Student Research

The Department of Earth Sciences strongly believes in undergraduate research as part of a student's educational experience. Our faculty encourage and work with students on a variety of independent research projects. Students undertake this part of their education and learning on a voluntary basis and conduct original scientific research in a close working relationship with one or more faculty members. Many of our students have presented their findings at national and regional professional meetings throughout the United States.

A student can elect to take independent research (EASC497) for 1-3 credits each semester for a maximum of 6 credits, or conduct research without credit. There is no minimum GPA; however, research must be performed with the permission of a faculty member.  The department strongly encourages its students to consider involvement in undergraduate research as part of their capstone experience to their program in the earth sciences. Independent research should be undertaken only after careful discussion with faculty advisors in the department.

Below is a list of some recent and ongoing research topics under investigation in our department.

  • Structural geology and tectonic evolution of the Blacktail and Ruby Mountains, SW Montana
  • Stratigraphic analysis of Cenozoic sedimentary rocks, SW Montana
  • Remote sensing
  • Geophysical modeling of planetary cratering mechanisms and ages
  • Seismic studies on earthquake precursors
  • Geochemistry of hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor
  • Geochemistry of Late Proterozoic rocks of the Avalon Terrane, MA
  • Greenschist-facies metamorphism and shearing associated with Proterozoic shear zones in SW Montana
  • Geochemistry of Proterozoic granitic gneisses of the Ruby Mountains, Montana
  • Groundwater investigations of Furnace Brook Well Field, Marshfield, MA



Some recent project titles

2009

Renee Holt, Sedimentary Petrology of the Teddy Creek Group, Blacktail Mountains, Montana: Implications for provenance and landscape evolution. Advisor: Krol

Brianne McDonough, A Two-Dimensional, Linear-Elastic Model to Explain Radial Extensional Fractures, Pantheon Fossae, Caloris Basin, Mercury. Advisor: Cicerone


2008

Michelle Bayly, An Evaluation of the Environmental Impact of Conjunctive use of Ground Water and Surface Water in the Furnace Brook Well-Field in Marshfield, Massachusetts. Advisor: Enright

Cheryl Frio, Frequency Magnitude Statistics of Impact Craters: Implications for Determining the Geologic Age of Planetary Surfaces. Advisor: Cicerone

Jessica Sousa, Petrologic investigation of amphibolites across a major ductile shear zone in the Ruby Mountains, SW Montana: Implications for the nature of early Proterozoic(?) mafic magmatism. Advisor: Krol

Jessica Sousa, Kinematic analysis of mylonitic rocks, southern Ruby Mountains, SW Montana: Evidence for Proterozoic orogenic crustal thickening and topographic collapse. Advisor: Krol

Michelle Bayly, Comparative study of Foraminifera of Mexico, Honduras and Bermuda Coasts. Advisor: Enright


2007

Rene Olsen, Kinematic and microstructural study of mylonitic rocks from the Ruby Mountains, southwest Montana. Advisor: Krol

Jennifer Jackson, possible correlation between climate change and magnetic field reversals. Advisors: Cicerone, Krol

Hallie Topor, Geophysical evidence for the existence of an ocean on Mars. Advisor: Cicerone


2006

Amy Saccoccio, Petrography and geochemistry of Cenozoic basalt flows within the Blacktail Mountains and Ruby Mountains, SW Montana. Advisor: Krol

Emily Walsh, Origin of Hot Spring Water in Back Arc Basins. Advisor: Saccocia


2005

Emily Clement, Field and Petrographic Investigation of the Lone Mountain Intrusion and Associated Effects of Contact Metamorphism, Gallatin Range, Montana. Advisor: Krol

Ashlee Kirkwood, Petrographic analysis of a drill core from the Narragansett Basin, Somerset, Massachusetts. Advisor: Krol

Elizabeth (Lynn) Connell, Microstructural Analysis of the Rhode Island Formation, Narragansett Basin, MA. Advisor: Krol

Josh Thuele, Remote Sensing of Mountain View Mine, California-Nevada border. Advisor: Enright


2004

Lisa Baltimore, Development of lab assignments for secondary education in Earth Science. Advisor: Krol

Crystal Cakounes, Development of Earth Science labs for elementary education. Advisor: Krol

Daniel Callahan, Geologic mapping and analysis of sedimentary rocks in the Teddy Creek drainage, Blacktail Mountains, Montana. Advisor: Krol

Amanda Craig, Petrographic Analysis of Core # 47, Halifax Massachusetts. Advisor: Krol

Kathleen Gonsalves, Magnetic Field Precursors to the 1987 M7.1 Loma Prieta Earthquake, CA. Advisor: Cicerone

Russ McCormick, Field, Petrographic, & Geochemical characteristics of the Price Creek volcanics, southeast Blacktail Mountains. Advisor: Krol

Erin Nevens, Petrographic analysis of metamorphic rocks at Black Rock Beach, Cohasett MA. Advisor: Krol

Michael Robbins, Petrographic and Paleo-Depositional Analysis of the Northern Narragansett Basin Through Drill Core Observation. Advisor: Krol


2003

Amanda E. Gross, Field Validation of Grain Size Determination of Massachusetts Beaches Using Brightness Measurements from Landsat Thematic Mapper Data. Advisor: Enright

Nicholas Rofe, Geologic mapping of volcanic rocks in the Blacktail Mountains, Montana. Advisor: Krol


2002

Mathew Brennan, Geologic history of Borderland State Park, Easton MA.

Kelly Famolare, Using Bloom's Taxonomy in the Creation of Geophysical Laboratory Exercises.


2001

Jackie Van Etten, "Microscopic Coral Morphology and Paleoclimate Reconstruction. Advisor: Saccocia

Last Modified: October 30, 2009