GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Riley is currently pursuing an MS degree at the Jackson School of Geosciences. Her research focuses on carbon gas emissions and geochemical changes associated with permafrost thaw. She conducts experimental work to simulate a variety of warmer temperatures and quantifies the permafrost carbon dioxide and methane emissions along with the carbon isotope values using a GC-IRMS. With this data and organic carbon concentrations, she aims to develop a kinetic model of permafrost carbon emissions to be used in broader climate models.
Before starting her MS, Riley earned her BS in Chemistry from UT Austin and worked on carbon flux research using Eddy Covariance towers located in Central Texas. She participated in efforts to utilize citizen science to monitor river water quality across Texas. Riley also worked closely with the World Food Prize Foundation where she guided high school students in developing their research skills to address global food security challenges.
INTERESTS
Climate dynamics, carbon cycling, biogeochemistry, permafrost, Arctic/cold regions
CO-SUPERVISORS
Peter Flemings
Daniel Breecker
ACADEMICS
B.Sc., Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin