Trailblazing with Earth & Environmental Science

Trailblazing with Earth & Environmental Science


June 4, 2025
Above: Ryker Ray (left) and Hunter Hastings

One of the newest majors available for undergraduate students at the University of Utah is Earth & Environmental Science (EES).

The program fuses principles from atmospheric science, geology, and ecology to address key questions about the environment — including freshwater availability, the effects of extreme weather, and ecosystem resilience, among other topics. Students in the program join a faculty research stream — studying in a campus lab or out in the field — to acquire valuable experience.

Utah is known worldwide for its geological attributes and abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities. From the Wasatch Mountains to Zion National Park, the state serves as a natural classroom for EES students to study a variety of research topics, including snowfall dynamics, watershed health, aerosol chemistry and much more.

EES students study together in small cohorts, supported by faculty mentors, to develop practical skills for fruitful careers like environmental consulting, resource management, policy, among others. Students can also supplement their studies with a Sustainability Certificate. 

Among the first graduating EES students are Ryker Ray and Tucker Hastings.

Ryker Ray

Ryker Ray

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience these past two years in the EES major,” says Ray, reflecting on his experience. “A brand-new major can be a little rough around the edges at times, but overall my classes were interesting and challenging." 

One of the biggest draws for Ray to study EES was its interdisciplinary focus, reflected in the variety of his research work in the Science Research Initiative. He initially investigated the links between air quality and wildfires in atmospheric scientist Gannet Hallar’s Aerosol Research Lab. Later, he transitioned to biologist Austin Green’s Wildlife-Human Interaction Lab to engage in fieldwork and ecological data analysis. It was there that Ray developed a particular interest in studying carnivores.

"I am evaluating how certain extreme climate variables, which mirror future climate change conditions, are affecting the spatial and temporal behavior of small to large carnivores," says Ray. He focused on developing a framework for wildlife and land management, with the hope of influencing policy.

"We still lack an understanding of the degree to which our urban development affects the behaviors and populations of carnivores across the world," he adds.

Through his research, Ray benefited from a strong mentorship bond with Green. "I have never had such a compassionate and helpful mentor. Austin has always made time for me and the other students in the lab, even when working across two different organizations and caring for a new baby," says Ray.

Beyond the classroom, Ray, who hails from Park City, Utah, co-founded and served as Vice President of the Utah Students for Conservation Club, inspired by his studies and a reforestation internship in Costa Rica. Additionally, he contributed writing and photography to the environment-focused Wasatch Magazine.

Looking ahead, Ray hopes to work in fire ecology. "I want to begin repairing and building a bridge to work with the many Native American tribes and nations who have been using fire to maintain the health of the Western U.S." He hopes to pursue this ambition by founding his own company dedicated to public education and environmental awareness on the issue.

Tucker Hastings

Tucker Hastings

Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, William "Tucker" Hastings graduated with a double major in EES and Spanish, along with a minor in atmospheric sciences. As a member of the inaugural EES cohort, he valued the program’s interdisciplinary collaboration. "I enjoyed being able to connect with professors and students in the three different disciplines,” says Hastings. “The major’s emphasis on holistic perspectives and practical experience were also highlights." His EES studies were a particular highlight of his undergraduate career, and he eagerly engaged in research, labs and cross-disciplinary connections.

Hastings’ research focused on Utah's landscapes, stemming from his childhood adventures exploring the state’s wild places. His interest was sparked by a pivotal Science Research Initiative field trip to Costa Rica, where he met with biologists and conservationists. This led to his work in the Şekercioğlu Lab, assisting with trail camera image identification and conducting biodiversity surveys in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

For this project, he collaborated with the Aparecido Lab in the School of Biological Sciences to study the impact of invasive species. He compared areas invaded by Russian olive trees to non-invaded sites to build a model of biogeographic trends. Hastings highlighted a significant knowledge gap: "Despite its long history in Utah, Russian olive has gone largely unstudied in the United States. The work of my lab [was] some of the first to investigate its impacts."

