About My Research Group

Orgs - Detailed - Natsci; Geosociety - UH American Association of Petroleum Geologists SEG Wavelets American Meteorological. Mission: The Mission of the University of Houston-Downtown Geological Society is to advance and enrich the educational experience of our student membership in the fields of applied natural sciences. Through community outreach, field work, and relevant technical programming, we will strive to promote a collaborative and innovative environment.

We use geophysical approaches to help improve our understanding of processes and features in the subsurface that impact earthquake hazard assessment and groundwater movement. Our aim is to: 1) gain a better understanding of the tectonic evolution and detailed structure of active plate boundary regions, 2) detect and locate small earthquakes occurring near active volcanos and in intraplate regions, and 3) develop new methodologies for constraining the stress field that are important for capturing the physics of earthquake rupture and ground motion.

We focus on the analysis and interpretation of geophysical datasets such as broadband seismic data, active source seismic data, wellbore caliper and image logs and laboratory measurements on cores.

Ongoing projects:

Indo-Burma Ranges

1) Bangladesh-India-Myanmar Array (BIMA), NSF-funded collaborative project to image the structure of the Indo-Burma subduction zone, where oblique convergence is attempting to subduct the massive Ganges-Brahmaputra delta. We currently have 31 broadband seismic stations installed in Myanmar and 29 in Bangladesh. [AGU 2019]

Southern California

2) To investigate the accuracy of seismic velocity models used in ground motion prediction near the southern San Andreas fault, we are simulating medium-sized earthquakes using the SPECFEM3D Cartesian package. Discrepancies between observed and synthetic seismograms will provide information that can be used to improve scenario earthquake simulations used for future earthquake preparations in Southern California. [SCEC 2019]

3) Direct measurements of in situ stress regimes in the Santa Barbara Channel, offshore Southern California using wellbore data from industry. [AGU 2018]

4) Study of the stress field of the southern Los Angeles basin, California using borehole breakout and drilling-induced fracture analysis. [AGU 2019][SCEC 2019]

Louisiana

5) Our Investigating Seismicity in Louisiana (ISLA) project has 10 broadband stations installed near Shreveport, Louisiana and aims to monitor seismicity and study the subsurface in NW Louisiana over the next two years.

Recent results:
High-resolution 3-D P-wave velocity model for the Coachella Valley from explosive shots and local earthquakes to help improve ground shaking estimates.
New results from modeling of potential field data in the Gulf of California show serpentinized peridotite bodies such as found at magma-poor rifted margins are present beneath the rift.
BASIN project uses receiver functions from a dense nodal array to map the basement in the Los Angeles area.
Results from geodynamic models for the Gulf of California show bottom-driven shear and obliquity control the style of faulting and produces a wide plate boundary.
More publications …

[NEW] LIPARI Seismic Experiment collects data to determine the seismic structure of Lipari (Aeolian Islands), Southern Italy.

[AGU 2019a][AGU 2019b]

[NEW and local] BATON ROUGE

In collaboration with the College of Agriculture at LSU we are collecting data to characterize the crustal structure in the Baton Rouge area.
For student & postdoc opportunities, please email me for more information.

FUN STUFF:
Bomba Estéreo - 'Soy Yo' (video link)

I'm a senior geology major set to graduate in May 2020. I'm currently apart of Dr. Beverly's 'Geochemistry Goddesses' lab studying stable isotopes and mineralogy of marine fossils. I also work with Dr. Copeland and Dr. Sisson studying fluid inclusions in carbonates from the Grand Canyon. Last year I severed as the Social Organizing Chair, and this year as president my goal is to make GeoSociety more accessible to students and increase attendance and involvement at our events.

I am a post-baccalaureate from Texas A&M University with a BS in Plant and Environmental Soil Science. I am now a Geology major set to graduate may 2020. I am a research assistant with Dr. Mann and I research the formation of Oceanic Core Complexes from structural restorations as well as map the continent-ocean boundary for petroleum plays. My plan for the GeoSociety is to facilitate career building opportunities like short-courses and workshops.

I am a master's student studying geophysics at the University of Houston under the advisement of Dr. Wang. For my thesis, I study faulting in the Houston area. My research involves collecting UAV imagery and creating 3D models and point clouds to precisely map surface fault traces and associated nearby surface deformation. I expect to graduate in spring 2020 and plan to work in the oil and gas industry.

I am a senior geology student at UH. I am minoring in Energy and Sustainability. Currently I am working on organizing and putting UH's paleo collection into a database with Dr. Maddocks. I am also working on a senior thesis with Dr. Sisson dating dikes from the area around Red Lodge, Montanna. I plan to go to grad school and pursue a career in environmental geology.

I am a senior geology student graduating May 2020. I am currently researching the mid-Cenomanian Ocean Anoxic Event through isotope geochemistry under Dr. Brandon and I am writing a senior honors thesis that I will defend in April 2020. I intend on attending grad school post receiving my BS.

I am part of the GeoSociety because of my love and passion for rocks, this chapter offers many great resources for students so my plan is to make it more accessible to all students. I am a senior Geology major set to graduate in May 2020. My plans after graduation is to work, preferably within the petrology field and then pursue a masters degree to further expand my knowledge and continuing to work in a field that I love.

I'm an undergraduate geology major graduating in Spring 2020. I master's student Makayla Jacobs field assistant over the summer in Wyoming. I am currently working under Dr. Brandon by researching the geochemistry and sedimentology of Galveston Bay. My plans include a poster presentation for Undergraduate Research Day, look for job oppertunites after graduation, and travel the world!

Weston is the name and geology is the game. I am an undergraduate here at UH that can have a conversation with a rock for hours on end. I am expected to graduate in Fall 2020 and during that time I plan to bring the GeoSociety website to its full potential. I work as a research assistant under Dr. Mann at CBTH along with Bryan where we manage a GIS database that is basically a Google Earth for geologists. I am currently researching the regional flexural effects of the Caribbean intraplate by developing flexural models of the subducting slab.

I am a geologist major scheduled to graduate in spring 2020. I consider myself to be honest and diplomatic. Regarding what my plans are after graduation? All I can say is that remains a question.

2018-2019: Devin McQuaig

2017-2018: Emily Stibbe

2016-2017: Kavindu Jayanetti

2015-2016: David Lankford-Bravo

2014-2015: Alex Cheney

2013-2014: Alison Bennet

2012-2013: Rachel Funk

2011-2012: Abigail Bufkin

2010-2011: Thera Grosshans

2009-2010: Matt Locke

2008-2009: Shawn Wright

2007-2008: Maiwenn Nguyen

2006-2007: Gustavo Carpio

2005-2006: Zach Wolfe

Shaiya private server new. 2004-2005: Katrina Cox

2003-2004: Shalina Warrior

2002-2003: Katie Hessen

2001-2002: Rachel Sissenwein

2000-2001

1999-2000

1998-1999