Education:
Geology M.S.: University of Georgia (2020)
Geology B.S.: Western Carolina University (2018)
Planetary Science PhD: University of Nevada Las Vegas (Expected May 2026)

CV link
Personal Website

Research Interests:

My overall research interests are igneous petrology, geochemistry, and planetary science, specifically martian geology. For my Ph.D. research, I use shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites, the three main types of martian meteorites, to help improve the current knowledge of how martian magmas are generated, erupted at or near the martian surface, and how magmatic and volcanic processes on Mars have evolved over time. To understand martian magma generation, including mantle sources and magma compositions, I look at major, minor, and trace element bulk rock, mineral, and melt inclusion (i.e., a pocket of magma trapped as a crystal grows) chemistries using techniques such as electron microprobe analyses and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, as well as thermodynamical modeling. I also use three-dimensional analyses via X-ray computed tomography to quantify igneous textures (e.g., crystal size, shape, and orientation), which can inform us about magma emplacement processes and environments. Additionally, my research involves testing if terrestrial approaches and methodologies for investigating volatile (e.g., H2O and CO2) content and crystallization pressures, such as Raman and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, apply to martian meteorites and conditions.  

Teaching Interests:

My experiences as a teaching assistant during my academic career thus far have also imparted a passion for teaching geoscience. I want to provide students with a geoscience education that reminds them of their connection to the natural world and teaches them scientific literacy and skills needed to address societal issues. I am interested in developing a pedagogy that is student-centered, emphasizes student engagement, and provides hands-on learning and research experiences

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

Ramsey, S. R.*, Ostwald, A. M.*, Udry, A., O’Neal, E.*, Day, J. M. D., Wilbur, Z., Barnes, J. J., and Griffin, S. (2023). Northwest Africa 13669, a Reequilibrated Nakhlite from a Previously Unsampled Portion of the Nakhlite Igneous Complex. Meteoritics and Planetary Science. 1–37, doi: 10.1111/maps.14112.

Ramsey, S.R., Howarth, G.H., Udry, A. and Gross, J. (2021), Nickel–manganese variability in olivine and Al-in-olivine thermometry for olivine-phyric shergottites. Meteoritics & Planetary Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.13721

Published Abstracts:

Ramsey, S.; Udry, A.; Eckley, S.; Ketcham, R. (2024). 3D Crystal Size Distribution of the Northwest Africa 10645 and Miller Range 03346 Nakhlites using X-Ray Computed Tomography. In the 86th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society. Abstract no. 6200. 

Ramsey, S.; Udry, A.; Eckley, S.; Ketcham, R. (2024). Quantitative 3D Textural and Petrofabric Analysis of the Northwest Africa 10645 Nakhlite using X-ray Computed Tomography. In the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Abstract no. 1631. 

Motta, G.; Ramsey, S.; Udry, A.; Traylor, T.; Davidson, J.; Gross, J.; Adcock, C.T. (2024) Constraining the Petrogenesis of Monomineralic Clasts within the Martian Polymict Breccia Northwest Africa 7034. In the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Abstract no. 1637. 

Ostwald, A.M.; Motta, G.; Ramsey, S.; Udry, A.; Corrigan, C. (2024) Northwest Africa 15917: A New Depleted Basaltic Shergottite Find. In the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Abstract no 1166. 

Ramsey, S.; Udry, A.; Eckley, S.; Ketcham, R. (2023). 3D Modal Abundances of Nakhlites and Poikilitic Shergottites using X-ray Computed Tomography. In the 86th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society. Abstract no. 6032.

Ramsey, S.; Ostwald, A.; Udry, A.; Day, J.M.D. (2023). Parental Melt Composition of the Northwest Africa 13669 Nakhlite from Pyroxene and Olivine-Hosted Melt Inclusions. In the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Abstract no. 1030.

Ramsey, S.; Udry, A.; Day, J.M.D.; Ostwald, A. (2022). Formation and Emplacement of the Northwest Africa 13669 Nakhlite. In the 85th Annual Meeting of The Meteoritical Society. Abstract no. 6028.

Suarez, S. E.; Ramsey, S.; Udry, A.; Righter, M.; Lapen, T. J.; Irving, A. J. (2022). Petrologic Investigation of Olivine-Phyric Depleted Shergottites Northwest Africa 2046 and 6162. In the 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Abstract no. 2892.

Ramsey, S.; Udry, A.; Day, J.M.D.; Ostwald, A. (2022). Major and Trace Element Bulk Rock and Mineral Chemistry of Northwest Africa 13669, a New Nakhlite. In the 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Abstract no. 1127.