2022 PSU Beverly Vogt Grant Awardees

GSOC is pleased to announce our 2022 PSU Beverly Vogt grant awardees! Each applicant was awarded $1,000 to be used toward the achievement of their degree.

Daniel Sheikh, PhD candidate

Daniel’s research is in the field of cosmochemistry, with an emphasis on lunar meteorite geochemistry. Daniel is working to understand the physical and chemical effects that meteorite impacts impose on lunar crustal materials through a combined chemical-crystallographic approach. Daniel also hopes to develop a shock transformation index that can distinguish heavily shock-processed lithic clasts from more pristine lithic clasts.

Darlene Gilroy, Master’s candidate

Darlene’s thesis will focus on defining the pre-eruptive behavior of three Boring Volcanic Field centers: Mt. Tabor (Portland, OR), Prune Hill (Camas, WA), and Battleground Lake (Battleground, WA). Darlene’s work will include petrographic study, bulk-geochemistry, and melt inclusion analysis. Understanding the geochemistry, storage depths, and ascent rates for these centers will provide valuable insights into the overall behaviors of monogenetic volcanism in the Portland Basin and aid in determining the risk these fields pose to populated regions.

Julian Cohen, Master’s candidate

Julian is working on using stable hydrogen isotopes preserved in hydrated mid-Miocene volcanic glass to better understand the past climate of central and eastern Oregon. Julian hopes to provide a better understanding of how and why ancient water chemistry varies spatially and in comparison with modern water chemistry to create a revised interpretation of the paleotopography and climate of Oregon during the mid to late Miocene.

Rachel Sweeten, Master’s candidate

Rachel’s thesis involves using exploration geology techniques to determine magma storage locations for the Steens and Picture Gorge Basalts. Rachel intends to resolve whether magma traveled from the point source of Yellowstone Hotspot impingement, or whether there were discrete storage systems for each major magmatic unit of the Columbia River Basalts. Rachel will also examine the mineralogy and geochemistry of these units to determine potential for mineralization of economic ores.

Each awardee has expressed gratitude to GSOC members for this financial support toward their research goals. Once they complete their research, we plan to have each of them share their findings with GSOC through a Friday Night lecture and/or a Saturday Zoom meetup session.

Note: Our three Master’s candidates have expressed interest in having GSOC members assist them in their fieldwork. We are currently working with them to find out dates and what their needs will be. If you are interested in providing some assistance in the field, please contact a GSOC board member or email the PSU Bev Vogt committee members at: gsocfundforpsu@gsoc.org