Briana Johnson

I received my bachelor’s degree in geology at San Diego State University in 2010. I am currently a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno pursuing a degree in geology. Working on diatoms was not my first idea for a master’s thesis topic since my undergraduate thesis involved extrusive igneous rocks. After some thought, I decided that I wanted to work within the Lake Tahoe Basin and do my part to Keep Tahoe Blue. For my thesis, I am working with Dr. Paula Noble to look at the recent diatom community changes and the environmental variables that may affect those communities in several small alpine lakes within the Lake Tahoe Basin. I feel that diatoms are beautiful and incredibly useful in determining water quality in aquatic ecosystems. I think that I may have found a new career path!