Research Focus

My research focuses on understanding processes related to the deformation of the earth.  For the past decade I have focused on fold-and-thrust belts in Australia, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and U.S. / Canada.  Since coming to Saint Louis University, I have expanded the scope of my research to investigate processes associated with seismogenic faults in California, Italy, and Australia.  My research integrates the disciplines of structural geology and geochemistry, which has proven necessary to address problems that are not answerable solely through the study of structures or the study of geochemistry.  My work generally involves field work and structural analysis, collection and analysis of samples in the laboratory, and modeling of geochemical data. I enjoy working with others and thus generally collaborate with other academicians and students on the research projects.  Undergraduate and graduate students gain a well-rounded research experience and education by working on research projects that include both field and laboratory work

Necessary Background

I am looking for students with interests in structural geology and geochemistry.  A student must have an undergraduate degree in geoscience (e.g., geology or geophysics) to enroll in our graduate program.  Knowledge or experience in structural geology and geochemistry would be beneficial, but not necessary.  Based on my experience as a student, faculty mentor, and advisor, the ultimate success of a graduate student does not depend on his/her academic background or innate intelligence, but rather on his/her level of enthusiasm and willingness to work hard.  If you, as a prospective student, are enthusiastic about learning more geoscience, being involved in research, and willing to work hard, I will work very hard to help you succeed in your graduate studies, be involved in very good research projects, and achieve your professional goals.         

Graduate Funding

I have at any one time several projects, most of which are appropriate for a graduate student's dissertation research, and the grant money to support the research.  The Department and University also have numerous assistantships for supporting graduate students.  If you are accepted into our graduate program, you will receive a good salary and waiver to cover the cost of your education.  Research expenses will be covered from funded grants.

Application Process

The application process is relatively time-consuming and sometimes frustrating.  I have written a document to help you work your way through the process (Application Help-Aid).  Please contact me by email or phone if you are thinking about applying to our program, and I will help guide you through the application process.  If you are interested in starting graduate school in the Fall, I strongly recommend that you begin the process in the Fall of the previous year so that you have sufficient time to take the Graduate Record Exam and TOEFL exam (if your first-language is not English). 

Collaborators

I enjoy working with others on research projects, and have been fortunate to be associated with some wonderful people.
Judith Chester (Texas A & M) Lori Kennedy (U. of British Columbia) Francesca Ghisetti (U. Catania, Sicily)
Fred Chester (Texas A & M) Grant Garver (Union College) Livio Vezzanni (Torino U., Italy)
Alfredo Camacho (Queens U., Canada) James Dunlap (Australian National U.) Zoe Shipton (Trinity College, Ireland)
Zachary Sharp (U. New Mexico) Peter Reiners (Yale) James Evans (Utah State U.)
Christian Teyssier (U. Minnesota) Henri Masson (U. Lausanne, Switzerland) Mike Cosca (U. Lausanne, Switzerland)
Antonio Teixel (U. Autonoma, Spain) Kieran O'Hara (U. Kentucky) Dan Marshall (Simon Fraser U., Canada)

Current and Former Students

Our Masters program in geology began in 1998, while our Ph.D. program in Geophysics (primarily in seismology) has been active for almost 100 years.  I encourage any student who is interested in combining field and laboratory work in earthquake geology with seismology to consider doing  Ph.D.  Such a course of study and research will prepare you for work in academia, industry, and government.  Numbers in parentheses ( ) imply the publication / presentation are still to be completed.
Students Enrollment Articles Presentations Current Activity Contact Information
Former Master Students          
Fabrizio Agosta (Graduate) 9/98 to 12/00 3 2 Ph.D. Stanford U. bizio@pangea.stanford.edu

David Cuevas

 1/01 to 12/02 (1) (1) Ph.D. U. Puerto Rico   

Teresa Sabata Ceraldi

 

 9/03 to (1)   Working for BP in Englad  
Current Master Students          
Ben Luetkemeyer          
Alicia Brockelbank          
           
Former Undergraduate Students          

Vanessa O'Brien

 9/08 to 6/03   2 M.S. at Oklahoma University obrienvj@ou.edu
           
Current Undergraduate Students          

Mark Wieners

 

 6/00 to         

Proposed Schedule for Masters Students

It is in a Masters student's best interest to complete a Masters degree program within two years.  This is sufficient time to complete all the necessary course work and finish one good research project.  Although you could enroll in more courses and gain more research experience by continuing your studies into a third academic year, this time could be better invested working on a Ph.D. degree or beginning your career.  We will design your research project so that it can be completed within two years. 

The following schedule is a tentative time-line for a Masters student matriculating in a Fall semester.

