Get to Know the 2026 REU Participants.

Grace: “I am a rising fourth-year chemistry major and earth and atmospheric sciences minor from Georgia Tech. I am returning to UC Irvine this summer to continue studying acetylene concentrations in ice cores as a proxy for biomass burning emissions. My favorite part of the REU experience so far has been the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with people from a wide range of disciplines”

Anna: “I am a rising junior at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Geological Oceanography with a minor in Data Science. This summer I am participating in research at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, where I am working with radar. My favorite part of this REU experience has been expanding my Python skills while analyzing the differences between UHF and VHF ice-penetrating radar. As well as building friendships with the other REUs.”

Cailey: “I am a senior at Texas A&M University majoring in Geographic Information Systems Technology. I’m interested in GIS, remote sensing, and satellite imagery, and I enjoy using geospatial technology to better understand Earth systems. After graduation, I hope to build a career applying GIS and imagery analysis to scientific research. My favorite part of the REU has been the opportunity to work with and analyze Antarctic ice penetrating radar data as well as getting to meet my fellow interns at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.”

Clara: I am an incoming senior at Cornell University studying Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. This summer, I am working on a coupled ocean-atmosphere-ice modeling project at Oregon State University. I am excited about my project because it feels like I am piecing together a complex climate puzzle spanning hundreds of thousands of years, and every piece can tell us something about the climate today! My favorite part of the REU experience so far has been getting to know my REU cohort at OSU and learning about all kinds of exciting work that COLDEXers are conducting across the world.

Gary: I am a senior at Southern Connecticut State University majoring in Earth Science (Geology concentration), minoring in Marine Studies, and I am part of the Accelerated Pathways graduate program in Integrated Biological Diversity. After a career in HVAC/R, I returned to school to pursue polar science and previously worked with the United States Antarctic Program at McMurdo Station during the 2021-2022 austral season. This summer, I am developing a low-cost digital imaging workflow to standardize quantitative visual stratigraphy of Antarctic ice cores and improve long-term digital archiving. Working with COLDEX has been a long-term goal of mine. My favorite part of the REU has been the opportunity to work alongside researchers and staff at the NSF Ice Core Facility while contributing to a project that I hope will benefit the ice core community. I’m especially looking forward to collaborating with the COLDEX science teams as the project continues.”

Gray: I am a junior at Colorado College majoring in geology. My research interests are sedimentology, limnology, and glaciology. This summer, I am working as an REU student at the NSF Ice Core Facility assisting scientists on the core-processing line and conducting visual stratigraphy on select cores. Being in the COLDEX REU program is such an interesting way to learn from people across the disciplines of polar research and see real-world applications of my lab knowledge. I am very excited to expand my work with the ECM and further my professional research skills.”

Abby: “I’m a student at Hartnell College in Salinas, CA. I am studying Environmental Science. This summer, I am a COLDEX REU student at Oregon State University! I am creating educational materials that include some of COLDEX’s newest research! One of the best parts of the COLDEX REU is meeting and getting to know my fellow COLDEXers! Despite our different backgrounds, sharing space and being surrounded by peers who share similar passions and goals has been transformative. Plus, it has been awesome exploring Oregon!”

Mabel: “I am a rising junior in the Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University Dual BA Program studying geography and geoscience. This summer, I am using hyperspectral imaging to analyze Allan Hills ice at the ICF with Andrei Kurbatov and Hayley Beaudoin from the University of Maine. My favorite part of the REU experience so far has been meeting COLDEX researchers and learning about the wide range of work being done to further our exploration of Antarctic ice. I’ve also really enjoyed the hands-on experience of working won the core processing line at the ICF!”

Eric: “I recently graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a B.S. in Geology, and I will be continuing there this fall as an incoming M.S. student. My undergraduate research focused on geoscience education and communication, and that interest is carrying forward into my master’s work, which will explore pedagogical methods in geosciences. I’m excited to be a part of the COLDEX REU because it has felt like a natural extension of my academic interests and my broader commitment to science education. My favorite part of the experience so far has been working hands-on with real data and contributing to a field of science that I am genuinely passionate about. I have also valued the chance to connect with peers and mentors, and to learn more about their own academic and professional journeys.”

Samantha:" “I am a mathematics major at Bryn Mawr College, about to enter my second year. I was a part of the COLDEX REU last summer and am excited to return to Oregon State University. This summer, I am working on modeling air bubbles in ice cores to correct air content measurements for air lost during sample cutting. I am excited to continue to develop my skills in Python and to dive into the geometry of air bubbles.”

Talia: “I am an undergraduate studying Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, planning on specialising in Chemistry and Earth Sciences. This summer, I am working at UC Irvine, investigating the permeability of hydrogen deuteride gas in ice. My favourite part of the REU so far has been experiencing life in a research lab - I have really enjoyed having the chance to design and build experimental systems. I look forward to gathering more data and presenting my research at the COLDEX annual conference. I have also really enjoyed the hiking trails of California!”