We are always looking for curious and highly motivated students to join our research. For more information please contact me.
Lab Manager
Dr. William Matthews
Dr. Matthews is an expert in zircon U-Pb dating and (U-Th-Sm)/He dating. His research interests are in methodological developments as well as the application of geo- and thermochronology to various geologic questions. Will has been working in many places such as Iran, Madagaska, western U.S. and particularly in the southwestern Canadian Cordillera.
Contact:
Office: ES522
Phone: +1 (403) 210-7766
Email: wamatthe@ucalgary.ca
Dr. Matthews is an expert in zircon U-Pb dating and (U-Th-Sm)/He dating. His research interests are in methodological developments as well as the application of geo- and thermochronology to various geologic questions. Will has been working in many places such as Iran, Madagaska, western U.S. and particularly in the southwestern Canadian Cordillera.
Contact:
Office: ES522
Phone: +1 (403) 210-7766
Email: wamatthe@ucalgary.ca
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Scott Jess
Dr. Jess has expertise in apatite fission track and (U-Th-Sm)/He dating and their application to a variety of tectonic settings. Previous work has included the topographic evolution of West Greenland and Baffin Island, as well as snowball earth phenomena.
Office: ES570B
Email: scott.jess@ucalgary.ca
Website
Dr. Jess has expertise in apatite fission track and (U-Th-Sm)/He dating and their application to a variety of tectonic settings. Previous work has included the topographic evolution of West Greenland and Baffin Island, as well as snowball earth phenomena.
Office: ES570B
Email: scott.jess@ucalgary.ca
Website
Graduate Students
Kelley Fraser (Master student)
Kelley will join the group in summer 2018. Kelley will conduct fission track and U-Th/He dating on bedrock samples she will collect this summer along the Rocky Mountain Trench in the southern Canadian Cordillera. Kelley has already experience in geo-and thermochornology conducting zircon FT dating on samples from the southern Appalachians during her senior thesis project at the Appalachian State University.
Email: kelley.fraser@ucalgary.ca
Kelley will join the group in summer 2018. Kelley will conduct fission track and U-Th/He dating on bedrock samples she will collect this summer along the Rocky Mountain Trench in the southern Canadian Cordillera. Kelley has already experience in geo-and thermochornology conducting zircon FT dating on samples from the southern Appalachians during her senior thesis project at the Appalachian State University.
Email: kelley.fraser@ucalgary.ca
Ryan McKay (Master student)
Ryan will join the group in summer 2018. He will be working on the tectonic evolution of the Richardson Mountains (N.W.T.), which is a project in collaboration with Thomas Hadlari from the Geological Survey of Canada. Ryan will combine structural field data with low-temperature thermochronology analyses.
Email: rdmckay@ucalgary.ca
Ryan will join the group in summer 2018. He will be working on the tectonic evolution of the Richardson Mountains (N.W.T.), which is a project in collaboration with Thomas Hadlari from the Geological Survey of Canada. Ryan will combine structural field data with low-temperature thermochronology analyses.
Email: rdmckay@ucalgary.ca
Jenny Arkle (Ph.D. candidate)
My research focuses primarily on mountain belt exhumation and tectonic-surface process interactions over multiple timescales. I use geomorphic analyses (GIS) and traditional field mapping in tandem with a variety of geochronologic tools, such as low-temperature thermochronology, cosmogenic, and optically stimulated luminescence dating. I apply a combination of these techniques to quantify the timing of events, rates, and magnitudes, to interpret the evolution of mountain building, river incision, and the evolution of other uplifted and eroded terrains. For my PhD research, I investigate tropical influences in transform settings and focus on tectonic-climate-surface process interactions of Trinidad and Tobago.
My research focuses primarily on mountain belt exhumation and tectonic-surface process interactions over multiple timescales. I use geomorphic analyses (GIS) and traditional field mapping in tandem with a variety of geochronologic tools, such as low-temperature thermochronology, cosmogenic, and optically stimulated luminescence dating. I apply a combination of these techniques to quantify the timing of events, rates, and magnitudes, to interpret the evolution of mountain building, river incision, and the evolution of other uplifted and eroded terrains. For my PhD research, I investigate tropical influences in transform settings and focus on tectonic-climate-surface process interactions of Trinidad and Tobago.
Undergraduate Students
Kade Damant (undergraduate thesis)
Kade is conducting apatite and zircon U-Th/He thermochronology on bedrock samples collected along the Columbia River Fault. His project aims to quantify the amount, time and rate of displacement accommodated by the fault system in the area of Revelstoke. Kade got awarded a PURE undergraduate student research award and is working full time in our lab over the summer 2019.
Email: kade.damant@ucalgary.ca
Kade is conducting apatite and zircon U-Th/He thermochronology on bedrock samples collected along the Columbia River Fault. His project aims to quantify the amount, time and rate of displacement accommodated by the fault system in the area of Revelstoke. Kade got awarded a PURE undergraduate student research award and is working full time in our lab over the summer 2019.
