B.A., University of California at Berkeley
M.S., Columbia University in New York City
Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 2001

Richard Cardenas, Ph.D., joined the physics faculty of St. Mary's University in the fall of 2000. He received his bachelor's in physics and applied mathematics and his master's in applied physics. After receiving his masters degree, he worked in industry for Lockheed Technical Operations Company (now called Lockheed Martin Technical Operations) and Incyte Genomics. Cardenas has research interests in biophysics, medical physics and physics pedagogy. His main research area involves the study of the effects of radiation on aqueous polymer gel systems and their uses in radiation dosimetry. These aqueous polymer gels are tissue-like, hence are useful tools for modeling radiation response of various types of tissue. In addition to the polymer gel studies, he has done research in physics pedagogy in collaboration with Texas Tech University and Harvard University using the force concept inventory.

He has published papers in journals including the American Journal of Physics, MRI and Neuroradiology. He has also presented his findings at conferences in Texas and Pennsylvania, among others. Cardenas' grants and contracts include the following:

• National Science Foundation S-STEM Grant ($600,000). Title: St. Mary's University STEM Scholars Program
• Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) awarded in 2011
• DoD Instrumentation Program for Hispanic Institutions ($200,000). Title: Creating an Biophysical Characterizations Laboratory for Education and Research
• Physics on the Road, the World Year of Physics Grant for Outreach ($10,000). Title: The Fiesta of Physics (With Olga Lobban)
• San Antonio Area Foundation, Grant for Education and Outreach ($5,600). Title: The Fiesta of Physics (With Olga Lobban)
• DoD Instrumentation Program for Hispanic Institutions ($192,738). Title: Acquisition of advanced scientific instrumentation for multi-disciplinary research training and education.

B.A., Honors College of FAU, 2002
M.S., Florida Atlantic University, 2005
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2011

Melissa Karlin, Ph.D., earned her doctorate from the Infrastructure and Environmental Systems program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., she worked as an aviation environmental science compliance specialist for the county government in south Florida and an environmental scientist for a private firm. She also has worked as a grant writer and as an adjunct faculty, teaching introductory environmental science courses.

Dr. Karlin studied the spatial ecology of the endangered red wolf (Canis rufus) in her dissertation research, incorporating both Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing science to study dispersal, interspecific interactions, and habitat use by the red wolf in North Carolina. She has also studied disease transmission in the threatened gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) in southeastern Florida as well as home range patterns and burrow distribution of this species.

Her current research involves modeling red wolf habitat preferences; studying wildlife diversity in the local region using camera trap technology; and using remote sensing technology to study land use and land cover change.

Publications

Karlin, M. and J. Chadwick. 2011. Red wolf natal dispersal characteristics: comparing periods of population increase and stability. Journal of Zoology 286 (4): 266-276

Karlin, M. and J. Chadwick. 2011. Measures of space use and association of two unrelated red wolves in a shared area. Mammal Study 36(3): 147-153

Chadwick, J., B. Fazio and M. Karlin. 2010. Effectiveness of GPS-based telemetry to determine temporal changes in habitat use and home-range sizes of red wolves. Southeastern Naturalist 9(2): 303-316

Karlin, M. 2008. Distribution of Mycoplasma agassizii in a gopher tortoise population in south Florida. Southeastern Naturalist 7(1): 145-158

Engeman, R., J. Duquesnel, E. Cowan, H. Smith, S. Shwiff and M. Karlin. 2008. Assessing boat damage to seagrass bed habitat in a Florida park from a bioeconomics perspective. Journal of Coastal Research 24(2): 527-532

B.A., University of California at Berkeley, 1971
Ph.D., University of Oregon, 1984

Gary Karshner, Ph.D., acquired his bachelor's degree in astronomy and his doctorate in astrophysics. Karshner has taught at California State College, Stanislaus (1984-1985), the University of Oregon (1976-1981), and Humboldt State University (1973-1975 and 1981-1983). He came to St. Mary's from Gettysburg College, where he was an Assistant Professor from 1985 to 1990.

He has taught a broad range of physics courses: freshman introductory courses, mechanics, modern physics, advanced optics, thermodynamics, atomic and nuclear physics. His teaching specialties lie with electronics, micro-processors and astronomy. He has a special interest in the applications of computers to the physics laboratory and has supervised physics departments' senior projects, including assembly of an image processing system, construction of a photon counting system, automating a telescope drive, computerizing a Michelson Interferometer, and making high temperature superconductor material.

Karshner's own research field in stellar astronomy involves stars that lie on or just off the main sequence. His Ph.D. dissertation was titled: "The Kinematic and Radial Properties of Normal Luminous Sc Galaxies."

B.S., Mount Union College, 1996
M.S., Texas State University, 2000
Ph.D., University of Texas at San Antonio, 2007

Evelynn Mitchell, Ph.D., earned her doctorate from the Environmental Science & Engineering program at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Mitchell taught physics at the University of the Incarnate Word prior to pursuing her Ph.D. She also gained experience in engineering and applied physics working as a manufacturing engineer at Sony Semiconductor from 2000 to 2003.

Mitchell focused on studying the Edwards aquifer in her dissertation research in which she used a combination of hydrogeology and geophysical skills to determine specific storage values using the compression of earthquake waves. She has also performed geophysics research using seismic and resistivity applications to look at the underlying geology and water table in the Texas Hill Country and in Jalisco, Mexico.

Her current research interests involve studying the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere within caves; studying the correlations between the composition of the geological formation and the CO2 levels; and understanding how much of the carbon dioxide produced in the cave environment adds to the CO2 levels in the outside atmosphere.

Publications

Mitchell, J. N. AND E. J. Mitchell. July 2009. Airflow and CO2 in Robber Baron Cave, Proceedings of the International Congress on Speleology, Kerrville, Texas.

Mitchell, E.J.R. and A. Dutton. 2007. Calculation of Specific Storage in the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer, Central Texas, Using Seismic Efficiencies. Report for the Edwards Aquifer Authority, San Antonio, Texas, pp. 34.

Presentations

Mitchell, E. J. R. and A. R. Dutton. 2007. Specific Storage Results for the Edwards Aquifer Using the Seismic Efficiency Method, National Ground Water Association 2007 Groundwater Summit, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mitchell, Evelynn J. 2008. Storativity from Seismic Waves: Using Rayliegh Waves for Seismic Efficiency Calculations. 2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM, Houston, Texas.

B.A., College of William and Mary, 1981
M.S., University of Utah, 1985
Ph.D., University of Utah, 1990

David Turner received his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Utah, with a concentration in geochemistry. Prior to joining the St. Mary’s faculty full-time, Dr. Turner was a Staff Scientist at Southwest Research Institute, with more than 20 years of experience in addressing a wide variety of environmental issues. Beginning in 1998, he also served as adjunct faculty at the University of the Incarnate Word, Trinity University, and St. Mary’s University, teaching introductory courses in geology and environmental science.

During graduate school, Dr. Turner’s research focused on reconstructing the geochemistry of hydrothermal zinc ore deposits near Silver City, New Mexico. With summer experience in the western United States that included gold exploration, evaluation of geothermal potential, and exploring for oil and gas resources, Dr. Turner completed his studies at the University of Utah with a well-rounded understanding of how the geosciences can be applied to solving real-world problems. After graduation, he accepted a position at Southwest Research Institute, where he studied the geochemistry of radionuclide transport. He also led and contributed to a successful program to evaluate potential environmental impacts associated with nuclear fuel cycle facilities. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 journal papers, book chapters, and reports on a wide range of geochemistry and environmental topics. He serves as a peer reviewer for many academic and professional journals, and has presented research results at national and international meetings to a wide variety of audiences, including professional societies, industrial and government clients, elementary school and university students, teachers, and members of the general public.

