Graduate Students - Illinois Geology Students

Stable Isotope Geochemistry
Advisor: Tom Johnson
Degree: Ph.D.
Research: Using mercury isotope fractionation as an indicator of geochemical cycling of mercury through the environment

Anirban Basu

B.S. Geological Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India, 1999
M.S. Applied Geology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India, 2001
M.S. Hydrogeology, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 2007

Geochemistry
Advisor: Tom Johnson
Degree: Ph.D.
Research:

Alex Bryk

Book Cliffs, Utah

B.S. Geosciences, Minor: Marine Science, Penn State University, 2009

Sedimentology
Advisor: Jim Best Jim Best
Degree: M.S.

Research Interests: Surficial Processes, Morphodynamics, Geomorphology and Stratigraphy, Vertebrate Paleontology

Ron Cash

CTD Deployment, Gulf of Mexico near Dry Tortugas

B.S. Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, 2010

Sedimentology
Advisor: Jim Best
Degree: M.S.

Research Interests: Using shallow and deep water acoustics to map biological processes, Deep Sea-Floor Mapping, Coral Reef Ecology, Beach Erosion Management, Coastal Processes

Jessica Colberg

Samantha Dwyer

Rock Pile, Acadia National Park, Maine

B.S. Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009

Sedimentology
Advisor: Bruce Fouke
Degree: M.S.
Research: Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Geochemistry of Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic Systems within the Illinois Basin.

I am studying the Sauk-Tippecanoe I Unconformity as a North-South transect within the Illinois Basin. The applicable formations are: the St. Peter Sandstone, Shakopee Dolomite and the Everton. I am using petrography, diagenesis indicators along with stable and radiogenic isotopes to reconstruct paleo- sea and oxygen levels, climate and oceanography of the basin. With these techniques, I am reconstructing timing, composition and source of diagenetic waters.

I will be finishing up my Masters Degree in May of 2011.

Brian Farrell

Marble quarry, middle of nowhere, Turkey

B.S. Environmental Geosciences, University of Notre Dame, 2009

Hydrogeology and Geomicrobiology
Advisor: Craig Bethke
Coadvisor: Rob Sanford
Degree: M.S.
Research: I'm studying how gene expression in sulfate reducing bacteria can be used an indicator of microbial activity in groundwater

Val Finlayson

White Sands National Monument, NM

B.S. Geological Sciences, Michigan State University, 2009

Igneous Petrology & Isotope Geochemistry
Advisor: Craig Lundstrom
Degree: M.S., expected 2011
Research: Iron isotope behavior in chemically zoned ignimbrites of the San Juan Volcanic Field in central-southwestern Colorado. I'm attempting to understand the mechanisms driving igneous iron isotopic fractionation and their implications for systematic differentiation in some igneous bodies.
2010 GSA Annual Meeting Poster Abstract: Understanding the evolution of compositional zoning in San Juan Volcanic Field ignimbrites using iron isotope ratios

Ted Flynn

B.S. Environmental Geosciences, University of Notre Dame, 2004

Hydrogeology & Geomicrobiology
Advisor: Craig Bethke
Degree: Ph.D.
Research: My dissertation research focuses on how groundwater chemistry influences microbial community structure in the Mahomet aquifer in Illinois.

Personal Website

Carly Hill

Brooke Eickhoff

eickhff2@illinois.edu

Just outside of Arches National Park, Utah

B.S. Geology, Indiana State University, 2011

Systems Geobiology
Advisor: Bruce Fouke
Degree: M.S.
Research: Analyzing Ancient Travertine deposits just outside of Yellowstone National Park

Jessica Hinton

Investigating a pillow basalt outcrop in Cyprus

jshinton@illinois.edu

B.S. Geology, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2006

Sedimentology
Advisors: Jim Best and Scott Olson (Civil Engineering)
Degree: M.S.

Research: I am characterizing liquefaction features created by the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812.

Please see my LinkedIn Profile for a detailed description of my professional experience.

Jing (Johnny) Jin

Advisor: Xiaodong Song
Degree: Ph.D.

Marissa Kelly

B.S. Geology, University of Rhode Island, 2004

Geomorphology
Advisor: Alison Anders
Degree: M.S.

I am working on the mechanisms behind glacially eroded steps and overdeepenings in valleys of the Uinta Mountains in Utah.

