Meet the ARCS Scholars
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS
Caitlyn Castellion
Career objectives: I hope to pursue a PhD in a Chemistry field and to work in research and development of genetic therapeutics. Research: Currently, I work on developing glycosaminoglycan-mimetic polymer brushes to sequester growth factors to promote mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) self-renewal. These were synthesized using Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization to create substrates with varying sulfation degrees to determine if sulfation, along with brush thickness, will impact growth factor sequestration, MSC adhesion, proliferation and multipotency. I will perform enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to determine how sulfation degree impacted brushes’ capacity to bind IL-10. I will continue on this project to further fine tune the brushes for effective mesenchymal stem cell proliferation.
Katelyn Aasman
Career objectives: Work in research and development for the biomedical technology industry. Research: Iron-sulfur clusters are molecules which are essential to the biological function of many organisms, including the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The sulfur mobilization (SUF)-like pathway is the only way iron-sulfur clusters are synthesized in S. aureus. Given that the SUF-like pathway is not found in humans, enzymes along this pathway are ideal antibiotic targets. My research in the Holz lab deals with the kinetics and inhibition of the first two enzymes in the pathway, SufS and SufU, to identify drug candidates for a S. aureus targeted therapeutic.
Kiersten Wilson
Career objectives: In my career, I hope to become an environmental engineering subject matter expert with the tools to create real positive changes in the world and the ability to facilitate effective communication between scientists and engineers. Research: My research has focused on the destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various media using Hydrothermal Alkaline Treatment (HALT), a process that involves the treatment of contaminated media using heat, autogenous pressure, and the addition of a base. This has included the investigation of the use of HALT as a remediation strategy for PFAS-contaminated soils and wastewater biosolids. Soil investigations included the determination of the fate and transport of PFAS during HALT, the effect of HALT on soil nutrients, and the evaluation of HALT-induced soil character changes to inform the feasibility of reapplication. Ongoing biosolid investigations have included the evaluation of hydrothermal carbonization for matrix stabilization, the fate, transport, and partitioning of PFAS during hydrothermal carbonization and HALT, and the optimization of solid phase extraction methods for successful LC-MS/MS analysis.
Luke Wanner
Career objectives: After my Bachelors, I plan on completing a 1 year masters in Quantum Engineering at Mines. I would like to pursue research through a PhD program and ultimately work in quantum industry. Research: I am currently doing undergraduate research in astroparticle physics at Mines. I am working with Dr. Mayotte and other researchers at Mines to characterize muon flux at the Edgar underground mine and ultimately be able to benchmark quantum devices in the underground lab. This involves simulating muon flux using software such as geant4, and designing controlable detectors to set up through out the mine.
Marco Salgado
Career objectives: My career objects involve obtaining my PhD. in chemical engineering or chemistry and continuing professional academic research in the area of electrochemistry for renewable energy and energy storage purposes. Research: My research is focused on the field of electrochemistry, the study of electricity interacting and being affected by chemical reactions. In the Herring Lab at the Colorado School of Mines, we develop polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for use in water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen gas, producing electricity from hydrogen fuels, and the reduction of carbon dioxide into more favorable products. By developing durable and efficient PEMs from simple hydrocarbon polymers, and by utilizing alkaline chemistries rather than acidic chemistries, inexpensive and long-lasting PEMs can be operated in more mild conditions leading to the reduction of expensive material use, such as platinum-group metals. Our goals are to contribute to the worldwide transition to renewable energy, continue development into efficient, long-term energy storage in the form of hydrogen, and to assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Martin Goes
Career objectives: Entrepreneur in Landfill Material Recovery, specifically focused on improving all recycling practices (metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, etc.), contributing to new energy sources, and helping the world shift to a circular economy. Research: Design a hypothetical energy and water use balance for a self-sustained building to minimize the required energy & water consumption. The building will include offices for 20 people, and 20 residential units for 4 people each in Dodge City, Kansas. There will be no import of energy or water, and fresh water will be produced from a well. The inside temperature of the building will remain at 70° F, year-round 24 hours per day. In the future, this work can be used to advance the strategies of city planners, shape the demands on construction firms, and upgrade the resilience of the entire US power grid. Simply by making people-dense structures more energy efficient and less reliant on outside energy/water sources.