His current research interests involve evaluating the effects of urbanization on water quality; environmental justice issues associated with environmental impact assessment; use of environmental indicators to evaluate potential cumulative environmental impacts; and addressing global climate change in the context of environmental impact assessment.

Selected Peer-reviewed Publications

• Turner, D.R. and J.R. Bowman. 1993. Origin and evolution of skarn fluids, Empire zinc skarns, Central Mining District, New Mexico, U.S.A. Applied Geochemistry 8: 9-36.
• Turner, D.R. and S.A. Sassman. 1996. Approaches to sorption modeling for high-level waste performance assessment. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 21: 311-332.
• Pabalan, R.T. and D.R. Turner. 1997. Uranium(6+) sorption on montmorillonite: Experimental and surface complexation modeling study. Aqueous Geochemistry 2: 203-226.
• Turner, D.R., R.T. Pabalan, and F.P. Bertetti. 1998. Neptunium(V) sorption on montmorillonite: An experimental and surface complexation modeling study. Clays and Clay Minerals 46: 256-269.
• Turner, D.R. and R.T. Pabalan. 1999. Abstraction of mechanistic sorption model results for performance assessment calculations at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Waste Management 19: 375-388.
• Contardi, J.S., D.R. Turner, and T.M. Ahn. 2001. Modeling colloid transport for performance assessment. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 47: 323-333.
• Wang, P., A. Anderko, and D.R. Turner. 2001. Thermodynamic modeling of radionuclide adsorption on selected minerals. I: Cations. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 40: 4,428-4,443.
• Wang, P., A. Anderko, and D.R. Turner. 2001. Thermodynamic modeling of radionuclide adsorption on selected minerals. II: Anions. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 40: 4,444-4,453.
• Goldberg, S., L.J. Criscenti, D.R. Turner, J.A. Davis, and K.J. Cantrell. 2007. Adsorption-Desorption Processes in Subsurface Reactive Transport Modeling. Vadose Zone Journal 6: 407-435.
• Werling, B., and D.R. Turner. 2010. A Method for Preparing for and Executing Conflict of Interest Assessments. Environmental Practice 12: 168-174.

Selected Book and Proceedings Chapters

• Turner, D.R., T. Griffin, and T.B. Dietrich. 1993. Radionuclide sorption modeling using the MINTEQA2 speciation code. C. Interrante and R. Pabalan, eds. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management - XVI. Pittsburgh, PA: MRS: 783-789.
• Turner, D.R. and S.A. Sassman. 1994. Approaches to sorption modeling for high-level waste performance assessment. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on the Chemistry and Migration Behavior of Actinides and Fission Products in the Geosphere - Migration '93. Munich, Germany: R. Oldenbourg Verlag: 745-756.
• Turner, D.R., A.C. Bagtzoglou, and J. Foegelle. 1995. Characterization of the potential for perched water development at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Proceedings of 6th International Conference on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management. La Grange Park, IL: American Nuclear Society: 72-74.
• Turner, D.R., R.T. Pabalan, P. Muller, and F.P. Bertetti. 1995. Uniform surface complexation approaches to radionuclide sorption modeling. Proceedings of 6th International Conference on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management. La Grange Park, IL: American Nuclear Society: 234-236.
• Pabalan, R.T., D.R. Turner, F.P. Bertetti, and J.D. Prikryl. 1998. UraniumVI sorption onto selected mineral surfaces. E.A. Jenne, ed. Adsorption of Metals by Geomedia. New York, NY: Academic Press, Inc.: 99-130.
• Turner, D.R., R.T. Pabalan, J.D. Prikryl, and F.P. Bertetti. 1999. Radionuclide sorption at Yucca Mountain, Nevada - Demonstration of an alternative approach for performance assessment. J. Lee and D. Wronkiewicz, eds. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management - XXII. Pittsburgh, PA: MRS: 583-590.
• Pabalan, R.T., D.R. Turner, and M.P. Miklas, Jr. 2000. Technetium-99 chemistry in reduced groundwaters: Implications for the performance of a proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. D. Shoesmith and R. Smith, eds. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management - XXIII. Pittsburgh, PA: MRS: 231-236.
• Turner, D.R., F.P. Bertetti, and R.T. Pabalan. 2002. The role of radionuclide sorption in high-level waste performance assessment: Approaches for the abstraction of detailed models. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings Volume: Soil Geochemical Processes of Radionuclides. pp. 211-252.
• Turner, D.R., R.T. Pabalan, and F.P. Bertetti. 2006. Applying surface complexation modeling to radionuclide sorption. F. Lützenkirchen, ed. Surface Complexation Modeling. Amsterdam: Elsevier, Ltd.: pp. 553-604.
• Turner, D.R. 2012. Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities. Encyclopedia of Sustainability. Springer Verlag. (in press).

