PHILLIP CHARLES BOAN
Ph.D. Student, University of California, Riverside Email: pboan001@ucr.edu
EDUCATION__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ph.D. Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of California, Riverside; Expected Graduation: Spring 2025; Advisor: Mary L. Droser (ongoing)
M.S. Geological Sciences; University of California, Riverside; 2021; Advisor: Mary L. Droser
Thesis: Filling in the Spaces: Spatial Point Pattern Analysis of Sessile Ediacaran Taxa From Nilpena Ediacara National Park, South Australia
B.S. Geological Sciences; University of South Carolina; 2018; Advisor: James K. Knapp
EXPERIENCE_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Graduate Researcher and Teaching Assistant; University of California Riverside; 2019-Present
Spatial Ecology of Ediacaran fossils excavated and housed at Nilpena Ediacara National Park, South Australia. Work uses spatial point pattern analysis in order determine intra- and inter-specific relationships in and amongst taxa. Second project is examining the spatial distributions of impact craters on inner solar system planetary bodies.
Geologist I; South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: Geological Survey; 2019
Focus on digital cartography using ArcGIS software for South Carolina geologic quadrangle and other matters related to state geology. Acted as project manager for an environmental and spatial investigation concerning geogenic lead (Pb) in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina
Geologic Technician; South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: Geological Survey; 2017-2019
Entry level geologic position for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: Geological Survey. Worked in collaboration with BOEM on offshore sediment deposits, digital cartography for South Carolina Geologic quadrangles; and particle size analysis of sedimentary samples collected in the field.
Undergraduate Researcher; University of South Carolina; 2017-2018
First project was in collaboration with a student working on her senior thesis focusing on the Panamanian arc collision with South America. The second project was in collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Geological Survey, academics from Emory University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of South Carolina, in an attempt to prove a biologic origin for the Ediacaran ichnologic specimen Vermiforma antiqua.
Curatorial Intern; Museum of Science and History: Jacksonville; 2016
Wrote routine reports on archival collections, museum walk-throughs. Formulated a weekly social media report “What is it Wednesdays” were an item was chosen from the collection and given a brief description for the public.
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Boan, Phillip C., Evans, Scott D., and Droser, Mary L. 2024. And Now for Something Completely Random: Spatial distribution of Dickinsonia on the Ediacaran seafloor. Global and Planetary Change 238(4): 104467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104467.
Boan, Phillip C., Scott D. Evans, Hall, Christine M. S. Droser, Mary L. 2023. Spatial distributions of Tribrachidium, Rugoconites, and Obamus from the Ediacara Member (Rawnsley Quartzite), South Australia. Paleobiology: 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1017/pab.2023.9.
Droser, Mary L., McCandless, Heather, Hughes, Ian V., Murdoch, Jill, Boan, Phillip, and Surprenant, Rachel. 2022. Bringing the world-famous half billion year old fossils of the Ediacara Biota to South Australian Students: In the classroom and in the field. SASTA 2: 10-14. https://ift.tt/lq4HgtP.
Evans, Scott D., Tu, Chenyi, Rizzo, Adriana, Surprenant, Rachel L., Boan, Phillip C., McCandless, Heather, Marshall, Nathan, Xiao, Shuhai, Droser, Mary L. 2022. Environmental drivers of the first major animal extinction across the Ediacaran White Sea-Nama transition. PNAS 119(4): e2207475119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2207475119.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
University of California, Riverside 2019 - Present
GEO 006: Planets in Science Fiction, Teaching Assistant Fall 2022
GEO 152: Principles of Invertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoecology, Teaching Assistant Fall 2021
GEO 115: Geologic Maps and Landforms, Teaching Assistant Fall 2020
GEO 003/BIOL 010: Headlines in the History of Life,Teaching Assistant Spring 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
GEO 101A: Field Geology, Teaching Assistant Winter 2020
GEO 005: Geosciences in the Movies, Teaching Assistant Fall 2019
NON-PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Humphreys, Jennifer., Surprenant, Rachel L., Boan, Phillip C., Marshall, N., and Hung, Caroline. 2021. Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher Demographics and Climate Survey 2020-21. Earth and Planetary Sciences Graduate Student Association Report.
