Profiles of Alumni & Friends

structural geology

Hans is a structural geologist interested in how the crust deforms during mountain building and along transform margins.

geology, exploration geophysics

Bert, former head of research at Shell and past chair of the department, is a geologist who brings together geophysics and field relations to investigate the origin and evolution of mountain belts and sedimentary basins

volcanism, Hawaii, two-phase flow, bubbles, solubility, numerical modeling, deformation

My thesis focused on how magma is transported from depth to the surface at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. A great natural laboratory for this is Hawaii, where a long-lived eruption is ongoing (1983-present).

Using synthetic biology to develop a microbial biosensor for use in soil systems.

Magmatism-tectonism-climate interaction, evolutions of continents

I am interested in the structures and evolutions of continental arcs and how the geological processes (e.g. magmatism, tectonism, erosion) contribute to the formation of continents and their impacts on global climate.

Geophysics, full waveform tomography, ambient noise, earthquakes, tectonics, lithospheric structure, mantle melt

Seismic tomography of the crust and the upper mantle. Interpretations of seismic images regarding the formation of tectonic units such as plateaus, basins, and orogens.

Petrology, Metamorphism, Thermodyanmics, Decarbonation

I have a long-standing research interest in developing petrological thermodynamics and kinetics. I combine the modeling tools with field geology and geochemistry, to understand the histories recorded in natural rocks and the tectonic evolution of orogenic belts.

structural geology, metamorphic petrology, deformation mechanisms, strain localization, seismic anisotropy, geochronology, orogenic architecture, subduction zone geology

Seismology, Tectonics

I focus on creating high-resolution seismic images of the crust and upper mantle with passive data to learn about the temporal evolution of the continental lithosphere in both actively deforming and stable (cratonic) regions.

Field and structural geology + numerical modeling applied to terrestrial and planetary science questions

Eisenberg, William, Will, Texas, TCU, Texas Christian University, fun, Broman, William C. Eisenberg, Bill, Billy, Houston, Fort Worth

Understanding uniaxial compressive strength changes in different lithologies is important to understand the changes in behavior of rocks under confinement in the subsurface. While laboratory testing often assesses the strength of a particular lithology, there are few studies such as that by Deere and Miller (1966) that compare a large variety of different lithologies and their overall strength. Here, we present a data compilation of strain at failure under uniaxial compression for various lithologies in order to show how widely strain data can vary in a given lithology and between different lithologies. Metadata for the study were obtained through searching existing literature. We show that the lithology strongly controls the amount of strain that a material can accumulate prior to failure and that rocks fall within predictable ranges of strain prior to failing under uniaxial compression.

Energy Industry, Oil & Gas, Finance, Energy Consulting

Highly motivated students with direct analytical and results-driven experience in industry and academy. Seeking professional development opportunities to leverage and to improve my skills in energy consulting and industry analysis.

Particle-based modeling, numerical modeling, tectonics, geomorphology, surface processes, landscape evolution

My doctoral research focuses on developing a particle-based numerical model of the coupled tectonic and geomorphologic processes along the Hikurangi margin on the Northern Island of New Zealand.

volcanology, geophysics

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-furtney-62a49263

Antarctica, sedimentology, glacial dynamics, geomorphology

geochemistry; U-Pb geochronology; pseudotachylite; arc unroofing; agate;

Geochemistry of Volatiles C-N-S-H & Chalcophile-Siderophile Elements; Planetary Magma Oceans; Geofluids; Ore Deposits

discrete element model, fractures, microstructural evolution

My research focus is on numerical simulations of biaxial experiments using a discrete element model. I hope to understand the microstructural evolution in rocks from fracture initiation to failure and beyond.

Sediment Transport, Geomorphology, Two-phase flow, Stochastic Modeling, Environmental Fluid Mechanics

serpentinite, igneous and metamorphic petrology, geochemistry, arcs

Oceanography, Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Arctic, Environmental

Hello! My name is Clint Miller. I am a geochemist at Rice University. My research focuses on understanding the biogeochemistry of shallow organic-rich ocean sediments. These sediments undergo complex alteration prior to deep burial. Specific locations of study include Arctic East Siberian continental shelf/slope, offshore Peru, and Sea of Japan.

