|
My geologic research involves a relatively even split between field work and lab work, with a smattering of computational work. Regions of interest include more local areas in the western U.S. as well as several international sites with active tectonics.
My science education research focuses on student research and field experiences as a means to increase students' sense of belonging and prepare for careers in Earth science. |
Current Research Projects
|
Fault growth and Basin integration in the western US
Integration of stratigraphic and fossil characterization, fault growth analyses, and paleo-climate proxies to assess tectonic and climatic drivers for Miocene mammal migration in the Basin and Range, US (K. Loughney, Roxy Schulman (CSULB undergraduate student), Amanda Carranco (CSULB undergraduate student))
Low-temperature thermochronometry modelling methods
Numerical thermal history modelling has become a core approach used for interpretation of low-temperature thermochronometry data. This project focuses on determining good practices for inverse and forward modeling such data, as well as developing education tools for those new to modelling low-T thermochronology data (K. Murray, A. Stevens-Goddard, M. Wildman).
Development of Universal Skills
Making incremental changes of summer field courses, following the UFERN model, to increase development of universal skills and student self-advocacy. Evaluation of these changes and their effects is on-going using pre- and post-surveys as well as analysis of student writing projects (J. Gutierrez, S. Doser)
|
Tectonic growth of the Andean Precordillera
Tracking Water-Rock interaction
Using a novel combination of reset low-T thermochronometry ages and stable isotope data in apatite with hydrothermal circulation models to predict likely thermal histories and determine isotope exchange that occurred during the emplacement of the Little Devils Postpile, Yosemite CA (N. Randolph-flagg, D. Shuster, Kyla de Villa (UCB undergraduate student), S. Kim)
Paleo-topography and Paleo-altimetry: Rocky Mountains and Great Plains
Cessation of compressional tectonics, preserved paleo-surfaces, and less than 1-2 km of exhumation recorded since the early Cenozoic implies the the Rockies are an ancient landscape. On the other hand, increasing relief, maintained high elevations, and active river incision suggest this landscape is much younger and still developing. Can we uncover the incision history of the Arkansas River and paleo-topography preservation in the southern Rocky Mountains? (A. Tye, Cheyenne Senesac (CSULB Undergraduate), K. Townsend, N. Niemi, G. Gehrels).
|
Past Research Projects
|
Continental Rifting: Rio Grande rift
|
Southern Rocky Mountains, CO
|
|
During my PhD I worked understanding the development of the the Rio Grande rift and addressing the growth debate (synchronous vs propagating rift) using low-T thermochronometry and spatiotemporal analysis of magmatism (N. Niemi).
|
Multidisciplinary work from my PhD revealed differential exhumation in the southern Rockies, during the Laramide Orogeny, insights into paleo-topography during the early Cenozoic, formation of the regional Eocene erosion surface, and evidence for top-down resetting of low-T thermochronometers (N. Niemi, I. Winkelstern, J. Geissman, M. Heizler)
|
