Ellie [B.A] is a second-year PhD Student and NSF GRFP Fellow at Colorado School of Mines. She works in the Rates and Dates group to reconstruct long-term ice sheet evolution using a suite of geochemical and modeling-based methods.
Her research aims to improve our understanding of ice mass loss through three core themes: (1) generating new geological records of deglaciation, (2) investigating the impacts of deglaciation on hydrologic systems, and (3) improving physical ice-sheet models by integrating paleo and contemporary glaciological datasets. This research strives to constrain ice mass loss over geologic time scales and improve our understanding of ice sheet dynamics, with the ultimate goal of helping society better prepare for future sea-level rise driven by current and projected climate change.
Teaching and Leadership
Ellie’s commitment to mentorship, teaching, and science communication in the geosciences extends beyond her academic achievements. During her undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University, she served as a teaching assistant for a variety of courses, including Earth System Dynamics, Earth Systems Through Time, Sociology of Green Jobs, and Energy Transitions in Society. These roles allowed her to hone her teaching and mentorship skills, which she continues to develop in her graduate education. In the summer of 2024, Ellie was selected as a member of the teaching faculty for the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP). Founded in the 1950s, JIRP offers undergraduate and early-career graduate students immersive, hands-on training in climate science and glaciology through fieldwork that involves traversing the entirety of the Juneau Icefield.
Ellie is deeply committed to breaking down barriers in the geosciences and has devoted significant time to advancing accessibility, equity, and diversity in polar science. She is a co-organizer of Polar Impact, a supportive network for racial and ethnic minorities and their allies in the polar research community. Polar Impact provides resources and hosts events aimed at uplifting individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian, people of color, or members of other racial and ethnic minority groups. In her role, Ellie oversees email communications, organizes programming, and offers personalized support to mentors and mentees. To learn more about Polar Impact, get involved as a volunteer, explore biographies of featured members, or make a donation to support ongoing and future initiatives, visit our website!
Within Colorado School of Mines, Ellie is also involved with Graduate Student Government (GSG), serving as a representative for the Geology and Geological Engineering Department and Director of Communications.