Geologist, Geoscientist, Carbonates, Log Analysis, Petrophysics, Geophysics, Mapping, Perta, ArcGIS, PowerLog, Risk Management, Reservoir Modeling

Coastal Geology, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Paleotempestology.

Glacial geology, marine geology, sedimentology, stratigraphy

My research is motivated by the need for an understanding of complex ice-ocean interactions that influence ice sheet stability. Using detailed sedimentology coupled with high-resolution bathymetric data, I define paleo-environments that are critical in determining timing, rates, style, and processes involved in past ice sheet retreat. My work is centered on Antarctic glacial margins, primarily in the Ross Sea and Marguerite Bay.

My research combines radiogenic isotope and trace element geochemistry, volatile and sulfur isotope analyses in mineral-hosted melt inclusions, petrology, field work (i.e., marine expeditions) and simple geodynamic equations to investigate the geochemical cycles of the deep Earth. In particular, I examine the deep cycles of sulfur and water to investigate whether or not volatiles are lost during subduction or fluxed back from the mantle to the surface through magmatism and degassing. My research also focusses on the petrogenesis of subduction zone magmas, the composition of the fluids released during subduction processes and mantle heterogeneities.

Geochemical characterization of ash beds in the Cretaceous Eagle Ford Formation with interest in dissolved ash serving as a biological nutrient.

Experimental petrology ; Igneous processes ; Continental lithospheric mantle; Mid Lithospheric Discontinuity; Cratons ; Amphibole ; Phlogopite

Metasomatic processes in the continental lithospheric mantle and their role in physical and chemical properties beneath continents.

Seismic data interpretation, attribute analysis, structural geology, seismic reflection data processing, hyper-extension

I currently focus on the Galicia-Newfoundland conjugate margins and how the extension factor (β) is related to narrow and wide rifting modes, and oceanic core complexes.

isotope geochemistry, mass spectrometry, volcanology, paleoclimatology, analytical technique and method development, aqueous geochemistry

geology, geoscience, energy, oil, gas, business, graduate, masters

Geologist, Petrophysicist, Geomechanics, Pore Pressure Prediction, Well Log Analyst, Drilling Parameter Interpretation, Seismic Data Interpretation, Code Development, Texas A&M University

Inverse problems, computational geophysics, software engineering

computational methods for simulation and inverse problems in geophysics, mathematical and numerical analysis of partial differential equations governing wave propagation, software for simulation and optimization.

I have done two independent projects. For the first I examined stromatolite growth and distribution to determine paleoclimate of the area and for the second I imaged the depth of the Moho beneath Princeton.

petrophysics, compaction trends, pore structure evolution, Lattice-Boltzmann, fracture propogation

My research focus lies in understanding petrophysical responses of shale and pore-structure evolution upon fluid injection and expansion.

Plate Tectonics, Geodynamics, Tectonophysics.

Plate velocities relative to global hotspot reference frame;
Hotspot motion from surface observation of hotspot track trends;
Pattern of seismic anisotropy and relationship with absolute plate motion.

geophysics, seismology, crust and lithosphere

1. Investigated the Cocos-Nazca-Pacific Plate circuit non-closure from latest bathymetry dataset. Identified the new Malpelo and Coiba plate from Nazca plate separated by diffuse plate boundary.

2. Conducted structural modeling of North America and South America plate, and Qaidam Basin, by fluid mechanics methods. Applied thin viscous sheet models to diffuse plate boundaries of both oceanic crust and continental crust, estimated the strain rate and investigated deformation in this region.

3. Investigated oblique spreading of mid-ocean ridges by comparing the strikes with directions determined from best-fitting angular velocity. Built geodynamic models to analyze plume effects and the stress and strain field of the oceanic lithosphere.