Student Highlights: Andrew Miller

—  MEET ANDREW  —

Class:  Graduate

Major:  Geology

Andrew Miller is originally from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, where he grew up camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors. He received his bachelor’s degree in environmental geology and geohydrology from the University of Wyoming in Spring of 2020, during which he had the opportunity to participate in multiple different research projects. Andrew remained at the University of Wyoming for graduate school and started his PhD in the Fall of 2021. Andrew spends much of his time outdoors hiking or disc golfing when he’s not working.

—  ANDREW’S RESEARCH  —

Yellowstone National Park is host to one of the world’s largest and most spectacular hydrothermal systems. The hot springs in Yellowstone are bimodal in composition, appearing either muddy with an acidic pH (mudpots, frying pans, and fumaroles) or clear with a neutral pH (clear blue hot springs and geysers). These two different types of features, originating from the same underground fluid, actually form by way of a process known as phase separation. Phase separation occurs when an ascending hydrothermal fluid boils near the surface and separates into a gas phase and a liquid phase. The liquid phase produces the neutral type of feature while the gas phase interacts with surface water to produce acidic features.

Andrew’s research focuses on using our understanding of naturally occurring radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium, and radium to understand the timescales over which phase separation occurs and the ages of waters in individual hydrothermal features. Through an understanding of how long it takes different hydrothermal features to form, we can develop a greater understanding of the natural development of habitable conditions for extremophile life on Earth.


ABOUT STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Every year, we award fellowships to graduate and undergraduate students attending the University of Wyoming or Wyoming’s community colleges in order to provide them with funding to engage in real-world research opportunities. Occasionally, we feature one of these students and their research on this blog. For more information about our student fellowships, visit our College Programs page.