In the Wooster X-ray and Geochemistry labs, we are engaging in interdisciplinary and collaborative research on soils. One project is in collaboration with Dr. Beth O'Shea (University of San Diego) focusing on the enrichment of arsenic in soils developed on volcanic deposits in southern California. ... » Learn More about Interdisciplinary Applications of Soil Chemistry
Research
Deep Sea Volcanism
Mid-ocean ridges are the single largest volcanic feature on Earth. My research uses the mineralogical and chemical compositions of the ocean floor to understand the magmatic and tectonic processes that form the oceanic crust. Much of my work has occurred in tectonic windows, which are unique ... » Learn More about Deep Sea Volcanism
Ancient Rifting of Pangaea
Our research explores magma transport and crystallization processes in the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP), a large igneous province that was erupted on Pangaea just before the supercontinent rifted apart about 200 million years ago. I work with Dr. LeeAnn Srogi (emerita ... » Learn More about Ancient Rifting of Pangaea
Young Volcanoes in the American Southwest
Ice Springs Volcanic Field in Utah's Black Rock Desert is made of nested cinder cones and their associated lava flows. My research uses petrological data, major and trace element geochemistry, and cosmogenic dating methods to study the complex eruption sequence. This work is in collaboration with ... » Learn More about Young Volcanoes in the American Southwest
Geochemical X-ray Methods
I am a high-temperature geochemist that uses the compositions of Earth materials to understand how they form and evolve. Most of my research involves analyses in our Wooster X-ray and geochemistry labs. Our X-ray lab is equipped with a Rigaku ZSK Primus II XRF and Miniflex II XRD. Students in my ... » Learn More about Geochemical X-ray Methods
Volcano-Ice Interactions
A volcanic eruption in the presence of ice or meltwater can be extremely hazardous, injecting huge amounts of ash into the atmosphere and generating catastrophic glacial outburst floods. But there is so much we can learn from volcano-ice interactions because they also create characteristic ... » Learn More about Volcano-Ice Interactions
Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers
Undergraduate research is a theme that extends across all aspects of my career. I am a Councilor for the Geosciences Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research and have been facilitating faculty development workshops on undergraduate research mentoring since 2009. My scholarly work on ... » Learn More about Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers