MATTHEW S.

SPARACINO
1809 Stover St  Ft. Collins, CO 80525
703 943 8709  sparacino.matt@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Master of Science, Geosciences May 2015 - May 2017 (expected)
Colorado State University, Ft Collins, CO, GPA: 3.8/4.0
Advisor: Dr. Sara Rathburn
Thesis: Monitoring the effectiveness of river realignment on the Upper Colorado
River, Rocky Mountain National Park
Bachelor of Science, Geology Aug 2008 - May 2012
College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Magna cum laude, Departmental Honors, GPA: 3.7/4.0
Advisor: Dr. Greg Hancock
Thesis: Variability of erodibility in bedrock-floored channels produced by differential
weathering

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Assistant, Colorado State University, May 2015 - Present
Conducted field work and research for my MS degree, including: stream gaging
(Marsh McBirney current meter, salt dilution), suspended and bedload sampling,
topographic surveying (RTK-GPS, laser rangefinder, hand level), shallow geophysics
(electrical resistivity), and tracer tests (conservative mass recovery).
Research tasks included: securing additional funding through external grants, data
analysis, interpretation, writing, and presenting results to stakeholders and fellow
scientists.
Teaching Assistant, Colorado State University Aug 2015 - May 2016
Primary instructor for the laboratory component of GEOL150 (Intro. Geology for
Scientists and Engineers - FA15) and GEOL154 (Historical Geology - SP16).
Teaching Assistant, College of William & Mary May 2012 - June 2012
Provided academic and logistical support during a 3-week field course to the Col-
orado Plateau (UT, CO, NM, AZ), including: grading field exercises and lecturing at
selected field locations.
Geology Field Research Assistant, Colorado State University June 2012 - Aug 2012
Assisted with field data collection, sample preparation, and preliminary data analysis,
including: soil sampling and sieving, stream gaging, suspended and bedload sampling,
hydrograph construction using Microsoft Excel.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, College of William & Mary May 2010- May 2012
Independently planned and executed ten weeks of original research relevant to my
thesis (Summer 2011), including: topographic surveying (TOPCON GPS), compres-
sive strength measurements (Schmidt Hammer), and bedrock drill coring at field sites
in WV and VA, thin section preparation, and electron microprobe elemental analyses.
Conducted field work (Summer 2010) relevant to my thesis, using methods listed
above, at field sites in UT and VA .
AWARDS
Rich Herbert Memorial Scholarship - $3,000, CO Section of the AWRA Oct 2016
Research Grant Award - $1,000, American Alpine Club May 2016
Hill Memorial Fellowship - $5,000, Warner College of Natural Resources, CSU May 2016
Evelyn I. Clark Scholarship - $2,300, Warner College of Natural Resources, CSU April 2016
Rich Herbert Memorial Scholarship - $2,000, CO Section of the AWRA April 2016
Colorado Water Institute Research Grant - $5,000, National Institutes for Water Resources Feb 2016
Geology Prize, College of William & Mary Alumni Association May 2012
Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chapter of Virginia Dec 2011
Dintersmith Honors Fellowship - $6,000, College of William & Mary May 2011
Geology Research Grant - $3,500, College of William & Mary May 2010

PUBLICATIONS
Scott, D.N., Brogan, D.J., Lininger, K.B., Schook, D.M., Daugherty, E.E., Sparacino, M.S., and Patton, A.I.,
(2016), Evaluating survey instruments and methods in a steep channel, Geomorphology, 273, pp. 236-243.

MEETINGS & ABSTRACTS

Sparacino, M.S., Rathburn, S.L., (2017), Monitoring the effects of river realignment on the Upper Colorado
River, Rocky Mountain National Park, AGU Hydrology Days, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO.
Sparacino, M.S., Rathburn, S.L., (2017), Monitoring the effects of river realignment on the Upper Colorado
River, RMNP, 2017 Rocky Mountain National Park Research Conference, Estes Park, CO.
Sparacino, M.S., Rathburn, S.L., and Singha, K., (2016), Monitoring the effects of river realignment on the
Upper Colorado River, Rocky Mountain National Park, Paper No. 153-1, GSA Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Rathburn, S., Comiti, F., Brardinoni, F., Sparacino, M.S., and Schook, D., (2015), Drainage basin sensitivity to
climate change, Abstract EP33A-1047, AGU Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Sparacino, M.S., Hancock, G., Small, E.E., Lamp, L. (2011), Variability of erodibility in rock-floored channels
produced by differential weathering, Abstract EP43B-0697, AGU Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.

RELEVANT COURSEWORK & SOFTWARE COMPETENCE

Geomorphic & Ecological Fundamentals of River & Stream Restoration Aug 2016
Short course instructed by Dr. Matt Kondolf and Dr. Peter Wilcock at Sagehen Field Station, Truckee, CA. Activ-
ities included: literature review, restoration site visits, riparian/aquatic habitat mapping, and sediment transport
modeling.
Graduate: Fluid Mechanics, River Restoration Design, Fluvial Geomorphology, Hillslope Hydrology, Land Use
Hydrology
Undergraduate: Physical Hydrology, Advanced Geomorphology Seminar, GIS, GIS Programming, Environmental
Geology, Environmental Geochemistry, Physics and Calculus (2 semesters each), Chemistry (1 semester)
Software Competence
arcGIS, Matlab, R studio, Python, Adobe suite, Microsoft Office suite
RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT
Quality Control Coordinator, ACZ Laboratories, Inc., Feb 2014 - April 2015
Steamboat Springs, CO, (800) 334-5493
Ensured lab operations and environmental testing procedures met or exceeded stan-
dards set by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference.
Daily duties included: reviewing personnel training documentation, reviewing and
updating standard operating procedures, collaborating with department supervisors
on methods development, renewing lab certifications and managing lab audits.
Radiochemistry Technician, ACZ Laboratories, Inc., Oct 2013 - Feb 2014
Prepared samples and operated instruments used to measure radioactive isotopes in
water samples and soil digestates.
Inorganic Chemistry Technician, ACZ Laboratories, Inc., April 2013 - Oct 2013
Conducted inorganic chemistry procedures on water samples and soil digestates.

REFERENCES
Dr. Sara Rathburn
Associate Professor, Geosciences, Colorado State University
Relationship: thesis advisor
sara.rathburn@colostate.edu
(970) 491-6956

Mr. Matt Sowards

Quality Assurance Officer, ACZ Laboratories, Inc.
Relationship: supervisor
matts@acz.com
(800) 334-5493

Dr. Ellen Wohl

Professor, Geosciences, Colorado State University
Relationship: mentor
ellen.wohl@colostate.edu
(970) 491-5298