Tiago Brent Wakefield
Chandler,AZ
Summary
Undergraduate geology student with a growing foundation in field methods, laboratory analysis, and applied geoscience research. Brings hands-on experience across environmental, mineral, and geochemical studies, with a strong interest in economic geology and the scientific processes that support mineral exploration. Committed to developing technical skills and contributing to research that advances the responsible development of Earth’s natural resources.
Overview
1
1
year of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Undergraduate Research Assistant — Tailings Processing & Sample Preparation
Critical Minerals Project, University of Arizona
04.2025 - Current
- Project Lead: Dr. Isabel Barton (Associate Professor, School of Mining & Mineral Resources)
- Supervisor: Dr. Jason Dean Mizer (Manager, Lowell Program in Economic Geology)
- Gained hands-on experience with machinery and equipment used in preparing research materials.
- Assisted with drying, milling, bagging, rotary splitting, and transporting copper mine tailings for downstream analysis.
Undergraduate Research Assistant — Hyperspectral Analysis
Critical Minerals Project, University of Arizona
07.2025 - Current
- Supervisor: Dr. Dean Riley (Research Engineer; Director of the Mine Hyperspectral Research Consortium)
- Anson Dao (Graduate Student)
- Assisted with introductory hyperspectral analysis of tailings and drill-core samples.
- Gained experience in the usage of hyperspectral instruments, including handheld contact-probe spectrometers and Specim spectral imaging systems.
Undergraduate Research Assistant — Chemical Digestion & Assay Preparation
Critical Minerals Project, University of Arizona
11.2025 - Current
- Supervisor: Dr. Peter Orto (Research Scientist)
- Performed chemical digestion procedures for tailings assays.
- Conducted wet-chemistry tasks following laboratory safety and QA/QC protocols.
- Prepared samples for downstream geochemical analysis.
CURE Research Student
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
01.2025 - 05.2025
- Supervisor: Dr. Soumaya Belmecheri (Associate Professor, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research)
- Cecilia Martinez (Graduate Student)
- Researched climate signal expression in Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) from the Pacific Northwest.
- Analyzed tree-ring data to evaluate environmental variability and climate–growth relationships.
- Completed project as part of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research CURE program.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
05.2025 - 09.2025
- Supervisors: Dr. Soumaya Belmecheri (Associate Professor, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research); Dr. Bryan Black (Associate Director, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research)
- Worked on multiple dendrochronological projects supporting laboratory and climate-growth research.
- Assisted with cellulose extraction from tree-ring samples.
- Performed cutting, grinding, bleaching, homogenizing, and atomic-weighting procedures.
- Supported laboratory workflow, sample tracking, and quality control.
Hyperspectral Field Work — Mineral Park Mine
07.2025 - 07.2025
- Supervisors: Dr. Jason Dean Mizer (Manager, Lowell Program in Economic Geology); Dr. Dean Riley (Research Engineer; Director of the Mine Hyperspectral Research Consortium)
- Participated in hyperspectral scanning of mine tailings during a government flyover.
- Operated field spectrometers, assisted with equipment setup, and maintained data logs.
Exploration Field Hand — Central Arizona
08.2025 - 08.2025
- Supervisor: Scott Randall (Exploration Geologist)
- Collected soil samples, used GPS equipment, and gained experience in basic field mapping.
Education
B.S. - Physical Geology
University of Arizona
Tucson05-2027
No Degree - Dual Enrollment Coursework
Chandler–Gilbert Community College
Gilbert, AZ05-2024
High School Diploma -
Arizona College Preparatory High School
Gilbert, AZ05-2024
Skills
- Researching skills
- Fieldwork experience
- Laboratory operations
- Data analysis
Certification
- MSHA Certification — August 2025
- Proficient in MATLAB coding language
- Minor proficiency in Microsoft Excel
Academic Awards
Arizona National Scholars Tuition Award
Timeline
Undergraduate Research Assistant — Chemical Digestion & Assay Preparation
Critical Minerals Project, University of Arizona
11.2025 - Current
Exploration Field Hand — Central Arizona
08.2025 - 08.2025
Hyperspectral Field Work — Mineral Park Mine
07.2025 - 07.2025
Undergraduate Research Assistant — Hyperspectral Analysis
Critical Minerals Project, University of Arizona
07.2025 - Current
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
05.2025 - 09.2025
Undergraduate Research Assistant — Tailings Processing & Sample Preparation
Critical Minerals Project, University of Arizona
04.2025 - Current
CURE Research Student
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
01.2025 - 05.2025
B.S. - Physical Geology
University of Arizona
No Degree - Dual Enrollment Coursework
Chandler–Gilbert Community College
High School Diploma -
Arizona College Preparatory High School