Mia is from Iowa City, Iowa and is currently studying Environmental Science and Marine Biology at the University of Tampa. This summer, she’ll be working with Adrienne Correa and Lauren Howe-Kerr analyzing viruses of coral symbionts in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. During her free time, you can find Mia underwater SCUBA diving in the Florida springs. Mia holds 6 SCUBA certifications including wreck diving and rescue, and will hopefully start her Divemaster certification soon!

Kathryn is a rising junior at Rice University majoring in Chemistry with a concentration in Organic Chemistry. She will be working with Dr. Caroline Masiello, Dr. Xiaodong Gao, and Dr. Bezaye Tessema over the summer on a project analyzing the physicochemical properties of various Texas composts. When she’s not grinding samples in the lab, Kathryn likes taking long afternoon naps and eating sushi. If she’s ever feeling down, you may fascinate her with a purified gram of azo dye.

Jacob (He/Him) is a rising junior at Pitzer College, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico who is studying chemistry and environmental science. This summer he will be working with Dr. Mark Torres analyzing the weathering of shale rocks off the California coast. When not in lab, Jacob enjoys cooking, working at his campus bike shop, and just being outdoors.

Emerson is from Cleveland, Ohio and is studying physics at Syracuse University. This summer she is working with Dr. Fenglin Niu, using seismic waves to study the anisotropy of the innermost inner core. In her free time, Emerson enjoys baking, going for runs, and game nights with friends.

Dean is from Manahawkin, New Jersey, and is a physics major at The College of New Jersey with a specialization in astrophysics. During the summer, he will be working with Dr. Andre Izidoro to use Rice’s computing cluster to simulate the formation of the terrestrial planets of the Solar System. Back at TCNJ, Dean can be found in the school’s observatory working on his astrophotography. He also likes to paint and cook for his friends in his free time.

My full name is Annadecia Huddleston but I go by Annie. I will be transferring to the University of Houston in the fall from HCC to pursue a Biology degree with a focus in Ecology. I will work in Matt McCary’s lab as a PHOST participant. I’m from Houston and currently live here. I love to walk my dog, go for a swim, try a new Houston restaurant, or paint flowers in my free time. My favorite flower is native to Houston – it is the purple coneflower or ‘echinacea’.  I’m a bit older than many of the REU students and will be 29 next month. I decided to go back to school in my mid 20’s.

Abby (she/her) is from Boise, Idaho and is studying chemistry and biology at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She is working in Dr. Kirsten Siebach’s lab with graduate student Audrey Putnam this summer, using X-ray microscopy to examine Icelandic rock analogs for the area of Mars the Curiosity rover is exploring. Abby enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, reading, exploring local thrift stores and being outdoors!

Claire is from Croton-on-Hudson, New York and is  majoring in Geoscience with a minor in Physics at Skidmore College. This summer she is working with Stewart Williams in Dr. Melodie French’s Lab studying calcite twinning as a paleopiezometer and paleothermometer for rocks that underwent tectonic stress in northern Italy. In her free time she loves to hike and collect garnets, or whittle chess sets and other gifts. Her favorite rock is amphibolite.