Research Program and Interests
The surface of the Earth is shaped by a complex combination of tectonics and erosion. My research focuses on evaluating temporal and spatial patterns of strain, with the ultimate goal of understanding the mechanisms and drivers of deformation and landscape evolution. I do this by integrating fieldwork and structural analysis methods with geo- and thermochronology. My current research focuses on the active faults in southern California, Late Cretaceous to Pliocene tectonics of the Great Basin in Nevada and California, U.S. midcontinent seismicity, and source-to-sink systems in China. In doing this work, I have a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists, involving undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in project. My research approach also draws on my prior experience as an Exploration Geologist for ExxonMobil.