My research focuses on understanding the evolution of planetary crusts through geochemical analyses of samples. In particular the influence of impact bombardment and exposure to the space environment. I have worked with samples ranging from lunar rocks returned by Apollo astronauts, Martian meteorites, and samples from the Vredefort impact basin in South Africa.
ASTR 2040 - The Search for Life in the Universe
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022 / Spring 2024
Introduces the scientific basis for the possible existence of life elsewhere in the universe. Includes origin and evolution of life on Earth and the search for evidence of life in our solar system, including Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa. Discusses the conditions necessary for life and whether they might arise on planets around other stars. Credit only for this course or ASTR 3300. Same as GEOL 2040.
ASTR 4330 - Cosmochemistry
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
Investigates chemical and isotopic data to understand the composition of the solar system: emphasis on the physical conditions in various objects, time scales for change, chemical and nuclear processes leading to change, observational constraints, and various models that attempt to describe the chemical state and history of cosmological objects in general and the early solar system in particular. Department enforced prerequisite: upper-division undergraduate standing in physical science and upper-division undergraduate chemistry or physics or math courses. Same as ASTR 5330 and GEOL 4330 and GEOL 5330.
GEOL 2040 - The Search for Life in the Universe
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022 / Spring 2024
Introduces the scientific basis for the possible existence of life elsewhere in the universe. Includes origin and evolution of life on Earth and the search for evidence of life in our solar system, including Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa. Discusses the conditions necessary for life and whether they might arise on planets around other stars. Same as ASTR 2040.
GEOL 4150 - Planetary Field Geology
Primary Instructor
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Summer 2023 / Summer 2024
Provides an overview of the geology, age and origins of the solid (rocky) planets, dwarf planets and moons of our solar system and the processes that form them from comparative studies from comparative geology. Includes modules on volcanism, rifting, aeolian processes, fluvial erosion, impacts, climate change and paleontology. Same as GEOL 5150.
GEOL 4330 - Cosmochemistry
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
Investigates chemical and isotopic data to understand the composition of the solar system: emphasis on the physical conditions in various objects, time scales for change, chemical and nuclear processes leading to change, observational constraints, and various models that attempt to describe the chemical state and history of cosmological objects in general and the early solar system in particular. Department enforced prerequisite: upper-division undergraduate standing in physical science and upper-division undergraduate chemistry or physics or math courses. Same as GEOL 5330 and ASTR 4330 and ASTR 5330.
GEOL 5150 - Planetary Field Geology
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
Provides an overview of the geology, age and origins of the solid (rocky) planets, dwarf planets and moons of our solar system and the processes that form them from comparative studies from comparative geology. Includes modules on volcanism, rifting, aeolian processes, fluvial erosion, impacts, climate change and paleontology. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Same as GEOL 4150.
GEOL 5330 - Cosmochemistry
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2021 / Fall 2021
Investigates chemical and isotopic data to understand the composition of the solar system: emphasis on the physical conditions in various objects, time scales for change, chemical and nuclear processes leading to change, observational constraints, and various models that attempt to describe the chemical state and history of cosmological objects in general and the early solar system in particular. Department enforced prerequisite: graduate standing in physical science and graduate chemistry or physics or math courses. Same as GEOL 4330 and ASTR 4330 and ASTR 5330.
GEOL 5700 - Geological Topics Seminar
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
Offers seminar studies in geological subjects of special current interest. Primarily for graduate students, as departmental staff and facilities permit. May be repeated up to 15 total credit hours provided that topics vary.
GEOL 6950 - Master's Thesis
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022 / Spring 2023
May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