Following graduation, Hastings plans to continue his studies in ecology by pursuing a Ph.D., ideally in desert ecology. His core aspiration is "to use science to promote conservation, as well as community engagement in science and ecology."


by Ethan Hood

Students interested in the Earth & Environmental Science major at the University of Utah can learn more here.

 

 

The power of curiosity and collaboration

The power of curiosity and collaboration


May 20, 2025
Above: Thure Cerling

Whether it’s roadkill livestock or his own beard hairs, Thure Cerling’s keen eye for objects to analyze has led to scientific discoveries, both unexpected and groundbreaking.

Over the course of an academic career spanning five decades, the University of Utah geoscientist has developed numerous forensic tools, such as isotope analysis, for understanding geological processes that affected the course of life on Earth, according to presentations given Saturday at a symposium to reflect on the contributions of Cerling, who is retiring this year.

His discoveries have reconstructed the diets of ancient animals, characterized the ecology of early human sites in East Africa, pinpointed when floods incised Grand Canyon, identified a global transition in vegetation types 3 to 10 million years ago, and even helped law enforcement crack cold cases and solve wildlife crimes. He is perhaps best known for exploiting the relative abundance of certain elemental isotopes as a way to date objects or determine where a person or animal lived or what they ate, earning him the moniker The IsoPope.

Cerling “is a profoundly curious and interested individual. He seeks out and he finds systems that are interesting around him and he finds interesting questions and finds ways to bring these fundamentals into new areas,” said symposium moderator Gabe Bowen, a U geology professor and former student of Cerling’s. “He’s not afraid to go out and sample things and just get materials and might not know exactly what they’re going to be good for right at that time, but Thure’s a collector and this pays off.”

The event was held at the Utah Museum on Natural History, where dozens of scientists from around the country gathered to celebrate Cerling’s contributions to science and  his impact on them personally.

Read the full story by Brian Maffly in @TheU

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25th Research on Capitol Hill

College of Science Student Research on Capitol Hill

 

Last week, a select group of students from the University of Utah and Utah State University showcased their research to Utah state legislators and community members at the 25th annual Research on Capitol Hill (ROCH). This event offers a glimpse into the groundbreaking work happening in labs across the state and on the University of Utah campus.

By translating classroom knowledge into experimental design and data analysis, these students gain invaluable experience that can inspire future careers in research, medicine, and policy — equipping them to collaborate with policymakers and use science to address complex challenges. 

This year, College of Science student research was represented in 12 of the 25 projects from the University of Utah. Their diverse research covered topics on synthesis of organic molecules, monitoring groundwater storage in the Salt Lake Valley, fungi, breast cancer, spider venom, birds, cardiac imaging, bacteria, and more. While the event provides a tremendous learning opportunity for undergraduates, the relationship between students and researchers is equally impactful—undergraduates make meaningful contributions to ongoing academic research, advancing scientific discovery.

 

Below are College of Science majors who presented at this year’s Research on Capitol Hill

 

Parker Guzman, graduating spring 2025, majoring in biology, with an emphasis in ecology and evolution and a minor in integrative human biology

Poster: Birds Groom More During Molt

Mentor: Sara Bush, Professor, School of Biological Sciences

 

In the Clayton/Bush lab Guzman is focused on studying the relationship between molt and preening/grooming behavior in captive pigeons. “Molt is a huge but necessary energy investment for pigeons,” explains Parker. Research has played a central role in Parker’s undergraduate experience and future plans.  “After I leave the U,” Parker says, “I want to work in the field and then apply for a PhD program in ecology and evolution. I could see myself staying in academia, I enjoy teaching or doing research.”

