For Katie Hoskinson ’11, last summer rocked. The geology major from Scotia, N.Y., and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School worked with SLU geology professor Antun Husinec and Kyle Marvinney ’11 at the North Dakota Geological Survey Wilson D. Laird Core and Sample Library at the University of North Dakota, analyzing core samples. 

Katie explains, “Our research was funded by a grant from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund and was entitled ‘High Resolution Sequence Stratigraphy of Ordovician Red River Formation, Williston Basin, North Dakota.’ The St. Lawrence team analyzed Red River formation carbonate rock cores drilled in North Dakota since 1951, when oil was discovered in the state.” The rock cores provides clues to the history of climate change, she explains.

“We plan to present our research at the 2010 Northeastern Geological Society of America Regional Meeting as well as the 2010 American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention in New Orleans in April.  I also anticipate continuing this research into an honors thesis,” says Katie, who is a member of KDS sorority and secretary of her class.  She’s also active with Habitat for Humanity, the Geology Club and Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, to which she was elected.  

“This opportunity enabled me to obtain invaluable field and research experience in sedimentology and stratigraphy, and expanded my knowledge of the applications of geology. Professor Husinec is a talented geologist and an outstanding mentor, and working with him has been inspiring and pivotal.”

Katie is one of only 122 undergraduates nationwide awarded a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship, which provides financial help with research in two academic years plus an internship in summer 2010.