Townes Uhl
Career objectives: I hope to pursue my Ph.D. in applied math. From there, I intend to conduct research professionally at either a university or national lab. I have a slight preference towards academia. Research: We will investigate numerical approximations to a fully nonlinear integro-differential equation of the Schrödinger type. The approximations will include the pseudo-spectral split step method and finite differencing. From the numerical results, we may extract curvature and torsion data for a filament and visualize it with a Frenet-Serret frame. Visualization of the filament and analysis of its development in time will then be used for biological applications. Specifically, our results will be used to model single flagella or artificial swimmers (i.e., spermatozoa) or the nonlinear dynamics of DNA. Research progression will include optimization of the numerical methods as well as consideration for alternative methods/approaches to the modeling problem.
GRADUATE SCHOLARS
Arielle Koshkin
Career objectives: My career goal is to be at the forefront of addressing issues related to water resources in a fair and equitable way as our climate continues to change. I aim to provide the scientific background in diverse community stakeholder settings to collaboratively address the most pressing issue facing society and our Earth: resource scarcity hastened by climate change. I hope to do this by working as part of a scientific team at a national lab, research center, or federal agency in an applied research group, or with an innovative consulting firm working with local municipalities and government agencies to plan water needs for the changing future. Research: My research seeks to understand how wildfires are changing patterns of spring snowmelt. In the western US, most of our water comes from snowmelt and is captured in downstream reservoirs. Wildfires decrease the amount of water stored in snow and alter the timing of when the snow starts to melt. This poses challenges for water managers to accurately capture water in reservoirs downstream. My research will help water managers increase the accuracy of streamflow predictions in burned areas in order to optimize water storage in reservoirs. This research is timely because the geographical overlap between fire and snow is increasing and therefore disrupting our ability to efficiently store water in the arid western US. With this research background, I hope to advance scientific research for operational use to help better manage our water resources in the western US.
Dakota Keblbeck
Career objectives: My goal is to work at a national lab or academic institution on novel neutrino physics experiments, particularly neutrinoless double beta decay. Research: I am mostly involved in the design, development, and characterization of a new research facility; the Colorado Low-background Underground Research Facility. I am assisting in the experimental background characterization and leading the computational characterization efforts. I am also involved in Physics Education Research, as well as Diversity, Inclusion, and Access and Mines.
Emmelia Ashton
Career objectives: In the future, I plan to leverage my research experience and materials engineering knowledge to enhance existing technologies, addressing global challenges in sustainability, safety, and materials performance. Research: I conduct research with the Transdisciplinary Nanostructured Materials Research Team at Colorado School of Mines, focusing on the development of nanostructured biomaterials. Some of my work involves developing nanostructuring techniques to enhance copper’s antimicrobial activity. Currently, I am studying the ambient oxidation dynamics of copper to improve our understanding of engineered antimicrobial surfaces. I also manage the research project portfolio and have taken on a project management role for several of our initiatives. One of my projects involves improving intramedullary fixation devices, like surgical screws, by analyzing how different manufacturing processes impact microstructure and fatigue performance. Another key project I oversee focuses on improving the materials used in neurovascular hypotubes. My goal is to bridge materials science and engineering to create more effective solutions for medical applications.
Pandora Picariello
Career objectives: After graduation, I plan to return to industry applying the skills I’ve gained in graduate school. I’d love to continue working with ceramic additive manufacturing in either the aerospace or biomedical industry. Research: My research revolves around ceramic vat photopolymerization (VPP) additive manufacturing (AM), which uses light to solidify resin in a layer-by-layer fashion to create a three-dimensional part. The printed part is then put through thermal processing to remove all the organic components and create a final, dense ceramic part. I have focused my research on investigating and quantifying the effects of particle settling on the cure depth and extent of curing that occurs for a given printed layer. I am also collaborating with the photopolymer AM team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, CO to create an open-source resin system that is well understood that can be used for ceramic VPP across various industries.