You can read more about Parker Guzman’s research journey in SRI Stories: Of Bees & Pigeons

 

 

 


 

Marlon Lopez, graduating spring 2025 majoring in biology and a minor in chemistry

Poster: Exploring Short-form RON as a Therapeutic Target for Breast Cancer

Mentor: Alana Welm, Professor of Oncological Sciences and Senior Director of Basic Science at the Huntsman Comprehensive Cancer Center

 

“My curiosity started when I was in elementary school. There was a lesson about the cell that really caught my interest. The complexity and all of its functions and capabilities fascinated me. Coming to college I knew I wanted to study biology and learn about the intricacies of the cell and its components,” Marlon says, but “as a first-generation college student, my college experience has had its challenges.

"Initially, I didn't know how to get involved in research, but by looking for programs I stumbled upon a summer research program named SPUR. I applied and got accepted to do research at the Huntsman. "Working in a lab that studies breast cancer and knowing I have contributed to novel and impactful research has been exciting."

 


Kisha Thambu, graduating spring 2025 with a double major in computer science (honors) and biology with a minor in chemistry

Poster: Enhancing Myocardial T1 Mapping with a Deep Learning Framework for Deformable Motion Compensation using Utah Patient Data

Mentor: Ganesh Adluru, Associate Professor, Radiology & Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine

 

Kishan’s research leveraged artificial intelligence to improve MRI imaging for cardiac mapping. Figuring out ways to clean up the images in a patient that is actively breathing, offers the promise to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes for patients with heart disease. 

More about Kishan Thambu 

 

 

 

 


 

Isaac Graham, graduating spring 2026, double majoring in biology and chemistry

Poster: Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles on Mesoporous Silica Supports

Mentor: Ilya Zharov, Professor, Chemistry Department

 

“Research at the University of Utah has helped show me that I want to continue onto graduate school in organic chemistry and eventually work in industry on drug synthesis.

"I found my lab by surveying the chemistry department website and then cold emailing Professor Zharov to see if I could get involved in research in the lab.” 

 

 

 

 


 

Alisson Nopper, graduating spring 2025, with a double major in biology and chemistry

PosterDeaminative contraction chemistry for the synthesis of [2.2]paracyclophane and asymmetric derivatives 

Mentor: Andrew Roberts, Professor, Chemistry Department

 

“My undergraduate research experiences started with the SRI program doing cancer biology research. After I took organic chemistry 1 and 2 — the synthesis courses — I decided to apply to work in a chemistry lab. I’ve been working on organic synthesis for two years now, in the Roberts lab, and will be pursuing a PhD in organic chemistry beginning this fall.” 

 

 

 

 


 

Colton Williamson, graduating summer 2025, majoring in geoscience with an emphasis in geology

Poster: Quantifying Submarine Discharge in Farmington Bay and the Great Salt Lake using Radon-222

Mentor: Douglas Kip Solomon, Professor, Geology & Geophysics, Mines and Earth Sciences

 

After graduating, Colton will be continuing his education and research in groundwater and hydrology as a master’s student in geoscience, mentored by Kip Solomon.

“Undergraduate research has been crucial to my development at the U," sys Colton. "I was able to see science in real time, which helped me better understand concepts related to geology and groundwater. After my master’s degree, I want to work in industry, specifically in hydrology and groundwater management, so that I can help people make informed decisions on water budgets.”

 

 


 

Kyle Pope, graduating fall 2025, majoring in geology with an emphasis in geophysics

Poster: Monitoring Groundwater Storage Change in the Salt Lake Valley Using Repeat Microgravity and GPS

Mentor:  Tonie van Dam, Professor, Geology and Geophysics

 

Kyle is from California and has a bachelor’s in history, which he completed in 2013. His pivot to science was inspired by the outdoors.

“After spending a decade as a Grand Canyon river guide I got a lot of perspective on the time and scale of things and the sure mass of this place," he says. "I fell in love with rocks and that’s when I decided I wanted to go back to school and learn more about them. When I started at the U, I found out I loved processes that explain how this place came together."

"I quickly realized that [this area of science] involves a lot of math, something I did not have a lot of confidence in. I met Professor Tonie Van Dam who gave me the confidence to pursue the things I’m interested in. After graduating I want to get into geothermal exploration and anything involving natural sources of power.”

