Meet the Faculty Fall 2020

Summary

This video introduces various research projects conducted by professors and students at Cal State Fullerton, showcasing diverse scientific fields like marine biology, invertebrate paleontology, and mammalogy. Highlighting collaboration with museums, hands-on research, and ongoing studies, the session emphasizes the importance of scientific illustration and fossil description in paleontological research. Professors also discuss how they integrate students into their work, offering opportunities for undergraduate theses. The video ends with an invitation to join breakout rooms for deeper engagement with professors or reach out via email.

Takeaways

• 😀 Research at Cal State Fullerton offers a variety of geological science fields, including sedimentology, tectonic physics, paleoclimatology, and more.
• 😀 Professors are looking for undergraduate students to take part in thesis projects, with a focus on both fieldwork and laboratory research.
• 😀 Adam Woods focuses on sedimentary rocks and past environments, with projects related to mass extinction events and fieldwork in Owens Valley.
• 😀 Kate Metcalf works on tectonic physics, studying rock deformation and plate movements, offering fieldwork in the Klamath Mountains and lab-based projects.
• 😀 Rich conducts hydrogeology research on groundwater, studying well efficiency, water chemistry, and field projects in regions like Malibu and the Mojave Desert.
• 😀 Shawn Lloyd's research involves low-temperature geochemistry, focusing on microbially-mediated carbonates and sulfur isotopes in marine sediments and hot springs.
• 😀 Valley's magmatism and volcanic research focuses on understanding magma storage, eruption processes, and mineral chemistry with a focus on fieldwork in Yosemite and Riverside.
• 😀 Matt Kirby studies paleoclimatology, analyzing historical climate data through sediment samples to understand drought, flood, and fire impacts in California.
• 😀 Joe Carlin is dedicated to coastal sedimentology, researching the impacts of extreme events like tsunamis on coastal sediment dynamics through lab and fieldwork.
• 😀 James Parham's lab works with fossils from invertebrates and marine life, including a special focus on walrus evolution, based on museum specimen research.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Adam Woods' research?

Adam Woods' research primarily focuses on sedimentology, specifically studying older sedimentary rocks to reconstruct past environments and understand major Earth events like mass extinctions. His work involves field analysis, thin section studies, and geochemical analysis.

What kind of projects can students expect to work on in Adam Woods' lab?

Students in Adam Woods' lab can work on projects that involve fieldwork, thin section analysis, or geochemical studies, particularly focused on understanding mass extinctions like the Permian-Triassic or Ordovician.

Where does Kate Metcalf conduct her fieldwork, and what is her area of expertise?

Kate Metcalf specializes in tectonic physics, studying plate tectonics, rock deformation, and reconstructing past tectonic plates. She conducts fieldwork in the Himalayas and the Klamath Mountains.

What research methods does Kate Metcalf use in her studies?

Kate Metcalf employs fieldwork, lab work with rock samples, and the integration of geophysical and geological data to study plate tectonics and rock deformation.

What are Rich's main research areas in hydrogeology?

Rich focuses on groundwater recharge, hydrology, and chemistry, particularly how groundwater moves through basins and the effects of human activity on well efficiency and contamination prevention.

What kinds of projects are available for students in Rich's lab?

Students in Rich's lab can work on projects related to groundwater science, which may involve fieldwork, laboratory analysis of water samples, or groundwater modeling.

What does Shawn Lloyd's research in low-temperature geochemistry focus on?

Shawn Lloyd's research focuses on how microorganisms influence the formation of carbonates in natural settings, such as hot springs and salt domes. His work includes isotope and trace metal analysis.

What fieldwork locations are associated with Shawn Lloyd's research?

Shawn Lloyd's research involves fieldwork in areas like hot springs and salt domes, where microbial processes and carbonate formations are studied.

What recent research has Jim Parham's lab conducted, and what organisms do they study?

Jim Parham's lab has recently studied the evolution of walruses, with research including the description of new fossil species. They focus on a variety of organisms such as sharks, lizards, and mammals, particularly invertebrates.

How do students typically contribute to Jim Parham's research projects?

Students in Jim Parham's lab contribute to research by working on specimen-based projects, including scientific illustration, anatomical description, and fossil analysis, particularly from specimens at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.