We are a research group in the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech led by Dr. Julia Cisneros. Our group consists of graduate and undergraduate students with broad interests in surface processes, bedform dynamics, and process sedimentology in a range of environments including rivers, deserts and lakes.
What we do
We seek to understand how landscapes are shaped. We use bedforms, like sand dunes, as an indicator of landscape change. This information helps us understand the impacts of climate change, manage flood risks and water resources, and uncover the environmental history of earth and other planets.
In summer 2026, Cora Jones participated in a 10 week research internship with BGC Engineering. BGC Engineering is an international consulting firm that provides professional services in applied earth sciences. Cora gained experience in the GIS, Remote Sensing, and Hazards departments both in the office working with real world data and in the field. We…
We would like to welcome two new members to the BDRG at VT Geoscience! Aleen Pertuz-Paz joins us as a PhD Student interested in sediment dynamics, geomorphic processes, and the interactions between flow, sediment transport, and landscape evolution. Before joining Virginia Tech, she completed an M.S. in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences at The University…
Daniel Alvarez successfully defended his masters thesis titled ‘Quantifying the Spatial Variability of Bedform Morphology and Bedload Fluxes within Sand-Bedded River Bends’ on April 6th, 2025. Daniel heads to Texas A&M University to pursue a PhD with Dr. Andrew Moodie in the Department of Geography. If you would like to learn more about Daniel’s Masters…