Boan, Phillip C., Morrow, Robert H., and Howard, C. Scott. 2019. Lead in the Geologic Environment. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey Report.
CARTOGRAPHIC PUBLICATOINS______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Boan, Phillip C. (Digital Cartographer). Clendenin, C.W., Robert H. Morrow IV, and Garihan, J.M. 2019. Geologic Map of the Fingerville West Quadrangle, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, 1:24,000. Open-File Report 235. https://www.dnr.sc.gov/geology/publications.html.
Boan, Phillip C. (Digital Cartographer). Doar, W.R. and Wykel, A. 2018. Geologic Map of the Loris Quadrangle, Horry County, South Carolina, 1:24,000. Open-File Report 232. https://www.dnr.sc.gov/geology/publications.html.
Boan, Phillip C. (Digital Cartographer). Doar, W.R. and Wykel, A. 2018. Geologic Map of the Shell Quadrangle, Horry County, South Carolina, 1:24,000. Open-File Report 231. https://www.dnr.sc.gov/geology/publications.html.
Boan, Phillip C. (Digital Cartographer). Doar, W.R. 2018. Geologic Map of the Adrian Quadrangle, Horry County, South Carolina, 1:24,000. Open-File Report 230. https://www.dnr.sc.gov/geology/publications.html.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Boan, Phillip C., and Droser, Mary L. 2023. The Winner Takes It All: Intraspecific competition on the Ediacaran seafloor, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburg, PA, 17 October [Poster].
Boan, Phillip C., Hughes, Emmy B., and Vasquez, Andrew A. 2023. Broader Impact: the spatial distribution of Martian impact craters, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburg, PA, 15 October [Talk].
Bortha, Tory, McCandless, Heather, Boan, Phillip C., Surprenant, Rachel, Weyland, Walker, Binnie, Mary-Anne, Hughes, Ian, Evans, Scott D., Garcia-Bellido, Diego C., and Droser, Mary L. 2023. A quantitative view into the taphonomy of Kimberella quadrata from Nilpena Ediacara National Park, South Australia, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburg, PA, 17 October [Talk].
Boan, Phillip C., Evans, Scott D., and Droser, Mary L. 2023. That’s random: the metre-scale distributions of Dickinsonia from Nilpena Ediacara National Park, presented at Palaeo Down Under, Perth, WA, 10 July [Talk]
Boan, Phillip C., Evans, Scott D., and Droser, Mary L. 2022. And now for something completely random: Spatial distribution of Dickinsonia on the Ediacaran seafloor, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, 10 October [Talk].
McCandless, Heather, Boan, Phillip, and Droser, Mary. 2022. Deconstructing taphonomy to reconstruct morphology: Characterizing the life habit and morphology of Attenborites janae from the Nilpena Ediacara National Park, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, 12 October [Poster]
Boan, Phillip C., and Droser, Mary L. 2022. Spatial Distributions of Tribrachidium, Rugoconites, and Obamus from Nilpena Ediacara National Park, South Australia, presented at the Southern California Geobiology Symposium, Riverside, CA, 21 May [Poster].
Boan, Phillip C., and Hughes, E.B. 2022. Spatial Distributions of Martian Impact Craters Moderated by Geologic Unit and Age, presented at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Huston, TX, 10 March [Poster].
Boan, Phillip C., Evans, Scott D., Hughes, Ian V., Hughes, Emily B., Dzaugis, Peter W., and Droser, Mary L. 2021. Spatial Point Pattern Analysis of Obamus coronatus from Nilpena Ediacara National Park, South Australia, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, 11 October [Talk].
Evans, Scott D., Xiao, Shuhai, Boan, Phillip C., Surprenant, Rachel, McCandless, Heather, Rizzo, Adriana, Marshall, Nathan, Tu, Chenyi, and Droser, Mary L. 2021. Lost in Transition: Examining Causes of Biotic Turnover in the Ediacaran, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, 11 October [Talk].
