I am a geochemist interested in the processes that drive crustal evolution, mountain building, and landscape change.
​My group tackles research questions using Thermochronology and Igneous Petrology.
​We also investigate circumstances in which these two disciplines overlap.

Thermochronology

​Low-temperature thermochronology (T ≈ 40–300 ˚C) is my primary research tool because it is applicable to a wide range of interesting problems in the Earth sciences.

​New Project! Deep-time Thermochronology in the Northern Rockies. Dave Pearson (ISU), Devon Orme (Montana State) and I are actively recruiting graduate students to work on this project. See Student Opportunities and this advertisement.

Check out my talk to the Geologists of Jackson Hole: Probing the Ancient History of the Northern Rockies.
Other thermochronology projects, past and present:

Igneous Petrology

My current research investigates the petrogenesis of the young olivine tholeiites erupted on the Eastern Snake River Plain. These basalts also host the Snake River Plain Aquifer, and this active volcanic field presents volcanic hazards to the Idaho National Lab.

I'm working with Dr. Xiaofei Pu to apply olivine-melt thermometers and hygrometers in this region.

Past projects