Prof. Elena A. Miranda

I am a structural geologist in the CSUN Department of Geological Sciences, and my related research interests include tectonics, mineral physics, petrology, and petrochronology. My specialties are microstructural analysis and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. I am the Director of the CSUN Department of Geological Sciences' Scanning Electron Microscopy Lab, where I do much of my lab-based research when not engaged in field-based research. I am also engaged in interdisciplinary research on environmental justice with colleagues in Chicano/a Studies and Geography and with LA community partners in Echo Park and Watts. Click here to read more about my research interests and research opportunities for prospective students.

As the only Latinx tenured/tenure-track faculty member in the CSUN Department of Geological Sciences at a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), I am extremely interested in and committed to the career advancement of underrepresented and historically excluded people in STEM. In pursuit of this goal at the institutional level, I accepted an administrative appointment in 2021 where I am the Co-Director of the Equity in Tenure-Track Hiring Initiative along with my work partner, Prof. Sylvia Macauley. For the past 3 years, we have partnered with the CSUN AVP of Equity and Compliance, Mr. Barrett Morris, and together, we have created a new tenure-track faculty hiring program that is distinctive within the 23 campus CSU system - the largest public university system in the country. We work directly with the the Provost's Office and other campus entities to administer this hiring program. Click here to read more about this successful program.

I am recognized on campus as a leader in teaching, research, and service contributions, and have been recognized as CSUN's Jerome Richfield Scholar (2007) for high quality and high-impact research, and most recently in 2020 as the recipient of CSUN's Outstanding Faculty Award for excellence in teaching, research, and service, which is CSUN's highest faculty honor.

Contact Info

Email: elena (dot) miranda (at) csun (dot) edu

Mailing address:

Prof. Elena A. Miranda

California State University Northridge

Department of Geological Sciences

18111 Nordhoff St.

Northridge, CA 91330-8266

Office: Live Oak Hall Room 1204

Phone: (818) 677-4671

Check out Vertex Media's documentary featuring Prof. Miranda and her colleagues in action during our 2019 Fiordland, New Zealand, field season. Spot Dr. Miranda at about 4:00 into the video.