Opportunities for Graduate Studies

 

Research in the bgep group is currently pursuing experimental and theoretical investigations of mineral growth, dissolution, and nucleation processes.  Our studies of the assumptions that underlie widely used paleoclimate proxy models are investigating the growth of calcite, aragonite, vaterite and ACC to learn the factors that determine physical and chemical signatures such as mineral shape and impurity contents.  Of particular importance are the microenvironmental and biomolecular controls.  Our experimental and theoretical insights on mineral growth are also being coupled with new findings that crystal growth theory also provides a mechanistic and quantitative basis for also understanding dissolution.  New projects are underway to investigate the difficult question of how biomolecules control the timing and polymorph that forms during nucleation- the critical onset of mineralization. At the heart of these relationships are the pivotal roles of chemical potential and the energy barriers to reactions at structural and compositional defects. 

The graduate students in Dove's group have received a number of awards including the MSA Best Paper, MRS Gold Award, NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mentions, Sigma Xi Best Masters Thesis, and AGU Outstanding Student Paper Award. Upon graduation with their M.S. or Ph.D. degree, they have found that geochemistry offers terrific career opportunities in College or University faculty positions, science and management positions in the Oil/gas Industries, Environmental Consulting, and as research scientists in the Nation's National Laboratories. 

There are several ways to learn more about opportunities for research and graduate studies in our group: You can visit the geosciences information page for prospective students or request information by completing the informal on-line preapplication/inquiry or contact dove@vt.edu. 

The bgep group currently has an opening for a new Ph.D. student.

 

Helpful links:

Geosciences Graduate Courses
Biosciences Graduate Courses
Chemistry Graduate Courses
Biochemistry Courses
Virginia Tech Timetable
Summary of courses that bgep students have found useful
bgep Laboratory Facility
Meet other Geosciences faculty