Montana State University

Department of Earth Sciences

Montana State University
P.O. Box 173480
Bozeman, MT 59717-3480

Tel: (406) 994-3331
Fax: (406) 994-6923
Location: 226 Traphagen Hall

Department Chair

Dr. David Mogk

earth@montana.edu

Faculty and Staff

Tenure Track Faculty

Todd Feeley, Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles, 1993
Research Interests: Behavior of Magma in and on the Earth’s Crust, to understand the origin and evolution of magmas in crustal reservoirs

Michael H. Gardner, Ph.,D., Colorado School of Mines, 1993, Associate Professor of Geology--stratigraphy, sedimentology, subsurface geology, ancient ocean systems

Jordy Hendrikx, Ph.D., University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Research Interests: Snow and avalanche hazard, climate change, snow hydrology, and alpine and arctic systems
 

David R. Lageson, Ph.D., University of Wyoming, 1980
Research Interests: Structural geology and tectonics

Jian-yi Liu, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1992
Research Interests: Urban and economic geography with a regional specialty in East Asia and China

David W. Mogk, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1984
Research Interests: Evolution of Precambrian Crust in SW Montana, Petrogenesis of Continental crust, Geochemical Evolution of the crust

James G. Schmitt, Ph.D., University of Wyoming, 1982
Research Interests: Relations between tectonics and sedimentation; depositional systems; sediment provenance

Mark Skidmore, Ph.D., University of Alberta, Canada, 2001 Research Interests: Biogeochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Glaciated Systems

David J. Varricchio, Ph.D., Montana State University, 1995
Research Interests: Paleoecology of dinosaurs using taphonomic and anatomic evidence. Fieldwork currently includes sites in Montana, Idaho, Nevada and China.

Cathy Whitlock, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1983
Research Interests: Quaternary environmental change, Vegetation, fire, and climate history of the western U.S. and southern South America

William K. Wyckoff, Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1982
Research Interests: Historical and Cultural Geography of the Rocky Mountain West

REGENTS PROFESSOR

John R. Horner, Honorary Doctorate, University of Montana
Research Interests: Curator of Paleontology, Museum of the Rockies, Systematics of Paleobiology, Jurassic and Cretaceous dinosaurs

ASSISTANT RESEARCH PROFESSORS

Frankie Jackson, Ph.D. Montana State University, 2007
Research interests: Taphonomy, Dinosaur Reproductive Biology

  Dave McWethy, Ph.D., Montana State University, 2007
Research Interests: Human-set fires and their consequences, Late Holocene paleoecology, Fire-climate linkages on multiple temporal and spatial scales, Ecosystem resilience to human activities in different settings.
  Colin Shaw, Ph.D., Director of Undergraduate Scholars Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 2001
Research Interests: Structural geology, metamorphic petrology, field mapping, microstructural analysis, thermochronology

Kaj Williams, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder
Research Interests: Atmospheric Science, Permafrost, Snow/Ice Microphysics

ADJUNCTS & AFFILIATES

Karl Birkeland, Ph.D., Arizona State University, 1997
Research Interests: Snow and Avalanches, Avalanche Scientist with the U.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center

  David W. Bowen, Ph.D., University of Colorado
Research Interests: Sedimentary Basins and the Stratigraphy of Basin-Fill Deposits

Stuart Challender, M.L.A., Utah State University, 1986
Research Interests: Geography, President, Bridger GeoPlan, Inc.

 

Andrew C. Epple, M.S. , University of Utah, 1978
Research Interests: Physical & Cultural Geography

 

Sya B. Kedzior, Ph.D., University of Kentucky, Lexington, 2011
Reasearch Interests: Human Geography, environmental movements, environmental knowledge, and environmental politics.

  Lowell M. Miyagi, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 2009
Research Interests: Crystallographic preferred orientation and anisotropy of physical properties, high P-T mineralogy and rheology particularly related to the deep Earth, link between microscopic processes and seismic anisotropy.
 

Gregory T. Pederson, Ph.D. University of Arizona, 2010
Research Interests: Climate change, water resources, and ecosystem interactions.  Documenting and understanding the last 2,000 years of drought, streamflow, snowpack, glacier and forest fire dynamics in western North America.  Applying the historic and modern records of climate and environmental change to current natural resources management problems.

  Rick Lawrence, Ph.D., Oregon State University, 1998
Research Interests: Forestry

Kenneth L. Pierce, Ph.D., Yale University, 1964
Affiliate Professor of Geology
Research Interests: Quaternary Geology, Geomorphology

 

Russell Stands-Over-Bull, Ph.D., Colorado School of Mines, 1999
Research Interests: President/Chief Geologist for Arrow Creek Resources, Inc., Petroleum Geology, Coal Geology


EMERITUS

Stephan G. Custer, Ph.D., University of Montana, 1976
Research Interests: Focused on a variety of topics with the theme “water:” ground water, streams, snow, and water quality

 

Katherine J. Hansen, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder
Research Interests: Mountain Environments, Biological Indicators (Tree Distribution, Habitat Alterations, Rangeland Disturbances)

  William W. Locke, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder, 1980
Research Interests: Volcano-Tectonism, Fault Scarp Evolution, Soil Development, Fluvial Terrace Systems, Glacial Geology, and Climates

SUPPORT STAFF

 

Gail Weidenaar, Administrative Officer


Melanie Baldwin, Administrative Assistant