am also a key participant in the development of a large exhibit at Grand Canyon National Park, The Trail of Time at Grand Canyon. It opened in October 2010 and ther is still more to do!

I teach graduate courses in the Geochemistry of Natural Waters and Sedimentary Geochemistry, Geomicrobiology, Organic Geochemistry, and Advanced Sedimentary Petrology. In addition, I teach Introductory Geology, Geology of National Parks, the senior capstone course in Environmental Sciences, and participate in UNM's summer Field Camp program. I am a departmental faculty advisor for the undergraduate programs in Earth & Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science, as well as the undergraduate Honors advisor. If you would like further information, please email me at lcrossey@unm.edu.

Thanks again for your interest!

Laura J. Crossey