Jayde Hirniak is a graduate student interested in the timing and impact of volcanic eruptions, how archaeological sites form, and advancing field survey methods. Jayde has conducted field work at Upper-Middle Paleolithic sites Arma Veirana and Riparo Bombrini located in NW Italy. Additionally, Jayde worked on archaeological sites Pinnacle Point 5-6, Knysna, and Vleebaai located in South Africa. Her dissertation research will investigate the impact of volcanic eruptions on past populations throughout South Africa and how tephrochronology can enhance the chronological records at various sites in the region.