Mihai Lefticariu Date and place of birth: May 22, 1965, Bucharest, Romania Elementary education: 1972-1980, Bucharest, Romania High school education: 1980-1984, Bucharest, Romania, High School Diploma 6/1984 College education and degrees earned: 1985-1990, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, BS in Geology (7/1990), Bucharest, Romania BS Thesis title: A geochemical study of the geothermal aquifer from Dugas Bai, Harghita County, Romania 1996-1997, University of Toledo, Department of Geology, MS in Geology (12/1997), Toledo, Ohio MS Thesis title: A hydrogeochemical study of the Dunkirk Aquifer, Hardin County, Ohio 1997-present, Northern Illinois University, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, DeKalb, Illinois, expected completion of Ph.D. degree: 7/2002 Ph.D. dissertation title: Diagenetic processes in the sedimentary carbonates of northwestern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Past positions and responsibilities: 1/1996-8/1996 TA, Department of Geology, University of Toledo, Ohio: seismic station monitoring 9/1996-8/1997 RA, Department of Geology, University of Toledo, Ohio: organic compounds extraction, identification and quantification Present position: TA, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, NIU Courses taught at NIU: Introduction to Geology: laboratory (8/1997-8/2000), course (8/2000-present) Professional experience: 1990-1995, geological engineer, Bucharest, Romania: geological and geochemical prospecting and studies in the Carpathian Mts., Romania. Responsibilities: soil, water, vegetation, stream sediment and rock sampling, field mapping and computer modeling Laboratory experience: Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, column and SOXHLET extraction of organochlorine compounds from soils and river and lake sediments, Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Difractometry Database processing and modeling experience: computer languages: Visual Basic IV, Turbo C++ statistical software: SYSTAT, Statgraphics, SAS for mapping: Surfer geostatistical software: GeoEas GIS: ArcInfo, ArcView Memberships: AAPG, Sigma Xi Awards: Goldich Award (NIU): Spring 1999, 2000 and Fall 2000 , Graduate School Award (Toledo) Scientific meetings with published abstracts attended: 19th Environmental Chemistry Workshop, Oct. 1996, Purdue, IN, oral presentation: Hydrogeochemistry of the Dunkirk Aquifer, Hardin County, Ohio Geological Society of America 2000 Meeting, Reno, NV, oral presentation: Diagenetic processes in the impact breccia and sedimentary carbonates of NW Yucatan Volunteer: Horizon Program in Earth Sciences for elementary schools, school science fair judg