Research Interests

My research addresses how rocks deform within the zones that define Earth’s plate boundaries, and what physical and chemical changes accommodate deformation. I take a field-based approach to quantitatively examining the mechanics, petrology, and rheology of rock deformation and strain localization from the brittle-to-ductile transition (BDT) to the base of the lithosphere. Rocks at and below the BDT likely control the bulk strength of the lithosphere, act to mediate steady-state deformation below the BDT with transient behavior above, and are conduits to crustal fluid flow and mineralization. Quantifying the deformation mechanics and rheology of the ductile lithosphere progresses our understanding of the maintenance of plate tectonics and driving forces of orogeny, the role of ductile fault zones in economic mineralization, and of natural or induced geohazards arising from continental deformation over human timescales, namely seismicity and volcanism.

Field-based rock rheology and strain localization

I interrogate the microstructure of naturally deformed, ductile rocks to quantify deformation mechanics and physical rock properties. Combined with deformation conditions, I use these data to constrain rock rheology and evaluate processes accommodating strain localization. Previous and current work integrates natural and experimental rock deformation data to better understand rock deformation in fault zone below the BDT.

Shear zone architecture across the lithosphere

Deformation on Earth is strongly localized along plate boundaries. Within these plate boundary-scale fault systems, both the mechanics and expression of deformation change with deformation conditions (e.g. temperature, pressure, presence of fluids, etc.) and with lithology (e.g. crustal vs. mantle rocks). My research addresses what these zones of deformation look like - the internal structure and geometry - from the BDT to the base of the lithospheric mantle.

regional tectonics

Mapping, structural analysis, geochronology, and petrology are all tools I use to reconstruct the tectonic history from the rock record. This work often lays a foundation for further process-oriented studies. I am currently involved in projects in the North and South American Cordillera, Scottish Caledonides, and Himalaya.

Tool development

StraboSpot is a growing ecosystem of digital tools comprising StraboSpot mobile, StraboTools, StraboMicro, and StraboExperimental. I am primarily involved in the development of StraboSpot, a mobile app for collecting and sharing data in the field, and StraboMicro, a desktop app for organizing, annotating, storing, and sharing images and data collected at the micro scale. Also, as a part of my NSF postdoc, I will develop tools for statistical treatment of finite strain data.

Experimental rock deformation

I am conducting experiments to investigate the textural and microstructural development in ductile quartz-rich rocks. Stay tuned for updates and preliminary results!