People

Dr. Richard Abbott's current research involves blueschist-greenschist facies metamorphic rocks in Jamaica and ultra high pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks in the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Sarah Carmichael studies reactive fluid flow and mineralization in all levels of the earth's crust, in both ancient and modern environments - through regional and contact metamorphism, metasomatism at mid-ocean ridges, and through microbially mediated reactions at the earth's surface. Her current research involves bacterial and fungal deposition of manganese oxides in caves and hydrothermal manganese oxide deposits in Cambrian sediments, weathering processes of volcanic ash in carbonatite and silica-deficient volcanic rocks, and sedimentary geochemistry across mass extinction events.

Dr. Chuanhui Gu studies environmental pollution - particularly the combined hydrological and geochemical processes behind many environmental issues such as greenhouse gases emissions and water quality degradation (e.g. eutrophication). His research includes mountainous streams, coastal creeks, freshwater lakes, estuaries, as well as residential lawns.

Dr. Jamie Levine works on high-grade metamorphic systems on scales from centimeters to kilometers, with work that analyzes the microstructures and geochemistry of minerals.  Her recent work has focused on the role of strain in promoting partial melting in migmatites, and positive feedbacks that exist between partial melting reactions and deformation.

Dr. Cynthia Liutkus-Pierce's research combines sedimentology and stratigraphy with stable isotope geochemistry in order to reconstruct paleolandscape conditions. She is currently investigating the volcanic origin of ash deposits in northern Tanzania, including an ash that preserves over 60 footprints of ancient Homo sapiens (our direct ancestors). The ash dates to 120,000 years ago and preserves some of the oldest modern human footprints in the world.

Crystal Wilson's interests include the formation and evolution of mountain belts, particularly the southern Appalachian Mountains. She is currently using detailed mapping coupled with petrographic analyses to determine the deformational and metamorphic history of Elk Knob and the surrounding region.

Brian Zimmer studies volcanoes and their deposits. He has worked on volcanoes in Mexico, Ecuador, Japan, and the American southwest. Through field investigations, he tries to determine when and how different volcanoes erupted throughout history. Though he does not directly advise students, Brian encourages fellow volcanophiles to contact him about research interests or to discuss potential graduate programs.