RECCS Student Researchers 2016
Jesse Barber
Jesse was born and raised in Missouri. After serving four years in the United States Marine Corps, he moved to Florida and returned to school where he received an associates degree in Golf Complex Operations and Management. He then worked in Mississippi for three years as an Assistant Golf Professional before moving to Bailey, Colorado. Jesse attended Red Rocks Community College and graduated this past May with an A.A. in Geography. He plans to attend CU Denver and earn a B.A. in Environmental Studies. He would like to pursue a career in ecological restoration or possibly get a Master’s Degree and teach.
Research Project: Terrestrial Based Leaf Area Index Compared to Aerial Lidar Measured Leaf Area Index for the Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory. Mentor: Theo Barnhart, CZO.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Scott-Wesley Bean
Scott-Wesley Bean is from Castle Rock, Colorado. This past spring, he completed his Associate's Degree at Arapahoe Community College and will transfer to Metropolitan State University in the fall. He aims to obtain a B.S. in Biology with a cellular and molecular concentration and a minor in chemistry. Scott-Wesley contemplated being a professional oboist, but he now envisions himself becoming a professor to share his passion for research with students.
Research Project: Diversity of Spore-Forming Bacteria in Soil. Mentors: Noah Fierer and Tess Brewer, CIRES.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Michaela Brannum
Michaela grew up in Arvada, Colorado. She recently graduated from Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colorado with an Associate of Science degree with a focus on Marine Science and Oceanography. As a junior in college, she plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology at University of Hawaii in Manoa this fall. After earning her B.A., Michaela plans to attend graduate school. She is a certified rescue diver and is always on the lookout for more diving opportunities.
Research Project: Nitrogen or Phosphorus: The Limiting Factor on Algae Growth in Colorado Lakes. Mentor: Jimmy McCutchan, CIRES.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Amanda Espinoza-Martinez
Amanda Espinoza-Martinez is from Denver, Colorado. She graduated from both high school and the Community College of Denver this spring where she completed her Associate of Science degree. She will attend the University of Denver in the fall on a Daniels Scholarship. She is not entirely sure what to major in at this point. However, her general goal is to pursue a career in which she can make a positive impact on those around her.
Research Project: Stream Water Temperature during Summer along the Gordon Gulch Creek. Mentor: Michael Gooseff, CZO.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Ward Fish
Ward was born in wild, wonderful West Virginia. He currently resides in Aurora, CO, with his wife and two dogs. He enjoys being outdoors, gardening, and loves a good show at Red Rocks. He recently graduated from the Community College of Aurora with an A.A. in Marketing and will be attending Metro State in Denver this fall to pursue a double major in Marketing and Land Use. After that, the sky’s the limit!
Research Project: Variability and Trends in Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and Streamflow at the Wind River Indian Reservation, WY. Mentor: Imtiaz Rangwala, CIRES.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Brett Lindgren
Originally from Modesto, California, Brett moved to Craig, Colorado when he was in 5th grade. He graduated from Colorado Northwestern Community College in the spring of 2016 with an Associate of Sciences degree. After RECCS, Brett plans on moving to the Front Range to study atmospheric sciences at Colorado State University. His career goal after school is to find a job that he will actually enjoy doing and love going to everyday!
Research Project: Does Site Physiography and Canopy Type Influence Incident Solar Radiation at the Forest Floor? Mentor: Dave Barnard, CZO.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Sean Ross
Sean Ross grew up in the mountains of Colorado, which ingrained in him a love of the natural world. He lives in the Denver suburb of Littleton, but escapes the city as often as possible to explore Colorado’s fantastic geology. He currently attends Red Rocks Community College and is on track to earn an Associate of Science degree in spring 2017. He then plans to transfer to the Colorado School of Mines with the eventual goal of graduate study in the field of geochemistry.
Research Project: Rock Weathering Observed in Outcrops and Bedrock Exposed by Debris Flows: A Preliminary Investigation of Granodiorite Weathering in a Landscape Context. Mentor: Suzanne Anderson, CZO.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Randall Rouse
Randall is a transplant from Georgia currently living in Denver. He currently attends Community College of Denver and will complete his associate’s degree this fall. He plans to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Ecological Restoration at Metropolitan State University. Randall says, “I adore our planet and hope to make a positive impact!”
Research Project: Evaluating the Effects that Topographic Wetness Index and Directional Orientation Have on Tree Height and Leaf Area. Mentor: Theo Barnart, INSTAAR, CZO.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Taylor Schoenfeld
Taylor was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado. Before starting with RECCS, he worked at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Taylor attended the Larimer County campus at Front Range Community College and will transfer to the Westminster campus in the fall of 2016. He is working towards an Associate of Science degree with a focus in Geology. He plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in 2017.
Research Project: Processes Affecting Spatial Variability in Sediment Size at Chalk Creek, Colorado. Mentors: Greg Tucker and Charlie Shobe, CIRES.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
Shala Wallace
Shala Wallace is originally from Ohio, and she and moved to Colorado just over a year ago. Shala earned an Associate of Science degree this past spring from Red Rocks Community College, and this fall she will attend the University of Colorado Boulder to study Integrative Physiology and Pre-Health. Shala plans to continue her academic journey to receive a doctorate degree.
Research Project: Tree-Ring Width Index Relationships with Drought in Subalpine Forest. Mentor: Brian Harvey, Geography, CZO.
View a short 90 second Elevator Speech or the full 7 minute Presentation
