Updated 10/2/03
EDUCATION
9/1995 - 2/1999 Ph.D. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Research School of
Earth Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Dissertation: “Mixing by natural convection with applications to the
differentiation of magmas, the Earth’s core, and the mantle”.
1/1992
- 5/1994 M.S. Geology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho.
Thesis: “The Twin Peaks caldera: A unique window into the emplacement and
evolution of a caldera-filling ignimbrite”.
8/1986
- 5/1990 A.B. Geology (Honors) and History (Honors), Hamilton College, Clinton,
New York; Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude.
Theses: (Geology) “The prehistoric plinian eruption of Alcedo Volcano,
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador”. (History) “Understanding McCarthyism: determining the
McCarthy historian's reason for writing”.
Awards and Honors
2003
Elected Scholar, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
2001 Mason Trust Fellowship to Univ. Canterbury, Christ Church, New Zealand.
1999 Miller Research Fellowship, University of California, Berkeley.
1999 NSF Postdoctoral fellowship (declined in favor of Miller fellowship).
1995 Australian National University Ph.D. Scholarship.
1995 Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarship (OPRS) to the Research School
of Earth Sciences, the Australian National University.
1993 James F. Fitgerald Scholarship for the study of volcanic rocks in Idaho
(U. Idaho).
1990 Elihu Root Fellowship for graduate studies in science (Hamilton College).
1989 Rogers Prize in Geology (Hamilton College).
1989 L. David Hawley Prize Scholarship in Geology (Hamilton College).
Various experience
1/2005
- Present, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Ocean Science, The
University of British Columbia.
4/2003
– 12/2004, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, The University of
Toronto.
8/2002
– 4/2003 Research Fellow, UC Berkeley Department of Earth and Planetary
Science.
8/2002
– 12/2002 Lecturer, UC Berkeley Department of Earth and Planetary Science.
Develped and taught a new version of (EPS 104) “Mathematical
methods in geophysics” for undergraduates and beginning graduate students.
1/2000
- 5/2000 Lecturer, UC Berkeley Department of Earth and Planetary Science.
Developed and taught a course entitled (EPS 219) “Topics
in geological fluid mechanics I: Convection in magma chambers” for Spring of
2000. A final projects from one student developed into a manuscript recently
published in Nature.
8/1999
– 2002 Miller Research Fellow, Department of Earth and Planetary Science,
University of California, Berkeley.
7/1998
– 8/1998 Visiting Lecturer, ANU Geology Department. Developed a short course in
geological fluid mechanics for third year undergraduate students. The course
involved lectures and laboratory exercises aimed at understanding the
principles of natural convection and their application to problems in economic
geology and ore genesis.
2/1998
– 12/999 High Access Technician, Feed the Rat Inc., Canberra, Australia.
Designed and implemented rigging systems to “fly” painting contractors
throughout the fire-safety system in the Australian Parliament House. Painters
had to be flown noiselessly inside a labrynth of tunnels that composed the
space between the delicate ceilings for committee rooms and the actual roof of
the building (no contact with the underlying ceilings was permitted because the
resultant noise would disrupt the meetings below). Tasks encountered on a
regular basis were complex and often improbable, requiring highly creative (and
cost-efficient) problem solving strategies.
9/1994
– 2/1995 Temporary Geologist, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral
Industries, Baker City, Oregon. Designed and conducted field and stable
isotopic studies of Quaternary sinter and travertine deposits as part of an
assessment of the geothermal resource potential of central Lake County, Oregon.
Got to explore some truly beautiful country
1/1992
– 12/1993 Instructional Assistant, University of Idaho. Taught introductory
labs and field camp.
5/1990
-- 1/1992 Ski Racer, Breckenridge, CO.
8/1986
– 5/1995 Construction worker (carpenter, construction foreman), Funded my
education and brief career in ski racing by working a broad variety of
construction/ carpentry jobs (Hamilton College, N.Y., Nyack, NY; Breckenridge,
CO., and Pullman, WA). Had lots of other jobs as well in all walks of life. The
practical problem solving and people skills learned (both with projects and
with managing people under these circumstances) have proven to be invaluable to
the success of my current research and teaching.
9/1983-5/1990
Lighting and Scenic designer for theater and (later) dance. This was really fun
until it wasn’t. I love dance, in
particular, to this day.