Tiffany Leonard

tcox1@illinois.edu

B.A. Geology, Physics, Carleton College, 2009

Seismology
Advisor: Wang-Ping Chen
Degree: Ph.D

Xiaoxiao Li

B.S. Geochemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 2008

Isotope Geochemistry
Advisor: Craig Lundstrom
Degree: Ph.D.
Research: I'm working on the determination of silicon isotope ratios in silicate materials now.

Stephanie Mager

B.S. Geology and Mathematics, College of William and Mary, 2000
M.S. Geology, Auburn University, 2005

Structural Geology
Advisor: Stephen Marshak
Degree: Ph.D.

Philip Miller

B.S. Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008

Geomicrobiology
Advisor: Bruce Fouke
Degree: M.S.
Research: My current research is a petrological analysis that tracks changes in CaCO3 (travertine) crystal size, shape and porosity through microbial biomass differences at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.

Mauricio Perillo

Licenciatura in Physics, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina, 2007
Upper Rio Negro Formation, Late Miocene. Argentina Sedimentology
Advisor: Jim Best
Coadvisor: Marcelo Garcia
Degree: Ph.D.
Anticipated Completion Date : May, 2012
Research: Morphology and Stability of Bedform in Eolian and Subaqueous Flows. Fluids Dynamics and Sediment Transport in General.Sedimentology and Geomorphology of Modern and Ancient fluviatile, lacustrine, deltaic and turbidite environments. Waves, Tides and Currents Interactions.Combined Flow Boundary Layer.
Website: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/mperill2/www/

Eric W. Prokocki

Vibra-Coring on the Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana

Geoprobe Coring Trip Yazoo Basin, Mississippi B.S. - Penn State University
M.S. - Louisiana State University

Fluvial Sedimentology and Morphodynamics
Advisor: Jim Best
Degree: Ph.D

Field Based Fluvial Studies

Field Methods:

a) Collection of near surface (max. ~9.5 meter depth) core samples via vibra-core coring system
b) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
c) Single-beam bathymetry profiles
d) Multi-beam bathymetry profiles
e) ADCP velocity profiles

Alluvial Architecture, Sediment Transport, Bedform Analysis, and Tidal Bar Formation in the Tidally Influenced Fluvial Zone (TIFZ): Columbia River, USA

Investigating the formation and evolution of tidal bars from the fully tidally influenced zone to fully fluvially influenced zone
Determining the fate of fine grained sediment within a tidally influenced estuary
Analysis of zone of bed-load convergence (BLC) in a tidally influenced fluvial system
Detailed observation and analysis of internal stratigraphy in tidal bars (inclined heterolithic stratification)
Bedform generation and morphology from fully tidally influenced zone to fully fluvially influenced zone
Understanding the flux of sediment from offshore versus flux of sediment from upstream in tidally dominated fluvial system

Field Methods:

a) Collection of near surface (max. 30 meter depth) core samples via Geoprobe push core drilling rig

Chronology of Holocene Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Belts using Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dating (OSL) - (Memphis, Arkansas to Natches, Mississippi)

understanding how incised valleys fill with sediment in time and space during eustatic sea-level highstand (interglacial periods)
gaining insight into the frequency and timing of upstream Lower Mississippi River avulsions from ca. 10 ka to the present
deciphering the importance of Allogenic versus Autogenic forcings on upstream river avulsions
investigation into the roles of Global versus Local factors in promoting or limiting river avulsions

Numerically Based Modeling

Effects of Sea-level Rise and Localized Geomorphic Features on Promoting Holocene Avulsions on the Lower Mississippi River

Experimental Research

Bedform Initiation and Propagation from a Negative Defect on the Bed in Pure Oscillatory Flow and Combined Flows

Columbia River, Oregon Geoprobe Coring Trip Yazoo Basin, Mississippi

Liqin Sang

B.S. Geoscience, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China, 2009

Mineral Physics
Advisor: Jay Bass
Degree: Ph.D.
Research: Equation of state of deep fluids; elastic properties of minerals.

Mary Seid

Structure & Tectonics
Advisor: Steve Marshak

Pragnyadipta "Deep" Sen

B.S. Geology, University of Calculta, India, 2000
M.S. Geology, University of Calcutta, India, 2002
M.S. Geology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2006

Structure & Tectonics
Advisor: Steve Marshak
Degree: Ph.D.
Research: My broad research interests are evolution of mountain chains, strain analysis, subduction related tectonics and seismotectonics.

