NewsDrop-Winter-2021

JESSICA QUINTANILLA

bacteria counts and dye trace samples, and a fume hood for chemical experiments. It took seven months to complete, and while the lab doesn’t directly relate to the research, it is the foundation for the work we do.”

Jessica Quintanilla, Hydrogeologist, has been

environment that the EAA offers.” After her promotion, Jessica was tasked with restructuring EAA’s water quality database. Jessica used her knowledge and expertise in databases to come up with a solution that was more user friendly than the older system. “Redesigning the geochemical database makes our data accessible to all members of the Aquifer Science Team. It allows our team to take ownership of the information we collect by giving direct access to the database to manage those records we create. As standard protocol I also conduct quality control checks for all lab reports we receive because we want to use the most accurate data in our research.” When not working on the water quality database, Jessica collaborates with UTSA on a study to determine the source of water supplying the Comal Springs complex. “The research we are conducting is trying to identify the source water that feeds Comal Springs 1, 3, and 7 using geochemical and physiochemical data. The study is relevant to the EAA’s purpose because it affects how the Habitat Conservation Plan protects threatened and endangered species and our understanding of the Edwards aquifer at large.”

employed at the EAA for more than six years. After graduating from Texas Tech University with a master’s degree in geosciences, Jessica knew she wanted to work in a field where she could combine her knowledge of hydrogeology and geochemistry. “It took me awhile to find a job, but the EAA’s mission and research aligned with what I had studied in school. I have an interest in geochemistry because it reveals important information about the Edwards in relation to the geology. It sort of completes a picture and tells a story of how these complex hydrologic systems that we study, interact.” Jessica was initially hired on as an environmental science technician at the EAA where she collected water quality data for the Informational Flow Study (IFF). “When I was first hired in 2015, the IFF study was just getting started and my primary responsibility was to collect water samples to support the project. It was around that time that we began introducing isotopes to the sampling suite and working closely with the geochemistry. The isotope sampling is important because it’s used to trace the source and age of the water.” In 2017 Jessica was promoted to hydrogeologist. “I was thrilled with the news! This position allows me to continue developing my skills as a researcher. It’s an incredibly unique work

JESSICA’S ADVICE FOR FUTURE WOMEN IN STEM ENCOURAGES THEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR WORK, UNAPOLOGET ICALLY. “STEM IS A HUMBL ING F IELD. STRIKE BALANCE BETWEEN BEING A STUDENT WHOSE ALWAYS READY TO LEARN AND AN EXPERT WHO KNOWS THEIR CRAFT. AND DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR SPEAKING UP. YOUR INPUT MAT TERS AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE’S.”

One of Jessica’s career highlights occurred in October 2021 when she was asked to present her research of the Comal Springs at GSA (Geological Society of America) 2021 annual meeting. “Presenting at GSA was both rewarding and enlightening. I’m just proud that I got through my presentation, but the real takeaway from the experience was collaborating with other researchers and speaking with other experts, colleagues in karst, to try and gain some insight on how we might try to approach our own problems.” Another career highlight for Jessica was conducting laboratory building was not efficient, it was unorganized, overcrowded and lacked storage. And the work we do is specialized so the setup was tailored to fit our workflow. Now there is space for field instruments, a space to prepare sample kits, benchtops to calibrate and process samples, there’s a dedicated area for analyzing oversight on EAA’s field laboratory remodeling efforts. “Our old field

This ongoing series will feature five, up and coming, women scientists on the EAA’s Aquifer Science Team. Learn more in our next edition.

Photo: EAA Hydrogeologist, Jessica Quintanilla, demonstrates geophysical surveying techniques to University of Texas students in Uvalde County.

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