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Dan Morgan

Antarctica

The information below is about the 2024-25 research project in Antarctica. The deadline to apply to join the research team has passed.

From November to December 2024, Dr. Dan Morgan and Dr. Rebekah Stanton will lead a team from Vanderbilt University to Antarctica to conduct research on the glacial history of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. We seek three current students (current first-years, sophomores, or juniors) to be part of the field team, conduct lab research, and present their research results, thus completing immersion experiences and projects.

This page will describe the goals of the project in Antarctica, the basic timeline, and the expectations for students selected to join the research team for 2024-25.

VAMPIRE_1

Project Goals: The nickname for this project is VAMPIRE: Vanderbilt Antarctic Moraine Provenance Immersive Research Experience. This project will utilize new techniques to ascertain the history of glacial ice flow in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica (MDV). Deposits in these valleys preserve at least 15 million years of glacial history, which come from multiple glacial events and sources. We will spend about two months in Antarctica to sample these glacial deposits from a number of sites in the MDV. Back at Vanderbilt, we will perform uranium-lead radiometric dating of zircon sand grains from each sample, building up a library of age data acting as fingerprints for different glacial sources. With these data, we can reconstruct past ice sheet behavior in Antarctica and better inform how the ice sheet will influence future global climate change and sea level rise. This project is federally funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Information Sessions: To apply to join the research team, you must attend one of the following information sessions:

  • W: 1/17 in Stevenson 5722, 4:30 pm
  • Th: 1/25 in Stevenson 6740, 12:15 pm
  • T: 1/30 in Stevenson 6740, 12:15 pm
  • M: 2/5 in Stevenson 6740, 5:30 pm

Applications: We are accepting applications from current Vanderbilt First-Year, sophomore, or junior students. There are no pre-requisites or required majors to apply. Applications are due Friday, February 9 by 5:01 pm. To apply, please complete the application here: Link removed. The Deadline to apply has passed.

 

The 2024-25 Antarctic Research Program:

The information below will describe the plan for the 2025-25 Antarctica Research Program. It is meant to complement the information sessions, but does not replace attending one. All dates listed below are tentative and approximate. Final dates will depend on approval by the U.S. Antarctic Program and are weather dependent.

Basic Design:

Students selected to join the research team will participate in the following:

  • Summer 2024: Optional lab paid lab work at Vanderbilt. Completion of medical and dental qualification exams. Participation in physical training and background reading.
  • Fall 2024: Enrollment at Vanderbilt in 18 credit hours in a specially designed semester. August-October we are on campus preparing academically, physically, and socially. Students will take accelerated courses, complete workouts, some weekend training. For November-December, we will be deployed in Antarctica collecting samples.
  • Spring 2025: Team returns in time for spring semester, student can take any classes they like. Optional lab work, but no required project activities.
  • Summer 2025: Required paid, 10-week lab work on campus.
  • Fall 2025: Optional presentations at a national conference, option to continue research for senior thesis.

Fieldwork:

  • The field team will consist of Dr. Dan Morgan, Dr. Rebekah Stanton, and three others from Vanderbilt University.
  • Fieldwork for this project will occur from approximately October 28, 2024 – January 5, 2025.
  • During the fieldwork, participants will be camping in extreme conditions in the McMurdo Dry Valleys for about five weeks.
  • Temperatures are constantly below freezing at about 0 – 20°F, winds can be very strong, and the sun does not set.
  • Days will consist of hiking on rocky terrain, digging to collect rock and sand samples, and mapping glacial deposits.
  • Each person will have their own tent for sleeping, and we will have one large tent for cooking and office space.
  • While camping, a satellite phone will allow brief phone calls home, but there is no internet access.
  • For about two weeks before and one week after the field work we will stay at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. At McMurdo Station we will sleep in dorms, eat at a dining hall, and have limited access to internet.
  • All members of the field team are required to receive medical clearance to participate in the field work by completing medical and dental exams, which are reviewed by the U.S. Antarctic Program. There is limited funding available to help cover the costs of medical exams and field gear, and participants may incur some costs associated with additional medical exams and personal field gear.

Project Timeline: Students selected for the field work will be required to participate in the following:

Spring 2024

  • Students apply. Students will be selected and notified.
  • Current first-years, sophomores, and juniors may apply.
  • There are no prerequisite courses or required majors. Selected students will take required courses in fall 2024 to prepare for the project.
  • Selected students will begin background readings, meetings, and start the required physical and dental examinations.

Summer 2024

  • Optional funded research (10 weeks, $6,000) on campus with samples collected in 2022.
  • Complete the required physical and dental examination with your doctors.
  • Be aware that some chronic conditions may require additional permission to travel and work in Antarctica, and that some medical conditions will exclude you from participation. If you have questions or concerns, please talk to Dr. Morgan before applying.
  • Participate in physical training (strength, flexibility, endurance, and cardio).