Selected Presentations

• Turner, D.R. 2001. Radionuclide Sorption: Abstracting information from detailed models for High-Level Nuclear Waste Performance Assessment. Invited Presentation. Nationale Genossenschaft fur die Lagerung Radioaktiver Abfalle (NAGRA) Geochemistry Workshop, October 28-30, 2001. Wettingen, Switzerland.
• Turner, D.R. 2002. The role of geosciences in nuclear waste management. Invited Presentation. Trinity University Department of Geosciences, February 11, 2002. San Antonio, TX.
• Turner, D.R., and L. Canter. 2004. A Short Course on National Environmental Policy Act Document Review. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, May 25-27, 2004. Frankfort, KY.
• Turner, D.R., and P. Mackin. 2004. A Short Course on National Environmental Policy Act Document Review. U.S. Navy Engineering Field Activities Northwest, September 21-23, 2004. Poulsbo, WA.
• Pabalan, R.T., D.R. Turner, and F.P. Bertetti. 2004. Radionuclide Sorption in High-Level Waste Performance Assessment: Abstraction of Results from Experiments and Surface-Complexation Models. Workshop on Conceptual Model Development for Subsurface Reactive Transport Modeling of Inorganic Contaminants, Radionuclides, and Nutrients, April 20-22, 2004. Albuquerque, NM.
• Turner, D.R., F.P. Bertetti, and R.T. Pabalan. 2005. Developing Thermodynamic Radionuclide Sorption Models: Experimental and Modeling Results. Invited Presentation. Nuclear Energy Agency Radionuclide Sorption Workshop, October 10-11, 2005. Paris, France.
• Turner, D.R., F.P. Bertetti, and R.T. Pabalan. 2005. Applying Radionuclide Sorption Models in Performance Assessment. Invited Presentation. Nuclear Energy Agency Radionuclide Sorption Workshop, October 10-11, 2005. Paris, France.
• Turner, D.R. 2006. Making a Living in Science and Engineering. Invited Presentation. University of the Incarnate Word, College of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, September 29, 2006. San Antonio, TX.
• Turner, D.R., and D.A. Pickett. 2008. Overview of the United States Regulatory Framework for In-Situ Leach Uranium Milling. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, April 20-23, 2008. San Antonio, TX.
• Turner, D.R. 2008. Environmental Impact Assessment: Disciplined Analysis in a Multi-Disciplinary Context. Invited Presentation. Sigma Xi, Alamo Chapter, May 20, 2008. San Antonio, TX.
• Turner, D.R. 2011. Uranium Mining and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle. Invited Presentation. Southwest Gem and Mineral Society. February 10, 2011. San Antonio, TX.
• Mitchell, E., D. Fitzgerald, and D.R. Turner. 2011. Silicate Minerals: Nature’s Building Blocks. Poster Presentation. Southwest Gem and Mineral Society, Fiesta of Gems. March 19-20, 2011. San Antonio, TX.

Sherry Wood served twenty years in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps where she was stationed in Missouri, Europe, Arizona, Korea, Colorado and San Antonio. After she retired, she worked full-time at the Bill Greehey School of Business from 1998-2001 and part-time in the Psychology Department from 2001-2002. She has been working full time for the School of Science, Engineering and Technology in the Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics Departments since 2002.