Student Opportunities

My research group includes both graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Earth Sciences and/or Chemistry. Ours is a tighly knit group that works together and learns from each other in the lab, in the field, and at regular group meetings and coffees. I am always interested in working with students who bring broad scientific curiosity in the Earth and Environmental Sciences combined with an interest in exploring and developing new cutting-edge geochemical and isotopic methods to study the Earth at ever-increasing levels of detail and precision. See below for further information about current research opportunities for graduate, undergraduate, and high school students.

Please contact me directly if you are interested in learning more about specific student research opportunities!

Graduate Students

I am always looking for talented prospective graduate students interested in joining my research group. The most important critieria are 1) broad interests and curiosity in the geosciences, 2) interests (though not necessarily experience) in isotope geochemistry and its applications, 3) interests in field-based research. Because almost all of the geological record of ancient Earth processes is locked inside rocks and minerals, I also prefer students with a solid preparation in mineralogy, petrology, and/or tectonics. Broad coursework throughout the Earth Sciences is always desirable. Click below to see some current project opportunities, or just email me to discuss possibilities.

Current Projects

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduates are an important part of my research group. While undergraduate involvement often begins with work-study lab assistant-ships in the TIMS Facility or with me, my goal with undergraduate work is always to get students involved in their own hands-on research projects, often involving field work, TIMS analysis, collaborations, and more. I typically recruit one or two undergraduates to work with me each year.

If you are interested, the best way to start is through coursework in Earth and Environmental Sciences. These courses could lead to research with me in the form of a research assistantship, or Senior Thesis project. Contact me directly if you are interested in getting involved in the lab.

High School Student Groups

I run a high school outreach program called RoBOT: "Rocks Beneath Our Toes". The program was initiated by NSF funding in 2005. The program brings high school students into the field with BC undergraduates to study rocks and minerals collected in their own community. The RoBOT experience culminates with a visit to Boston College, a tour of our geochemical facilities, and the opportunity to work with BC undergraduates in the analysis and exploration of their rock samples with our petrographic microscopes. For more information, download the RoBOT Program flier below. High school educators who wish to inquire about possible involvement in the RoBOT program should contact me.

RoBOT Program flier

K-8 Outreach

I enjoy giving live presentations in K-8 classrooms where I can share my love and passion for the geosciences with young learners. Every rock has a story, and every age group is able to experience the wonder of those stories when told in an age appropriate educational context. Having spoken to over 3000 students and teachers in classroom settings, I find this is one of the most rewarding parts of the job I get to do. If you would be interested in a classroom presentation, please contact me.

Field Work

Field based research is a crucial aspect of all research in the Baxter Group. I create opportunities for all my students to include a field component in their research to gain a fuller appreciation of the challenges and possibilities of reading the geologic record. This research has taken my students and me to carefully selected field areas all over the world where we collect and document the samples that best preserve a record of the diverse past Earth processes we seek to study. Please contact me for more information about field research. Enjoy some examples of our field work in the pictures below!