Research Opportunities


Graduate Student Opportunities

NEW NSF-funded PhD Projects!!! (posted 11/15/07)

I have just been awarded a NSF CAREER grant, which provides funds for TWO graduate students PhD research projects starting in January 2008 or in the Fall of 2008. This grant focuses on understanding the variables maintaining long-term, stable subduction by investigating the processes that cause subduction to fail:

1) How does attempted oceanic plateau subduction cause subduction to fail? Attempted subduction of an oceanic plateau will be modeled to determine how plateau buoyancy and geometry compete with plate and plateau rheology to shut down subduc- tion. In addition, we will determine if pre-existing weak zones are needed to shift the location subduction (i.e., subduction polarity reversal of progradation of the trench).

2) How does crustal-fragment loss occur during normal subduction? Crustal- fragment loss during normal subduction will be modeled to determine how localized weakening of the plates through serpentinization, faulting or reactivation of pre-existing structures couples with geometric variations (e.g., fracture zones, oblique convergence) to slice-off and accrete sections of subducting crust and lithosphere.

These two projects will use high-performance computing and 3D visualization methods developed in collaboration with the KeckCAVEs. Please see below for the type of background needed for these projects. Contact me by e-mail for further questions.

I am always looking for new graduate students for PhD or Masters thesis projects. I have NSF projects with funding for graduate research assistants (contact me for current projects), however, I am most interested in working with graduate students who want to develop their own research ideas with my guidance and apply for NSF funding for their specific project.

The type of research I generally do uses numerical modeling, so I require students who already know how to program or are willing to learn, enjoy working on a computer, and thrive on the challenges of solving both the small and big problems encountered during a computationally-intensive research project.

Physics, Engineering, Math Undergrads
Students who have nontraditional geophysics backgrounds such as physics, engineering, and mathematics, and an intense interest in the geosciences are strongly encouraged to contact me to discuss possible research projects.

Geology Undergrads
Similarly, students with traditional backgrounds in geology, who also have a strong quantitative background (geophysics, physics, math, programming) are strongly encouraged to contact me to discuss possible research projects.

Check out the Research Page for active projects.

Undergraduate Student Opportunities

Research experience as an undergraduate student is a great opportunity to explore a specific aspect of geology, to decide what sub-discipline to pursue in graduate school, or to just get more experience with independent research.

I often have ideas for summer research that are focused on data acquisition or background work for projects that I'm interested in. However, as with the graduate student projects, I'm most interested in working undergraduate students who want to pursue their own questions or interests in geophysics.

Stop by my office (room 393 in the Phys/Geo Building) or e-mail me to set up a time to discuss undergraduate summer research or senior thesis research projects.