Activity

Goal / Purpose

Time

Who's responsible

Oral Exploratory Exam

Identify deficiencies upon entry into program. Weaknesses may be corrected by enrolling in appropriate courses.

Within first two weeks of first semester

Adviser (or graduate program director) informs student and schedules meeting with faculty.

Thesis Proposal

Have proposed thesis research evaluated, critiqued, and/or approved by thesis committee. When approved, student advances to candidacy.

End of 2nd semester

Student

Comprehensive Oral Exam*

Test knowledge of geosciences, especially knowledge relevant to proposed research area.

End of 3rd semester

Student

 

Thesis Defense*

Present results of thesis research and defend conclusions.

End of 4th semester

Student

* The Graduate School requires a "Comprehensive Degree Examination" that tests the student on knowledge of the major field and the thesis. If the student fails this exam, they may retake it once, but not in the same semester as the first exam. In the scheme above, the Comprehensive Degree Exam has been split into two: the Comprehensive Oral Exam and the Thesis Defense. It is strongly recommended that the student forms his/her committee as early as possible and meet with the committee once a semester to monitor progress and avoid any problems that might come up at the end. (Schedule produced by J. Encarnacion.).

Check-list for Incoming Graduate Students (unofficial list of D. Kirschner)

There are a number of things that you, as an incoming student, must complete when you arrive on campus. The following list might help you.  I will either help you complete these tasks or have an experienced graduate student help you.  Make sure you have some cash, your contract from the university, passport, I-20, and I-94 forms with you when you start this process.

Within Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

1)      Get keys from department’s secretaries for building, department office, and student office.  You will need to pay a cash deposit for these keys (ca. $45).

2)      Get account number of copy machine and learn how to make copies.  You will be charged approximately $0.06 per copy.

3)      See where your mailbox will be located in the department.

4)      Find a desk and set of book shelves in the graduate students office space.

 Within Saint Louis University

5)      You need your ID number.  It might be listed on the top of your contract (has 9 digits in the form of xxx-xx-xxxx).  If you can not find it, go to the Admissions Office in Verhaegen Hall 117 (or perhaps DuBourg Hall 119).

6)      Get a Saint Louis University (SLU) identification card in DuBourg Hall 33.

7)      Fill out the Registration Form at the International Office in DuBourg Hall 150.  You will need your passport, I-94 card (should be stapled in your passport from when you entered the country and went through passport control), and I-20 form.

8)      While you are in DuBourg Hall, you can open a checking account with U.S. Bank on the ground floor.  Ask for a “check card” if you want to use it both at an ATM machine and at retail outlets (similar to a debit card).  You will need two forms of identification (passport, SLU ID).   

9)      Go to the Social Security Office at one of the following offices to register for a social security number (5669 Delmar Blvd, 4365 Chippewa, or 717 N 16th Street).  You will need your contract from the university, your passport, I-94 card, I-20 form, and your SLU identification card.  Offices open from 9AM to 4 PM M-F, 1-800-772-1213.  Bring reading material because this can take two or three hours.  There is conflicting information from the University personnel and officials at the Social Security Office regarding when a number is assigned to you.  University personnel have told me that you can get a printed paper that contains your future social security number when you register.  AN official at the SSN office stated that this is not true and you will have to wait three or four weeks to get your number by mail.  It takes this long since they have to do a background check on each application.  I assume the SSN official is correct.  This means you will not receive your first pay check until late September rather than late August.

10)  When you have applied for your SSN from the Social Security Office, go to the Human Resources Center in Salus Center so that you can be paid at the end of August.  You DO NOT have to have the SSN card; you just need to have proof that you have applied for a SSN.  This could be the receipt that you are given from your application at the Social Security Office.  Fill out the necessary forms that they give you for tax purposes etc.  When you receive the official card in the mail three or four weeks later, take the card to the same Office of Human Resources so they can xerox it for their records.

11)  Enroll in the Health Insurance program by filling out the form in Verhaegen Hall 121.  You should have already filled out an Immunization Record and send to Direct of Student Health and Counseling Center (Marchetti Towers) by August 1st. If you have not, then go there in person and deliver your Immunization Record.

12)  If you want to find an off-campus apartment, then go to the web site…. http://www.slu.edu/centers/international/links.html#offcampus and use the different web sites search engines to find an apartment.

13)  If you are planning to use the public transport system, then it might be worth buying a bus/metro pass at the SLU bookstore for $95/semester, which I think will allow unlimited riding on the public transport system.

14)  Visit English as a Second Language Office.

15) Meet with me so that we can go over the course and exam requirements for our program and get you registered for classes.  I have a form that we will fill out to keep track of your courses and exams.  Please remind me to fill this form out with you.