 

 

 


 

Ella Bleak, graduating 2026, double majoring in Chemistry (honors) and Mathematics

Poster: Understanding Weapons of Bacterial Warfare

Mentor: Talia Karasov, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

 

“My research is focused on finding a solution to the antibiotic crisis that healthcare is facing. It is a massive problem because we are finding that there are more and more bacteria resistant to antibiotic medicines so we are no longer able to fight bacterial infections the way we once did. Our proposed solution is to actually use tailocins, which are proteins produced by bacteria. The proteins show promise as an alternative to current antibiotic types. We have been able to successfully extract and use tailocins to kill bacteria [in lab experiments]. Research has been integral in helping me decide I want to pursue a PhD.” Learn more about Ella bleak here article

 

 


 

America Cox, graduating 2026, double majoring in biology (honors, with an emphasis in ecology, evolution, and environment) and philosophy of science, with minors in chemistry, media studies and honors integrated ecology on the East Africa track.

Poster: Cryptic Coevolution of Ant-Farmed Fungi: Linking Genomic and Metabolic Profiles

Mentor: Bryn Dentinger, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences 

 

“Mycology is such an emerging field because about 70 years ago, people still thought fungi were plants,” she explains. “So when I went to Mexico, we were out there just seeing what there is. Being able to see that at the ground level and seeing the field [of mycology] start to move in new ways is really cool.”

Learn more about America Cox 

 

 


 

Allie Perkins, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology and Spanish

PosterQuaking Aspen Pathogen Defenses Change in Response to Drought Events

MentorTalia Karasov, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

 

“My freshman year, I participated in the Science Research Initiative, SRI. Being part of that program gave me a supportive environment where I gained foundational research skills and learned more about the research process. I am looking forward to this event [Research on the Capitol] and the opportunity to share my research with lawmakers who can impact the issues I am studying."

"Right now feels like a scary time for research because of the executive orders from the new presidential administration, and I feel like my whole undergraduate research experience has prepared me to talk about science with people from a variety of backgrounds. I feel ready to meet people where they are and able to help build their foundation of scientific knowledge.” 

Learn more about Allie Perkins: Humans of the U, February 19, 2025 and on Wilkes Center: Research Minutes (video) 

 


 

Logan Reeves, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology (honors), minoring in chemistry, pediatric clinical research, and ecology and legacy

Poster
: Testing of an Indoor Climbing Program to Promote Physical, Mental, and Social Well-Being for College Students

MentorAkiko Kamimura, Associate Professor, Sociology, Social and Behavioral Science

 

Logan took a different approach to getting involved in research, by merging his passion for climbing with a desire to address mental health challenges in college students that followed COVID.

“My project involved working with three other students [all non-STEM majors] and was hosted by the department of sociology. Honestly, as a biology major, this research was very, very fun. Most biological research has a lot of pipetting. I am so grateful to have been able to do this, to do the sport that I love and be able to interact and get to know the participants.” 

 

 

 


 

Alexander Rich, graduating spring 2026, majoring in biology with a chemistry minor

Poster: Decoding Species Identities: A Spider Venom RNA Analysis

Mentor: Rodolfo Probst, SRI Fellow and PhD alum of the School of Biological Sciences

 

“I study spider venoms. Spiders are very diverse and most produce venoms, Alexander says. "Venoms have very specific cellular and molecular targets that have the potential to be developed into pharmaceuticals. We are using a very old collection of spider venoms and then working backward to identify the species source."

"This research has been really impactful, both for teaching me about the biological processes that venom has and how they might apply to my future in medicine. It has also been a great avenue for me to connect to different people in science and get their perspectives on my research. It’s been a great opportunity for me to grow in science, research, and as a future medical professional.” 

Assembled by Tanya Vickers, School of Biological Sciences

Read more about Research Day on the Hill in @theU.