1. Using solar insolation to improve soil map unit interpretation in the Mojave Desert. With NRCS, Doug Merkler (PI) and NPS Mark Sappington.
2. Evaluation of the PRS Probe in the Mojave Desert.
3. Soil development since Ancient Puebloan habitation in Mesa Verde National Park (MVNP) and sourcing deposits for pottery and building material use in Ancient Puebloan structures in MVNP.  Drohan, Rumsey, and Brenda Buck. In cooperation with Linda Tolle, NPS, Mesa Verde and Pete Biggam, NPS, Denver.
4. Housing prices as related to soil and geological hazards in Las Vegas Valley: the smut on dirt in “Sin City”.  Drohan PI.  In cooperation with H. Neill (Environmental Studies).
5. Gypsum soils in the north Las Vegas Valley and their role in Las Vegas Bear Poppy habitat. MS student: Rekha Saxena.
6. Determination of pedological processes leading to vesicular horizon/pavement/crust units. 
7. Deriving soil formation relationships on toposequences on Mt Charleston, NV.  In cooperation with Doug Merkler, NRCS.
8. Soil mineralogical, C and N dynamics as evidenced in pedogenesis following multi year fire events: Spring Mountains, Southern Nevada; Winnemucca, Nevada; Mesa Verde National Park.
9. Pedological processes under historical fire regimes on Mt. Charleston, NV: effect on carbon sequestration.
10. Use of ground penetrating radar to detect fissures in hydrocollapsible soils. Drohan and Catherine Snelson.
11. Hydropedology influneces on Fe and B in a manufactured wetland. Drohan and Las Vegas Springs Preserve.
12. Soil functional relationships related to pedogenesis following road closure in Joshua Tree National Park (proposed).
13. Pedogensis in semi-saline environments on mixed landforms in Lake Mead National Recreation Area (proposed).
14. Hydrophobicity indicators pre and post fire in mixed sub-alpine forests in Nevada and California.
15. Geomophological drivers of vesicular horizons. Drohan and Robins.
16. Pedological changes following single burn events; long-term implications for site restoration.

Nevada is an amazing place to earn an MS or PhD degree. Besides Nevada's (and the region's) amazing scenery and natural resources, UNLV's Geoscience department is one of the top Geoscience programs in the West.  We cooperate with numerous local, state and federal agencies in Nevada, California, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.  We also work in several nations overseas.  And Las Vegas is pretty fun too!  Within less than an hour of the campus you can hike, raft, kayak, backpack, camp, attend music festivals, eat amazing food, be in 3 different states, and 2 different deserts.  We are 2 hours from Death Valley National Park, 4 hours from Grand Canyon National Park, 2 hours from Zion National Park, 3 hours from Bryce Canyon National Park, 30 minutes from Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 30 minutes from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and 55 minutes from Valley of Fire State Park.  We also have this little 3,632 m (11,918 ft) mountain next to town that has a ski area.

The UNLV Department of Geoscience will be offering (Fall of 2004) an emphasis in Soil Science at the MS and PhD level.  Students graduating from the department with this emphasis will have enough credits for a position in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) as a soil scientist.  The degree conferred will say MS or PhD in Geoscience: emphasis Soil Science.

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