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- 2008-present: Coordinator, Geological Engineering Programs, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering
- 2003 and 2007: Visiting Invited Professor, OrsayTerra, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay (Paris XI)
- 2000-present: Professor of Geological Engineering and Geomechanics
- 1998-1999: Sabbatical Leave (academic year): Guest Investigator, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts & Visiting Research Professor, Geodynamics Labs, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI
- 1995-2000: Associate Professor of Geological Engineering
- 1990-1995: Assistant Professor of Geological Engineering
- 1988-1990: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, NASA/NRC Goddard Space Flight Center
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- Guest Editor, Journal of Structural Geology, special issue on Faulting and Fault Related Processes on Planetary Surfaces, with R.T. Pappalardo and D. Ferrill, (2004–2006).
- Co-Editor, Planetary Tectonics (with T.R. Watters, National Air and Space Museum), a comprehensive treatise on deformation of planets, satellites, and small bodies throughout the solar system, Cambridge University Press (2001–2008).
- Geomechanics Working Group member, NSF NeSS02 Workshop (International Workshop on Neutrinos and Subterranean Science, Washington, DC) to evaluate using the former Homestake gold mine in South Dakota as a deep laboratory for geobiology, geoscience, and high-energy physics (2002).
- Panel member, NASA Mars Data Analysis Program (1999-2000).
- Panel member, NASA Planetary Cartography and Geologic Mapping Working Group (PCGMWG) (1998-2000).
- Panel member, NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program (1997-1999).
- Organizer, the Canyonlands Grabens Initiatives, multi-university expeditions in 1996, 1997, and 1999
- Panel member, NSF Directorate for Engineering, Division of Civil and Mechanical Systems; Geomechanical, Geotechnical, and Geo-Environmental Systems Program (1997).
- Secretary, Commission on Comparative Planetology of the International Union of Geological Sciences (1996-2000).
- Steering Group, Physical Properties of Earth Materials (PPEM) research consortium (1996-1998).
- Founder and Charter Member, American Rock Mechanics Association (since 1995).
- Invited host for the international NASA/USGS Venus/Mars Geologic Mappers Meeting in Reno (1996).
- Co-Chair and Co-Editor of Proceedings (with R. Siddharthan, UNR Department of Civil Engineering), 33rd Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering (1998).
- Co-Chair and Co-Editor of Proceedings (with J. Daemen, UNR Department of Mining Engineering), 35th U.S. Symposium on Rock Mechanics (1995).
- Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research (rock mechanics) (1993-1996).
- PI or Co-I on sponsored research from NSF, NASA, and DOE (1988-present).
- Mars '98 Surveyor Lander Instrument Science Review Panel (1995).
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RESEARCH
My research solves key problems in (1) fracture and fault mechanics, (2) rock-mass mechanics, and (3) planetary structure and tectonics using both field and theoretical techniques and spanning a wide range of scales. Specifically I and my students are interested in understanding how fracture networks and fault systems nucleate, grow, accumulate displacement, interact, and influence the dynamics of crustal deformation. Our work utilizes approaches developed in traditionally separate specialties, primarily field geology and engineering fracture mechanics, to solve interrelated problems in rock and crustal mechanics and tectonics on the Earth and other planetary bodies. Our expertise in analyzing the rock mass mechanics, tectonics, and faulting of other planets permits the extension and modification of standard concepts, developed for a particular set of P-T-x-gravity conditions (Earth), to a broader range of natural geologic experiments in lithospheric structure and planetary evolution. Some of our recent research includes:
Mechanics of Faults and Deformation Bands
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- GEOL 100 Geology and the Environment (freshman, general science)
- GEOL 101 Introduction to Physical Geology (freshman)
- GEOL 101-H General Earth Science for Honors Students (freshman)
- GE 106 Introduction to Geological Engineering (freshman)
- GEOL 140 Geology of the Solar System (freshman)
- GE 250 Geology for Engineers (lower division)
- GE 480/680 Enviromental Geology (upper division and graduate)
- GE 481/681 Introduction to Geomechanics (upper division and graduate)
- GE 495/702T Planetary Science (upper division and graduate)
- GE 744 Mechanics of Joints and Faults (graduate)
- GE 745 Topics in Advanced Geomechanics (graduate)
- GE 702T Computational Fracture Mechanics (graduate)
- GE 701T Advanced Rock Mechanics for Tectonics (graduate)
- GE 701T Deformation of Sandstone and Porous Geomaterials (graduate)
- GE 702T Geomechanics Professional Seminar (graduate)
- GE 702T Topics in Planetary Tectonics (graduate)
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GRADUATE STUDENTS
A total of 3 Ph.D. and 12 M.S. graduate students, 2 advanced undergraduate students, and 2 postdoctoral scholars have completed thesis and/or research projects under my supervision. I currently advise 4 graduate students in geomechanics. All my students are typically supported by research grants or other types of assistantships. Our Geomechanics Alumni are enjoying wonderful careers and lives. Take a look and see what we're up to! You'll also find our current projects and contact information on our Geomechanics Lab site.
My former students are:
- Kathleen Ward (M.S., 1993)
- Qishi Li (M.S., 1993)
- Paul Piscoran (M.S., 1997)
- Andrea Fori (M.S., 1997)
- Jason Moore (M.S., 1997)
- Edward Wellman (M.S., 1997)
- Will Roadarmel (M.S., 1998)
- Paul Caruso (M.S., 2002)
- Dr. Scott Wilkins (Ph.D., 2002)
- Clara Balasko (M.S., 2003)
- Dr. Chris Okubo (Ph.D., 2005)
- Dr. Cheryl Goudy (Ph.D., 2005)
- Dan Neuffer (M.S., 2005)
- Anjani Polit (M.S., 2005)
- Kimi Artita (M.S., 2006)
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POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS
I have sponsored 2 postdocs who have both moved on to faculty positions.
- Dr. Daniel Mège worked with me during Fall 1996 as a postdoctoral scholar, with expenses paid by the French Government. He studied mechanics of dike emplacement and related near-surface deformation processes such as shallow graben formation. Formerly on the faculty of the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI as a tenured professor (Habilitation à diriger les recherches (HDR) thesis approved, Dec. 2001), he is now with the University of Nantes, France (since 2004). His Ph.D. dissertation was written on the topic of faulting on Mars, with special reference to rifting at Valles Marineris.
- Dr. Roger Soliva joined our group in Spring 2005 as a postdoctoral scholar, following his Ph.D. work entitled “Normal fault growth in layered rocks: The role of vertical restriction and linkage on scaling laws and fault spatial distribution” which was completed at the Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France in November 2004. His postdoctoral research on vertically restricted fault populations in being prepared for publication, with additional work with our group published in Geophysical Research Letters, Tectonics, 2 AGU abstracts, and 1 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference extended abstract. Dr. Soliva is now on the faculty of Université Montpellier II, France (since Fall 2005).
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