Undergrad Highlight: Michelle Norman

There is a lot to share about our top undergraduate student, Michelle Norman. Michelle entered our program as a freshman in 2021 with a Presidential Scholarship and is also pursuing a minor in math. Perhaps attending USU was a predictable choice, as Michelle’s parents are both Aggies and their sister became an Aggie last year. Michelle immediately got involved in our department, serving as Geology Club President for three years and being a constant volunteer for outreach. If you’ve visited the Geo Department in recent years, you’ve likely run into Michelle conducting student worker duties in our front office and every nook of the building.

Most of what to share is about Michelle’s amazing involvement in research from day one. Michelle has been working with Dr. Carol Dehler on the only Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) in Utah, in the middle Cambrian Wheeler Formation of the Drum Mountains. Michelle is investigating a carbon-isotope excursion associated with the GSSP — the ‘DICE’ (Drumian Isotope Carbon Excursion). Although the DICE event is used as a global correlation tool and for placement within the Geologic Time Scale, Michelle’s work is showing that, in fact, it is not a reliable correlation marker.

Michelle has presented their work at several USU research venues, winning first place two times in the College of Science ‘Rapid Fire’ competitions, and also presenting at a GSA meeting in Denver as well as scheduled to give a talk at the upcoming GSA meeting in Anaheim. Michelle has received a College of Science minigrant, a USU URCO (Undergraduate Research Creative Opportunity) grant, and currently a Peak Summer Fellowship. In the Geo Department, Michelle has received a Branch Scholarship and is this year’s recipient of the Michael V. Lowe Scholarship as our top student.

Michelle is already talking to potential Masters advisors for the 2025-2026 school year and is planning on submitting a proposal to NSF’s Graduate Research Funding Program this fall. We are so proud of Michelle and are excited about their next adventures!