Aimee Garcia

Aimee Garcia completed a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso in fall 2019. In the spring of 2020, she enrolled to pursue a Master's of Science degree in Geophysics and a Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Information Science and Technology (GIST). Aimee has worked as a research and teaching assistant and presented at multiple conferences. In summer 2018, she took part in her first NSF REU (National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates), focusing on the Riviera Maya's water quality and resources in Mexico. In fall 2019, she worked as an undergraduate research assistant as part of an NSF REU grant to investigate Himalayan tectonics using seismological techniques to analyze surface wave dispersion. The research focuses on the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015. Her experience as a student researcher in the two NSF REU's helped hone her skills as a scientist and prepared her to educate others about the scientific process. In 2019, she had the opportunity to serve as a student mentor as part of another (NSF REU), the UTEP- Research Opportunities for Community College Students (ROCCS) Program, where she mentored community college students on research projects in the field and laboratory. Continuing her interest in local issues and community, she uses shallow geophysics to investigate desert soil processes and their impact on local agriculture, groundwater, and global CO2 flux. She plans to continue focusing her research on humans' impact on water resources, air quality, biodiversity, and natural resources using hydrological and geophysical methods.