Fall 2024

  • Consider this a “study abroad” semester in Antarctica. You will register for 18 credit hours of specially designed EES courses.
  • Students will take two EES classes that will run on an accelerated scheduled beginning in August and ending in October. Other Vanderbilt students are allowed to take these courses.
    • EES 2220W History of Antarctica (HCA).
    • EES 4440 Glacial Geology (MNS) + EES 3865-99 Field Investigations (1 credit hour, includes a 5-day field trip to Colorado).
  • Students will also enroll in:
    • EES 3865-01 Field Investigations (3 credit hours). This accounts for 3 hours of meetings each week, academic/physical/mental/social preparation for the field work, and specific training sessions including weekend camping trips and wilderness first aid training.
    • EES 3880 Internship Training (5 credit hours, P/F, for the field work) and EES 3883 Internship Readings and research (3 credit hours, for the reflection paper after the field work).
  • Students will be required to participate in weekend camping trips and training sessions to prepare for the field work.
  • Students will be required to maintain physical activity through Group Fitness classes at the Rec (3-4/week) and cardio training.

Spring 2025

  • We aim to return before the spring 2025 semester begins, but weather delays are common and cannot guarantee that we will be back for the beginning of the spring semester.
  • Students can take whatever courses they like for the spring semester, including a study abroad program. There are no expectations or requirements for the project this semester.
  • It is optional to begin lab work on samples collected in the field.

Summer 2025

  • Participate in 10 weeks of funded research on campus. A $6,000 summer pay is available for each participant.
  • Complete your immersion project with a paper or poster presentation.

Beyond: Senior Year

  • Funding is available to present results at a national conference, such as the Geological Society of America’s annual meeting or the American Geophysical Union’s fall meeting.
  • Research projects could become honors senior thesis projects.

Field Timeline: Below is an approximate timeline for the field season in Antarctica. These dates are approximate because weather and logistical considerations are unpredictable.

  • October 28: Depart Nashville and fly to Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Two days in Christchurch, NZ to get extreme cold weather gear and training
  • November 1: Depart Christchurch and fly to McMurdo Station, Antarctica (5-8 hour flight depending on plane)
  • November 2-15 (about two weeks): Training, gear selection, and packing in McMurdo Station.
  • November 16 – December 20 (about 5 weeks): Field work in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. We anticipate visiting four field sites from among those on the map below:
Map of the MDV with proposed field sites that will be covered in two field seasons in Antarctica.
Map of the MDV with proposed field sites that will be covered in two field seasons in Antarctica.
  • December 21- January 3 (10-14 days): Return to McMurdo Station, pack samples, return gear, and complete required end-of-season reports. We fly back to the US through New Zealand, spending one night in Christchurch, NZ on the way back.
The 2022 Field Team at Walcott Glacier at the end of five weeks in the field.
The 2022 Field Team at Walcott Glacier at the end of five weeks in the field.

Requirements and Expectations: Below is a list partial list of requirements and expectations for the students selected to participate in the field work in Antarctica

  • Full participation in the research, courses, and physical training before departure.
  • Everyone who goes to Antarctica must be “physically qualified” by the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). This includes:
    • A medical physical exam, a dental exam, blood tests, and documentation of current vaccinations.
    • Additional tests and exams may be required by the medical staff of the USAP.
    • Please be aware that some chronic conditions may require additional permission to travel and work in Antarctica, and that some medical conditions will exclude you from participation. If you have questions or concerns, please talk to Dr. Morgan before applying.
  • A current passport that is valid until at least July 2025.
  • Active participation in all phases of the field work, including training in McMurdo Station and time in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.
  • Adherence to all Vanderbilt, USAP, NSF, and Antarctic Treaty rules and regulations while participating in this project.
  • Participation in the laboratory research and completion of an immersion project upon return to campus.
  • We have funding for summer stipends in the summers of 2024 and 2025 for each participant. This is expected to cover your housing, food, and transportation costs-of-living while participating in research on campus.
  • We have additional funding to send students to a conference to present their results.
  • We have funding to purchase some specialized field gear like mountaineering boots, base layers, mountaineering socks, glacier sunglasses, etc.. You will be expected to provide some of your own clothing (base layers, mid layers, socks, some light jackets, etc.). You may incur some costs associated with the purchase of additional clothing.
The 2022 field team at the "Chalet" in McMurdo Station where the flags of the 12 original signatory countries of the Antarctic Treaty are flown.
The 2022 field team at the “Chalet” in McMurdo Station where the flags of the 12 original signatory countries of the Antarctic Treaty are flown.

Videos and Photos of recent trips to Antarctica can be seen on the pictures and videos page and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/DMantarctica). We encourage you to look through these to get a sense of what the field work and life will be like in Antarctica.

Information Sessions and Applications: To apply to join the research team, you must apply here (link removed, the deadline has passed) and attend one of the following information sessions:

  • W: 1/17 in Stevenson 5722, 4:30 pm
  • Th: 1/25 in Stevenson 6740, 12:15 pm
  • T: 1/30 in Stevenson 6740, 12:15 pm
  • M: 2/5 in Stevenson 6740, 5:30 pm