Faculty Research Areas 

Research within the Department of Earth Sciences focuses on the physical, chemical, and biological evolution of our planet. Our proximity to the Cascade volcanoes and the tectonic complexity of the western North American margin motivate numerous individual and collaborative studies, many of which benefit from on-site access to cutting-edge analytical, experimental, and computational facilities. Many of our projects are funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the US Geological Survey. Visit our news articles for current investigations being led by members of our department.

The research emphasis within the department can be divided into four broadly defined groups that are described in detail below. Our department encourages interdisciplinary interactions; and thus, many of our faculty member’s interests span more than one discipline (check out the environmental science research group). We are also home to the Oregon Hazards Lab. Please visit each faculty member’s website to read more about their individual interests and specializations.