National Cave and Karst Research Institute

Carlsbad, New Mexico | Conduct, support, facilitate, and promote programs in cave and karst research, education, environmental management, and data acquisition and sharing.

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About

NCKRI is a research institute of New Mexico Tech focused on cave and karst research, resource management, and education.

People

  • Photo of Ben Tobin

    Dr. Ben Tobin

    Director

    Ben has been exploring, managing, and studying caves since 2000. Through his research and other activities, he is always trying to improve how we live with, manage, and enjoy karst

  • headshot andy armstrong

    Andy Armstrong

    National Cave and Karst Management Liaison

    Supporting and connecting the people that care for caves and karst.

  • Dr. Daniel S. Jones

    Dr. Dan Jones

    Assistant Professor of Geobiology, New Mexico Tech
    Academic Director NCKRI

    Dan has been studying caves and the microbes that make them since 2005. Geomicrobiologist, geochemist, and karst scientist. Assistant Professor of Geobiology at New Mexico Tech.

  • photo of Devra

    Devra Willingham

    Education Program Manager

    Devra’s heroes are Mary Poppins and Ms. Frizzle, so she takes chances, and has a never-ending tool bag while caving and to solve problems.

  • Dr. Maggie Furtner

    Postdoctoral Scholar

    Maggie takes a computer science approach to cave and karst science, using satellite images and machine learning models to answer research questions.

  • Valerie Davis

    Valerie Davis

    Operations Division Director

    Lifelong New Mexican who values supporting educational endeavors by utilizing her administrative skills to support research programs, with sustainable and creative solutions.