Sam Slaven

Zheng (Davey) Tang

Advisor: Xiaodong Song
Degree: Ph.D.

Doug Torbeck

Advisor: Xiaodong Song
Degree: M.S.

Xiangli Wang

B.S. Geoscience, China University of Geoscience, Wuhan, China, 2005-2009
Advisor: Tom Johnson
Degree: Ph.D.
Research:

I'm interested in applying non-traditional stable isotopes (Chromium, Uranium, etc.) to groundwater studies, such as groundwater remediation monitoring. I'm currently investigating the equilibrium fractionation between different valences of chromium, a contaminant in groundwater, in order to better interpret the isotopic data from contaminated field sites.

Zhen (James) Xu

B.S. Geoscience, Nanjing University, China, 2003.
M.S. Geophysics, Nanjing University, China, 2005.

Seismology
Advisor: Xiaodong Song
Degree: Ph.D.

Research: My Ph.D research is focusing on developing seismic tomography methods to image the earth's crust and mantle velocity structures using various seismic data. I am also interested in the temporal changes of medium velocity associated with major earthquakes.
Research Projects
• Joint inversion of receiver function, surface wave, and Pn delay time data using nonlinear neighborhood searching algorithm
• High resolution 2D surface wave inversion along HICLIMB linear array in Tibetan Plateau using ambient noise data
• Surface wave tomography in China and surrounding regions using ambient noise correlation and earthquake data
• Jointly inversion of crustal and Pn velocity, and Moho depth in eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau
• Temporal changes of medium velocity associated with major earthquakes in Sumatra from ambient noise correlation

Media Reports
Our research result on "Temoral changes of surface wave velocity associated with major Sumatra earthquakes from ambient noise correlation" was interviewed and reported by medias in many countries including American Geological Institude (AGI) and National Science Foundation (NSF).
Listening to rocks helps researchers better understand earthquakes (UIUC News Release)

Click here to view my personal website

Guimiao Zhang

B.S. Geochemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 2010

Mineral Physics
Ph.D. student of Prof. Jay Bass

Jin Zhang

B.S. Geology, Nanjing University, China, 2008

Mineral Physics
Advisor: Jay Bass
Degree: Ph.D.
Research: I am interested in studying the physical properties of minerals under high temperature and high pressure conditions by using Brillouin scattering techniques to get more information about the composition and evolution of the earth interior.

Jessica Zinger

BS in Physics & BS in Earth Sciences, University of Michigan, 2009

Fluvial Geomorphology
Advisor: Jim Best
Degree: M.S.
Research: Meandering river dynamics and cutoffs

Past Students

Eric Obrock

Upper Tullig Cyclothem, Kilkee, Co. Clare, western Ireland.

B.A. Double Major: Economics & Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008
M.S. Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011

Stratigraphy and Sedimentology
Advisor: Jim Best
Degree: M.S.
Research: Stratigraphy and Paleoenvironments of a Carboniferous Transgression, Co. Clare, western Ireland
Graduated: August 2011

Regional context: Outcrops of the Upper Tullig Cyclothem

Thesis Research Abstract:
Cyclothems record the sedimentary product of cyclicity in relative sea-level on either a regional or global scale, showing both regressive and transgressive phases. My thesis research will contribute to our understanding of the nature (continuous or stepped), sedimentology (changing paleoenvironments from fluvio-deltaic to open marine) and analog reservoir sedimentology of a Carboniferous transgressive sequence in western Ireland. This basin, and its world-class reservoir scale exposures, is used by many hydrocarbon companies as both a reservoir analog and training ground for geologists and my study will detail a critical part of the basin fill sequence.

The transgression in focus is within the Tullig Cyclothem, and an example of one complete section of the Transgressive Tullig is exposed at Trusklieve. The sedimentary infill at this location begins at the top of the fluvio-deltaic sandstone channels of the Tullig Sandstone. At this point, the sea level is at its relative minimum, and the transgression begins with zoophycos trace fossils. This is followed by nearly 20 meters of unfossiliferous dark grey shale and siltstone, topped by 4 meters of sandstone sheets, and finally a goniatite fossil bed. This fossil bed marks the maximum sea level in the area, and a fully marine
environment.