Boan, Phillip C., Gehling, James, G., and Droser, Mary L. 2020. Spacing Out: Spatial Point Process Analysis for the Ediacaran Taxa Aspidella from Nilpena Station, South Australia, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Online, 28 October [Talk].
Morrow, Robert H., Boan, Phillip C., and Arrington, Tanner. 2019. The Carolina Terrane in South Carolina: A Compilation of Over 50 Years of Exploration and 1:24K – Scale Geologic Mapping, presented at Digital Mapping Techniques, Butte, MT, 19-22 May [Poster].
Boan, Phillip C., Tacker, R.C., Martin, Anthony J., Knapp, James H. 2018. Possible Trace Fossils from the Early Ediacaran (620 MA) of North Carolina, or Tectonic Psuedofossils?, presented at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, 14-18 November [Poster].
Boan, Phillip C. 2018. Structural Geologic Approach to Understanding Tectographic Origins of Early Life in Durham County, North Carolina: Part I, presented at Discover USC, 20 April [Poster].
Gross, Megan R., Boan, Phillip C., Edgar, Sedona, Niles, Jacob D., Stewart, Jason L., Herman, David J., Peach, Brandon T., Bradley, Philip J. and Knapp, James H. 2018. Structural Geologic Test of the Tectographic Origin of Ediacaran Specimens, Durham County, North Carolina: Undergraduate Research on Neoproterozoic Life Part II, presented at Geological Society of America Southeastern Section Meeting, 12-13 April [Poster].
Boan, Phillip C., Burstein, Jacob T., Burstein, Joshua A., Kellet, Ryan, Medlin, Lawrence J., Herman, David J., Peach, Brandon T., Bradley, Philip J., and Knapp, James H. 2018. A Structural Geologic Test of the Tectographic Origin of Ediacaran Specimens, Durham County, North Carolina: Undergraduate Research on Neoproterozoic Life Part I, presented at Geological Society of America Southeastern Section Meeting, 12-13 April [Poster].
INVITED TALKS______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Boan, Phillip C. 2022. Can I Have My Fossils Boneless?, presented on Fossil Friday Chats, 19 August. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXUOSyupCU&t=2s&ab_channel=AlfMuseumofPaleontology.
HONORS AND AWARDS________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award; May 2023; Presented by the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences: University of California, Riverside
A departmental-level award granted by Graduate Division on behalf of the departments to recognize teaching excellence within specific fields.
Student Travel Grant; October 2022; Presented by the Cordilleran Section, Geological Society of America
Awarded for a talk presented at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Denver, CO
Bridge the Gap Fund; March 2022; Presented by the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences: University of California, Riverside
Awarded to cover travel costs in order to attend and present at the 52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Huston, TX.
Student Travel Grant; October 2021; Presented by the Cordilleran Section, Geological Society of America
Awarded for a talk presented at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Portland, OR.
NSF/GSA Graduate Student Geoscience Grant & Outstanding Mention; May 2021; Presented by the Geological Society of America
A graduate student research grant awarded for the project titled: Filling in the Spaces: spatial patterns and ecology of the Ediacara Biota. The project focuses on collecting field data of three sessile invertebrate fossils excavated and housed at Nilpena Station and conducting Spatial Point Pattern Analysis.
Mike Murphy Endowed Field Studies Fund Scholarship; May 2021; Presented by the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences: University of California, Riverside
A graduate student summer funding award presented to assist in on going work at Nilpena Ediacara National Park, South Australia.
Student Research Grant; March 2021; Presented by the Society for Sedimentary Geology
A graduate student research grant awarded for the project titled: Filling in the Spaces: spatial patterns and ecology of the Ediacara Biota. The project focuses on collecting field data about the sessile invertebrate fossils excavated and housed at Nilpena Station and conducting Spatial Point Pattern Analysis.
Lerner-Gray Memorial Fund for Marine Research; December 2020; Presented by the American Museum of Natural History
A graduate student research grant awarded for the project titled: The original space race: Ecosystem complexity in the Ediacaran. The project focuses on collecting field data about the sessile invertebrate fossils excavated at Nilpena Station and conducting Spatial Point Pattern Analysis.
