 Gordon Grant lab group past and present, taken at the AGU Fall Meeting 2012
Academics
I am currently a PhD student in the Geology program at Oregon State University, working with Gordon Grant as a member of the Watershed Processes Group. I study the degree to which the hydrologic regime controls channel organization in gravel-bed rivers. I grew up in Tallahassee, FL and made the long cold journey to New Hampshire for my undergraduate education. I received Bachelor's degrees in Earth Sciences and Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College in 2012 before continuing on to a PhD program at Oregon State University. I participated in a range of research projects as an undergraduate that spanned topics from detecting anthrax in soil to analyzing lake sediment cores from Greenland. But I knew I was fascinated by river processes after taking my first water science class at Dartmouth. I went on study rivers for my senior thesis, a project looking at mercury deposition on floodplains, and then embarked on my graduate journey in fluvial geomorphology immediately after college. You can Download my CV below. 
Student Groups at OSU
I am a member of two graduate student groups at Oregon State. I am currently Vice Chair of the Graduate Student Committee (GSC), a group that acts as a liaison between students and the administration/faculty. I run the GSC website and facebook page among other duties, and also serve as a student representative on the Strategic Planning and Hiring Committee. I am also involved in Hydrophiles, a water-focused student group on campus. I help organize outreach and volunteer events that support water health and education in our community. You can read more about my involvement on my Outreach page.  Finishing the TransRockies Run 2014 with the Vertebrata Ultra Running Group
Extracurriculars
Outside of academia, I enjoy trail running and educational outreach. I began running competitively since 6th grade and have been running ever since! My event in college was the 5k, but I have since moved up to trail 50k's after moving to Oregon. I have also helped support the running community over the years by serving as head coach for Girls on the Run VT, raising money for Girls on the Run, and volunteering at local races. 
Personal Life
I got married to a great guy on August 9th, 2015! We live with our dog, Patch, in Corvallis, where we look at rivers, run, and chase squirrels together. |
Contact Info
Laura Hempel 104 Wilkinson Hall Corvallis, OR 97330 Office: Forestry Sciences Lab (FSL) 287 Phone: 850-491-4583 hempell@oregonstate.edu | ||