Email: kade.damant@ucalgary.ca
Former Students
Ryan Grieco (B.Sc. 2019)
Ryan investigated the exhumation history of the Rocky Mountain Trench in the Valemount, B.C. area. The region of Valemount marks the transition from normal faulting along the southern Rocky Mountain trench to strike-slip faulting along the northern trench. Ryan used apatite U-Th/He analysis and temperature-time path modeling to quantify timing, rates and amounts of exhumation across the main structure of the trench. Ryan presented his results at the GeoREX conference in April 2019, where we received the best poster award.
Ryan investigated the exhumation history of the Rocky Mountain Trench in the Valemount, B.C. area. The region of Valemount marks the transition from normal faulting along the southern Rocky Mountain trench to strike-slip faulting along the northern trench. Ryan used apatite U-Th/He analysis and temperature-time path modeling to quantify timing, rates and amounts of exhumation across the main structure of the trench. Ryan presented his results at the GeoREX conference in April 2019, where we received the best poster award.
Nathaniel Bootes (M.Sc. 2018)
Nate investigated the Late Miocene to Pleistocene borehole material from the Yakutat shelf in Southeast Alaska. The primary goal of the project was to investigate changes in exhumation rates in the adjacent St. Elias Mountains throughout the past using detrital zircon fission track and U-Pb dating. This project was funded by the ACS – PRF and conducted in collaboration with Dr. Richard Lease (USGS). Nate's thesis was published in Bootes et al., 2019 Tectonics
Nate investigated the Late Miocene to Pleistocene borehole material from the Yakutat shelf in Southeast Alaska. The primary goal of the project was to investigate changes in exhumation rates in the adjacent St. Elias Mountains throughout the past using detrital zircon fission track and U-Pb dating. This project was funded by the ACS – PRF and conducted in collaboration with Dr. Richard Lease (USGS). Nate's thesis was published in Bootes et al., 2019 Tectonics
Sedighe Khodaparast (PhD 2019)
Sedighe is a visiting PhD student from the Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran (Iran). In her thesis research she is investigating the spatial and temporal evolution of the 160 km long Kushk-e-Nosrat strike-slip fault located in central Iran. Sedighe is visiting the thermochronology laboratory for 6 month to conduct apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He analyses on her samples, which she will integrate with her structural measurements and mapping data.
Sedighe is a visiting PhD student from the Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran (Iran). In her thesis research she is investigating the spatial and temporal evolution of the 160 km long Kushk-e-Nosrat strike-slip fault located in central Iran. Sedighe is visiting the thermochronology laboratory for 6 month to conduct apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He analyses on her samples, which she will integrate with her structural measurements and mapping data.
Sonia Sanchez Lohff (M.Sc. 2018)
Sonia is working on the sedimentary record of the Cook Inlet forearc basin in southern Alaska. She uses detrital zircon fission track and U-Pb dating to investigate how varying subduction styles (spreading-ridge subduction, oceanic plateau) affected southern Alaska since the Jurassic time. This project was funded by the NSF and in conducted in collaboration with Dr. Emily Finzel (University of Iowa). Sonia's reserch results were published in Enkelmann, Sanchez Lohff, Finzel, E. 2019. GSA Bulletin
Sonia is now employed at FracGeo in Houston, TX
Sonia is working on the sedimentary record of the Cook Inlet forearc basin in southern Alaska. She uses detrital zircon fission track and U-Pb dating to investigate how varying subduction styles (spreading-ridge subduction, oceanic plateau) affected southern Alaska since the Jurassic time. This project was funded by the NSF and in conducted in collaboration with Dr. Emily Finzel (University of Iowa). Sonia's reserch results were published in Enkelmann, Sanchez Lohff, Finzel, E. 2019. GSA Bulletin
Sonia is now employed at FracGeo in Houston, TX
Anna Schartman (B.Sc. 2018)
Anna's research project centers on the quantification of the timing and spatial pattern of rock exhumation at the northern end of the Fairweather Fault located in the Yakutat Bay area in Southeast Alaska. Her results are now published in Schartman et al., 2019 (Lithosphere)
Anna's research project centers on the quantification of the timing and spatial pattern of rock exhumation at the northern end of the Fairweather Fault located in the Yakutat Bay area in Southeast Alaska. Her results are now published in Schartman et al., 2019 (Lithosphere)
Catherine Dunn (M.Sc. 2016)
Katie has been working on glacio-marine sediment samples obtained from 5 boreholes that have been drilled in 2013 by the IODP Expedition 341. She used detrital zircon fission track and U-Pb dating (double-dating) to investigate the sediment provenance and routing from the St. Elias Mountain to the shelf and the deep sea, as well as the exhumation history of the source region. Catherine published her research in Dunn et al., 2017, JGR-ES.
Katie is now the separation lab manager at the Department of Geological Sciences at Stanford University.
Katie has been working on glacio-marine sediment samples obtained from 5 boreholes that have been drilled in 2013 by the IODP Expedition 341. She used detrital zircon fission track and U-Pb dating (double-dating) to investigate the sediment provenance and routing from the St. Elias Mountain to the shelf and the deep sea, as well as the exhumation history of the source region. Catherine published her research in Dunn et al., 2017, JGR-ES.
Katie is now the separation lab manager at the Department of Geological Sciences at Stanford University.
Sarah Falkowski (Ph.D. 2016)
Sarah studied the spatial and temporal changes in rock exhumation at the St. Elias syntaxis at the active Yakutat–North American collision zone, SE Alaska/SW Yukon. She used multiple geo- and thermochronologic methods to analyze glacial detrital material of sand and cobble size. Sarah's work has been published in Falkowski et al., 2014 (Tectonics), 2016 (Tectonics), Falkowski & Enkelmann, 2016 (Lithosphere), Enkelmann et al., 2017 (EPSL).
Sarah is now a research scientist at the University of Tuebingen working with Todd Ehlers.
Sarah studied the spatial and temporal changes in rock exhumation at the St. Elias syntaxis at the active Yakutat–North American collision zone, SE Alaska/SW Yukon. She used multiple geo- and thermochronologic methods to analyze glacial detrital material of sand and cobble size. Sarah's work has been published in Falkowski et al., 2014 (Tectonics), 2016 (Tectonics), Falkowski & Enkelmann, 2016 (Lithosphere), Enkelmann et al., 2017 (EPSL).
Sarah is now a research scientist at the University of Tuebingen working with Todd Ehlers.
Adam Piestrzeniewicz (M.Sc. 2015)
Adam investigated the temporal and spatial pattern of rock exhumation in the St. Elias syntaxis and north of it, located in the Kluane National Park (Yukon, Canada). He conducted apatite fission-track analysis and combined the data with zircon fission-track, and apatite and zircon U-Th/He data from the same sample.
Adam's research has been published in Enkelmann, E., Piestrzeniewicz, A., Falkowski, S. et al., 2017 (EPSL).
Adam moved back to southern California and is a staff geologist at Haley & Aldrich (Environmental and Geotechnical Consulting)
Adam investigated the temporal and spatial pattern of rock exhumation in the St. Elias syntaxis and north of it, located in the Kluane National Park (Yukon, Canada). He conducted apatite fission-track analysis and combined the data with zircon fission-track, and apatite and zircon U-Th/He data from the same sample.
Adam's research has been published in Enkelmann, E., Piestrzeniewicz, A., Falkowski, S. et al., 2017 (EPSL).
Adam moved back to southern California and is a staff geologist at Haley & Aldrich (Environmental and Geotechnical Consulting)
David Grabowski (M.Sc. 2012)
David investigated cobbles from the Seward-Malaspina Glacier system to identify lithologies that have been exhumed extremely rapidly underneath the ice that covers the St. Elias Mountains. He combined field mapping, petrology on thin section and zircon U-Th/He dating to characterize varying exhumation sources. David published his thesis research in Grabowski et al., 2013 (JGR-ES)
Since graduation David is a full time staff geologist at Walter & Partner GbR in Tauberbischofsheim (Germany).
David investigated cobbles from the Seward-Malaspina Glacier system to identify lithologies that have been exhumed extremely rapidly underneath the ice that covers the St. Elias Mountains. He combined field mapping, petrology on thin section and zircon U-Th/He dating to characterize varying exhumation sources. David published his thesis research in Grabowski et al., 2013 (JGR-ES)
Since graduation David is a full time staff geologist at Walter & Partner GbR in Tauberbischofsheim (Germany).
Gabriel Merli (Diploma 2014)
Gabriel investigated the cooling record of detrital apatite grains that were deposited in the Eocene Chumstick Basin in Washington State (USA). Gabriel conducted apatite U-Th/He dating and thermal history modeling to reveal the varying thermal history of the basin and timing of basin inversion. His result together with apatite fission track analysis are published in Enkelmann, Ehlers, Merli, Methner 2015 (Tectonics).
Gabriel is now employed as a engineering and field geologist at Henke and Partner GmbH.
Gabriel investigated the cooling record of detrital apatite grains that were deposited in the Eocene Chumstick Basin in Washington State (USA). Gabriel conducted apatite U-Th/He dating and thermal history modeling to reveal the varying thermal history of the basin and timing of basin inversion. His result together with apatite fission track analysis are published in Enkelmann, Ehlers, Merli, Methner 2015 (Tectonics).
Gabriel is now employed as a engineering and field geologist at Henke and Partner GmbH.