N. Gary Lane Student Research Award; May 2020; Presented by the Paleontological Society
A graduate student research grant awarded for the project titled: The original space race: spatial relationships within and between the Ediacara Biota. The project focuses on collecting field data about the sessile invertebrate fossils excavated at Nilpena Station and conducting Spatial Point Pattern Analysis.
Dean's Distinguished Fellowship; June 2019; Presented by the University of California, Riverside
Awarded in recognition of academic accomplishments upon acceptance into the University of California, Riverside.
Spot Award; April 2019; Presented by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Awarded for research paper submitted to South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) about the origins of geogenic lead in South Carolina and the Southeast USA.
Student Travel Grant; October 2018; Presented by the Southeastern Section, Geological Society of America
Awarded for poster presentation presented at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Indianapolis, IN.
Student Travel Grant; April 2018; Presented by the Southeastern Section, Geological Society of America
Awarded for poster presentation presented at the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Knoxville, TN.
SHORT COURSES AND LICENSES______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction to Planetary Image Analysis with ArcGIS; October 2022; Geological Society of America Annual Meeting
This workshop introduces participants to image analysis, including interpretation and feature mapping, using ArcGIS software, focusing on tasks and features most used in planetary science and geology in general. It is accessible to participants with no prior experience in GIS but includes optional advanced activities relevant to experienced users. This workshop will be hybrid, taught in both Desktop 10.x and Pro. Most of the workshop consists of hands-on exercises, with some demonstrations. The purpose of the workshop is to expose participants to the basic tools that are available in ArcGIS for geological research. This will be taught through the process of selecting a hypothetical landing site for a Mars rover using image data from the Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor. This workshop is offered through the Planetary Data Training program, which is funded by NASA’s Topical Workshops, Symposia, and Conferences (TWSC).
Create your own 3D Video-Game-Style Geologic Field Trip; October 2021; Geological Society of America Annual Meeting.
Participants will created original, video-game-based field trips from their own (or provided) landscape/outcrop models to share through web browsers.
Career Pathways for Geoscientists Using GIS, May 2021; Geological Society of America
Join geographer and GIS educator Joseph Kerski as we examine why geotechnologies such as GIS, web mapping, remote sensing, GNSS-GPS, and related tools are important to society, to science, and to your own career path. What are the forces and trends that are acting on GIS in the 2020s, and what skills will be important going forward? We will also explore how you can engage with tools, data, educational resources, and the community of geotechnology practitioners. We will allow for plenty of time to answer your questions about geotechnologies and your career path.
Foundations in Quantitative Palaeontology; September 2020.
The school will present perspectives from palaeontology, data science and philosophy of science on how knowledge can be derived from data in palaeontology, and what makes or does not make computational approaches conclusive.
VOLUNTEERING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Paleontology/Geology Tour Guide; Prairie Hotel, Parachilna SA; 2023
Co-lead tours through Nilpena Ediacara National Park and Brachina Gorge, South Australia focusing on the paleontology and geology of these sites. Tour sizes ranged from 5-20 individuals of varying ages and backgrounds.
Brachina Gorge Geology Tour Guide; Prairie Hotel, Parachilna SA; 2022
Co-lead tour groups through Brachina Gorge, South Australia focusing on the transition from before Snowball Earth to the Cambrian Explosion and the GSSP Golden Spike.
Student Coordinator; Hewett Club Lecture Series; 2021-2022
Working as a team with three other students to invite outside researchers to give research talks at UC Riverside, as well as moderate post-talk discussion and organize logistics.
Death Valley National Park Field Camp Guide; Geoscientist Development (GEODE) Program; 2020
Students enrolled in AP Environmental Science at RUSD's Poly High School and RSA High School have the opportunity to attend this four-day field camp experience in the Death Valley Region of Southern California. Assisted in teaching of general geological terminology and features found at Death Valley National Park, along with explaining the numerous opportunities and practices of a career geoscientist.
Organizer; Muffins for Marsupials; 2020
Two week long bake sale in order to raise funds to assist in the 2020 Australian Bush Fire. Proceeds went to recovery efforts led by Kangaroo Island Mayoral Relief and Recovery Bushfire Fund, as well as the South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management Inc.
