Volcanic Processses Lab

Research areas

•    Physical volcanology

•    Planetary analogs & exploration

Education

•    Ph.D., 2009, State University of New York at Buffalo

•    B.S., 2003, Michigan Technological University

Research interests

I investigate the connection between processes and products in volcanic eruptions, ranging in scale from the origins and underpinnings of monogenetic volcanic fields through eddy-scale mixing in eruption columns. I've been part of the NASA FINESSE, NASA BASALT, NASA SUBSEA, and NASA JETT3 projects, all of which use terrestrial sites to investigate planetary conditions. I use fieldwork, experimental analog models, and computational analyses to evaluate volcanic eruptions and their potential hazards. My past fieldwork has included the Inyo volcanoes in California, the Los Tuxtlas Volcanic Field in Veracruz, Mexico, Mauna Ulu and Kilauea in Hawaii, and the eastern Snake River Plain volcanic zone in Idaho. 

Past courses include (check course schedule for semesters):

Environmental Geology 

Volcanology 

Geologic Writing Seminar (grad only)

Physical Geology 

Physical Geology Lab for Majors 

The Dynamic Earth

Programming for GIS 

Advanced Programming for GIS (grad only)

Geology in the Movies

Seminar/Expedition Seminar (including trips to Eastern California, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Montserrat, and Hawaii)

Note: I am currently also the Director for the University Honors Program at ISU, which has reduced my teaching in Geosciences for a bit. Classes for UHP include Introduction to Thesis and Honors Thesis.

Check out Dispatches from the Geosphere, blog of the Volcanic Processes Lab at ISU. It's where we work on our science communication and outreach by bringing cutting-edge geology research to a lay audience. Want to see a paper or idea highlighted? Let Shannon know!