16 Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC) – which is a national committee that advises in scientific ocean drilling. This is a very exciting opportunity to work alongside some of the best deep‐ sea drilling researchers in the US. Also in fall 2016, my first PhD student, and previous undergraduate researcher in my lab, started ‐ Michelle Lutiker. Because every story has two sides, even in the realm of geochemistry – Michelle is investigating both sides of the sometimes bumpy relationship between organic carbon and uranium in black shales. In December my first MS student here at OSU, Jessica Cofrancesco, graduated. She completed her thesis answering the question on how depositional dynamics can impact paleo‐redox proxies – the relationship between metal distribution and lateral re‐deposition related organic matter accumulation using sample from the upwelling system off southwest Africa. I am also very thrilled that the lab is now in almost complete running mode. We already produced some interesting data with fascinating scientific outcomes; for example, in cooperation with medical researchers from Oklahoma University we provided analytical dataset for a cancer research that uses specific heavy metals. The outcomes were published in December. On a different note – in fall I also tried to “resurrect” the Department’s research vessel, which had suffered some slight weather‐induced damaged. It is equipped and prepared for core sampling in lakes and coastal environments and would be great for undergraduate courses. Justin Steinmann, a Master’s student in my lab who is exploring new stratigraphic geochemical tools for limestone deposits, spent his free time helping with the boat. He was able to make minor repairs and find a boat mechanic who could take care of the rest. Finally, in early December we were ready for a test run on the Lake Carl Blackwell. With some additional help from Braden Hrencher (Estella’s lab) and Doug Ashe (biogeochem lab) we managed to get the boat out on the lake – and safely returned. Although we encountered a few more minor problems, I am confident that we will have the boat up and running by the beginning of the fall 2017 semester. I hope to establish a course where undergraduate student can take samples in one of the nearby lakes and learn how to conduct a research project all the way, from sampling to writing up the data. Dr. Javier Vilcaez Assistant Professor; Computational Modeling; Earth Resources; Environment It is my hope that this letter finds you well. I would like to first share with you the research accomplishments of my research group, last year we published two peer‐ reviewed papers. One with Babak Shabani (PhD student) as first author. Pouyan Ebrahimi and Babak Shabani (PhD students) made oral presentations about their researches on the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing wastewater disposal and enhanced hydrocarbon recovery at the Geological Society of America (GSA 2016) national meeting held in Denver. I made two presentations about the research done by Joshua York, and Tristan Seabeck (MS students) on geological carbon dioxide storage, one at the American Chemical Society (251th ACS) national meeting held in San Diego, and another at the American Geophysical Union (AGU 2016) national meeting held in Baltimore. Overall I am happy with the progress made by my research group, two more papers are under preparation, and I have many new ideas to advance our research. I submitted a number of research proposals to national science foundations in 2016, I am keeping my fingers crossed to have at least one of my pending research proposals funded. The number of invitations to speak in other universities is increasing fast, I made four invited talks in 2016. These invitations are being very helpful to build some connection. About my teaching, in 2016 I taught contaminant transport to graduate students, and geochemistry to graduate and undergraduate students. The courses I teach have both theoretical and computational components. At the completion of the courses I teach, students become familiar with principles of groundwater flow and geochemistry as well as with computational methods to effectively manage groundwater resources and predict the fate of contaminants. A few words about my research program which currently focuses on the numerical modeling and microbiological aspects of geological carbon dioxide storage and hydraulic fracturing wastewater disposal into deep geological formations. Our research program combines the use of advanced pore‐, core‐ and field‐scale numerical simulations, and lab‐scale experimentation of multiphase biogeochemical reactive transport processes at deep geological formation conditions. Our objective is to develop new technologies and provide new information to enhance the recovery of energy resources and to minimize the environmental impact of such activities. Feel free to contact us to exchange information or discuss potential research projects. .
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