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I am an Associate Professor in the USF School of Geosciences. I hold a PhD in Volcanology from Université Paris Sud – XI (Orsay, France). My research involves geochronology (K-Ar dating method), geochemistry, and physical volcanology, to reconstruct the 4-D evolution of volcanic systems: distribution of eruptive vents at the Earth’s surface, qualify and quantify the magmatic processes that occur in the crust and mantle and how they relate to different eruptive styles, and how all these processes evolved through time. I study volcanoes in the Lesser Antilles and western US. I teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, and I mentor undergraduate and graduate students on various research projects.

As the president of Sigma Xi USF Chapter since August 2022, I have done my best to maintain the level of excellent that the USF Sigma Xi chapter has held in recent years, to honor science, engineering, education, and relationship with the community.

My research involves applications of scientific methods on archaeological and bioanthropological materials and collaborating with students and other scholars at USF and from around the world. This includes ongoing research on prehistoric obsidian trade in the Mediterranean, the production and distribution of ceramics in Florida and Italy, and isotopic analysis of human skeletal remains from six continents to study diet and mobility. I teach a hands-on course on Archaeological Science which involves lab-based projects. 

USF Sigma Xi Chapter Past President, Dr. Bogdan P. Onac, along with dozens of fellow geoscientists, astronomers, astrobiologists, and robotics and artificial intelligence engineers are looking to caves on the moon and Mars – and eventually other planets too – for insights on planetary history that could give unparalleled insight into the development of the solar system.

Given what scientists have learned about Earth’s history through exploring beneath the ground, allowing humans to explore more thoroughly into the caves of the moon and Mars likely will generate knowledge that goes well beyond surface exploration.

Onac’s exploration of caves in Romania, on the Mediterranean Island of Mallorca, and into New Mexico’s lava tubes have produced new discoveries of Earth’s sea levels and climate from millions of years ago. He said planetary caves are likely to yield equally valuable new knowledge and insights.

USF Sigma Xi member Summer Decker is an Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, the Vice Chair for Research and the Director of the Division of 3D Clinical Applications.

When nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing were in short supply and high demand, team from the USF Health’s 3D Clinical Applications Division created an initial design, working with Northwell Health and collaborating with Formlabs to develop prototypes and secure materials for a 3D printed alternative.

Over the span of one week, the teams worked together to develop a nasal swab prototype and test it in the USF Health and Northwell Health labs. In two days, USF Health and Northwell Health, using Formlabs’ 3D printers and biocompatible, autoclavable resins, developed prototypes.