Frank E. Kottlowski/Bureau Fellowship Recipients

Since 2001, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources has supported a graduate student, working on research within New Mexico, under a fellowship program named for Frank Kottlowski, who was the director of the Bureau of Geology from 1974 to 1991. Students to receive the fellowship are selected from amongst the applicants to the New Mexico Tech Earth and Environmental Science program. The purpose of the fellowship support is to attract high-quality students to work with bureau researchers, and to match good students with geological or hydrological research projects within New Mexico.

Besides this fellowship, we support students from NMT and other NM institutions in a wide variety of other ways.

Past and current recipients of the fellowship, in descending chronological order, are:
(If there are corrections or additions that should be made to this list, please contact Nelia Dunbar.)

1. Morgan Nasholds

   Masters — 2020, New Mexico Tech

   Thesis:

   Geochronology of post-caldera volcanism at Valles caldera.

   Advisors:

   Zimmerer, Grapenthin

   Morgan received a Bachelor's of Science in Geology from the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR in 2017 and then worked for two months at the Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) in Vancouver, WA and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) on the Big Island of Hawaii. He began his Master's program at NMT in August 2018. His geochronologic work will be used to determine eruptive frequencies, repose intervals, constrain the duration of resurgence at Valles, and help refine the stratigraphic record. In addition to establishing new ages, volumetric assessment of the post-caldera domes will be used in conjunction with the ages to determine the eruptive flux of the Valles system over time.

2. Annie Riggins Cardon

   Masters — 2014, New Mexico Tech

   Thesis:

   Origin of the REE-bearing episyenites in the Caballo and Burro Mountains, New Mexico

   Advisors:

   Dunbar, McLemore, McIntosh

   Ms. Riggins studied the occurrence, origin, timing and mineralogy of REE deposits in the Caballo and Burro Mts., NM. Her primary research tools were geological mapping, mineralogy using the electron microprobe and dating using ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. Following graduation, Annie went on to work for Los Alamos National Laboratory.

3. Michaella Gorospe

   Masters — 2013, New Mexico Tech

   Thesis:

   Uranium Mobility in Vegetation, Soils and Water below the Jackpile Uranium Mine, New Mexico

   Advisors:

   Ulmer-Scholle, Harrison, Campbell

   Michaella went on to employment as an environmental specialist with the BHP-Navajo Transitional Energy Company and then as a site specialist with Rio Algom Mining LLC.

4. Kym Samuels

   Masters — 2008, New Mexico Tech

   Thesis:

   Weathering and landscape evolution recorded in supergene jarosite, Red River Valley, Northern New Mexico

   Advisors:

   Campbell, Lueth, McIntosh, Harrison

   Following completing her MS degree, which was funded by the Bureau Kottlowski Fellowship, Kym completed a PhD at the University of New Mexico in 2014 and became a Research Associate, and then Research Assistant Professor at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

5. Bayani Cardenas

   PhD — 2006, New Mexico Tech

   Dissertation:

   Dynamics of fluids, heat and solutes along sediment-water interfaces: a multiphysics modeling study

   Advisors:

   Wilson, Stephens, Spinelli, Love, Phillips, Bowman

   Bayani, the first recipient of a Bureau of Geology Kottlowski Fellowship, went on to a faculty position as an associate professor and William T. Stokes Centennial Teaching Fellow at the Jackson School of Geosciences at University of Texas, Austin. In 2011, he received American Geophysical Union Hydrologic Sciences Early Career award, and in 2012, the Geological Society of America Kohout award for early career excellence in hydrologic science. He also received two Faculty Science Performance awards from University of Texas, Austin, one in 2013, and a second in 2015.

   (more information)

6. Natalie Schneider

   Natalie's project has focused on collaborative research between New Mexico Tech and Navajo Technical University, focusing on water quality research. Her specific contribution has been in the area of database development. During her project, Natalie worked with Bureau of Geology researchers and also with scientists from INTERA, a company that has contributed toward the Bright Star Scholarship fund.