Locally Funded Projects

The Departmental Allocation Funding Committee was formed to enable faculty to submit proposals for support of small projects that may not have other funding sources, projects of immediate need or even seed money for future larger projects. These funds can be used for research, outreach, teaching, student support and student organizations. Committee members serve 2 year terms:

 

The following proposals have been funded.

Dr. Jen Henderson ($2,100) Fall 2025

Developing research capacity in gradaute reserach methods course and student attendance and participation in SWAAG Fall 2026.

Dr. Aaron Yoshinobu and PhD student Nurana Ismayilova ($1,750) Fall 2025

Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction work on fine-grained rocks from the Klamath Mountains.

Dr. Moira Ridely ($4,000) Fall 2025

Purchase and installation of VASP (software) to be installed and run in conjunction with the TTU HPCC. 

Dr. Dustin Sweet, Dr. Paul Sylvester, Dr. Branimir Segvic ($10,000) Fall 2025

Our project examines the provenance of eolian sediments on the Llano Estacado, deposited during the Quaternary as the Blackwater Draw Formation. This formation preserves a relatively continuous eolian record in Texas since at least 1.4 Ma, providing a valuable archive of dust transport across the Plains before, during, and after the mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT). These records have broad implications for understanding environmental change and atmospheric circulation in central North America during this interval. With this Department Funding Allocation Award, we seek new U-Pb zircon data from the Blackwater Draw Formation, comparing sand- and silt-sized fractions to test whether they represent distinct age populations. Such differences would suggest contrasting provenance pathways for dust (suspension) versus sand (saltation), with the hypothesis that eolian silt derives from the north during post-MPT glaciations (<800 ka). Funds received from this Award will be used to generate seed data in support of a NSF proposal. The NSF proposal is budgeted at over $400,000 for the TTU portion and would represent significant funding for the Department of Geosciences, providing graduate student assistantships and significant usage of our internal analytical facilities.

 

Dr. Karin Ardon-Dryer ($6,000)- Fall 2025

Funds are requested for the ordering of 20 personal low-cost air quality sensors (total cost ~4000) (https://support.atmotube.com/en/), and for the calibration of an existing unit available in our lab. These 20 personal air quality sensors will be used in class for educational purposes as part of two different classes: Weather, Climate, and Human Activities (ATMO3310), and Weather, Climate, and Applications (ATMO5302). Having these sensors will allow us to enhance the education of the students on aerosol, air quality, and health, and provide them with an understanding and personal hands-on experience. The calibration of the existing unit will allow us to examine the quality and performance of these units (this needs ot be done every few years). Having that hands-on experience, seeing the comparison between calibrated units and these low-cost air quality sensors, will enhance the educational learning of the students. Monitoring their exposure level, analyzing the data they collected, and presenting their findings in class will turn the class experience into an exciting learning environment. This is investment in our students is expected to attract more students into these classes.