Student Volunteer; North American Paleontological Convention: Riverside, CA; 2019
Participated in numerous activities in order to maintain the successful completion of this international meeting. Work included IT, crowd control, and general event planning/running.
Volunteer; Gods Store House: Columbia, SC; 2017-2018
In association with Theta Chi Fraternity, assisted in the monthly maintenance and organization of this food and clothing pantry for disenfranchised members of the Columbia community.
FIELD EXPERIENCE__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Carolina Terrane, North Carolina – Winter 2023
One week expedition examining Ediacaran aged rocks in central North Carolina examining microbial mat features and macro-fossils present. Worked in collaboration with researches from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Geological Survey, and Old Dominion University.
Australia Filed Work – Summer 2023
Seven weeks of field work in association with graduate research in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia with Dr. Mary L. Droser, focusing on examining the spatial distributions of Aspidella and Coronacollina.
Australian Field Work – Fall 2022
Two weeks of fieldwork at Nilpena Ediacara National Park focuses on fossil material mitigation, including creation of 3D and LiDAR models of fossil beds.
Australia Field Work – Summer 2022
Six weeks of fieldwork in association with graduate research in the Flinders Range, South Australia with Dr. Mary L. Droser, focused on examining the spatial distribution of Dickinsonia costata and the creation of 3D and LiDAR models of fossil beds.
Australia Field Work – Summer 2021
Six weeks of fieldwork for graduate research in the Flinders Range, South Australia with current graduate advisor, Dr. Mary L. Droser (UCR), focused on the examination of the spatial distribution of preserved sessile invertebrates and the creation of 3D models of fossil beds.
Wyoming Iron Formation Expedition – Summer 2020
Participated in a two week long expedition across Wyoming, Montana, and Utah in search of Pre-Cambrian Iron Formations, with particular focus on the Medicine Bow and Sierra Madre Ranges.
Salton Sea Task Force – Summer 2020
Navigated a small zodiac craft to various predetermined sample locations, and a assisted in the collection of both hydrologic and biologic samples.
Australia Field Work – Summer 2019
Four weeks of fieldwork for graduate research in the Flinders Range, South Australia with current graduate advisor, Dr. Mary L. Droser (UCR), focused on the examination of the fossil organism Aspidella and the creation of 3D models.
Saluda North Quadrangle, South Carolina - Winter 2019
Conducted geologic mapping and field checking of the Carolina Terrain and Coastal Plan in association with the United States Geological Survey STATEMAP project.
University of South Carolina Field School: Colorado and Utah – Summer 2018
Four weeks of fieldwork focusing on formation and contact mapping for three distinct geologic areas, including the creation of topographic profiles and cross sections. Included a week long short course of the oil & gas industry which took place in Moab, Utah. Presented where and why we drilled in specific locations (Paradox & Uinta Basins).
Little River Fossil Site, North Carolina – Winter 2018
Structural geologic data collected at the site in January 2018 by University of South Carolina undergraduate students in collaboration with the North Carolina Geological Survey, tested the tectonic origin of the Ediacaran specimen V. antiqua. Measurements were taken in a ~100 x 50 m area of exposed bedrock, which included the original bedding surface from which the V. antiqua slab was removed in the 1970’s.
Gilders Creek Simpsonville, South Carolina – Spring 2017
Gilders Creek, which flows through Simpsonville, South Carolina, is a gravel and sand bed meandering creek that feeds into the Enoree River. The Purpose of this study was to investigate the sediment flux along the Gilders Creek system.
ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Society for Sedimentary Geology; Member; 2021-Present
Earth and Planetary Science Graduate Student Association; Vice President, Treasurer, Member; 2019 - Present
Carolina Geological Society; Life Time Member; 2019 - Present
Paleontological Society; Member; 2018 - Present
Geological Society of America; Member; 2017 – Present
Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG); Member; 2017 – 2018
University of South Carolina Geology Club; Club Vice President, Member; 2017 – 2018
Theta Chi Fraternity; Chapter President, Vice President of Health and Safety, Member; 2014 – 2018
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCIES _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
English; Native Proficiency.
Spanish; Limited Working Proficiency