Danny Stockli

Areas of Expertise

Thermo-/Geochronology, Tectonics and Structural Geology, Isotopic Provenance Analysis, Archeometry, Geothermal Exploration, and Thermal Maturation

Current Research Programs & Projects

2019 - Apache Egypt. Chronostratigraphy and Thermal Evolution Reconstruction of the Alamein area, Egypt. $325,000.

2018 - Equinor. Provenance signature of modern Rivers in Eastern Mexico. $175,578.11. Stockli (PI)

2018 - NSF Tectonics: Collaborative research: Timing of slip along the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone, California: A Thermochronologic Study. $235,427. Stockli (PI)

2017- NSF OCE: Collaborative Proposal: Chicxulub impact effects and the recovery of life using scientific drilling investigations at ground zero. $566,407 (UT Total), Gulick (PI), Stockli (co-PI)

2017 - NSF Tectonics. Retrograde metamorphism in the Greek Cycladic Islands as a window into exhumation mechanisms of high-pressure terranes. $334,776. Barnes (PI), Stockli (co-PI)

2017 - Norwegian INPART: Arctic Geological History and Future Exploration: A Norwegian-Russian-North American (NO-R-AM) collaboration in Arctic research and education ~$606,600 or NK 4,841,000 (total for 4 institutions)

2020 - Norwegian INPART: NOR-R-AM 2 - Arctic Geological History and Future Exploration Collaboration in Arctic Research and education ~$606,600 or NK 4,841,000 (total for 4 institutions)

2015 - NSF Tectonics. Using the World's Fastest Slipping Normal Fault to Understand the Mechanics of Low-angle Normal Faults. $290,077.

2015 - Statoil. Isotopic Provenance Constraints on Source to Sink System. $704,289.

Select Past Research

2010 - Ecopetrol-ICP Contract: Low-temperature thermochronological and neotectonic constraints from the Middle Magdalena Valley, Llanos basin, and Eastern Cordillera of Colombia (Phase 3). $616,635.

2010 - Apache Egypt. Thermochronometric Investigation of the Thermal History and Maturation of Paleozoic strata of the Western Desert, Egypt. $149,972.

2010 - NSF Tectonics. Collaborative Research: Timing, extent, and spatial progression of Neogene displacement transfer, southern Walker Lane, western Great Basin. $193,313.

2010 - DOE Geothermal Technologies Program. Detachment faulting and Geothermal Resources - An Innovative Integrated Geological and Geophysical Investigation of Pearl Hot Spring, Nevada. $4,242,519 (including $1,943,282 in external industry cost-share).

2010 - DOD Geothermal Program Office. Geological investigations, eastern Lava Mountains, Almond Mountain, and southern Slate Range, NAWS China Lake, CA. $780,000 (phase I and II). . (co-PI with J.D. Walker as lead PI)

2009 - Remora Oil Contract. Detrital (U-Th)/He thermochronometry of the Llanos foreland basin, Colombia. $98,000.

2009 - NSF Instrumentation and Facilities. Upgrade of the Laser Heating System for the (U-Th)/He laboratory at the University of Kansas. $76,500.

2008 - Ecopetrol-ICP Contract: Low-temperature thermochronological and neotectonic constraints from the Middle Magdalena Valley, Llanos basin, and Eastern Cordillera of Colombia (Phase 2). $817,000.

2009 - Ecopetrol Contract: Low-temperature thermochronological and neotectonic constraints from the Middle Magdalena Valley, Llanos basin, and Eastern Cordillera of Colombia (Phase 1). $110,000.

2008 - Hocol S.A. Contract: Servico en analysis de thermochronologi de baja temperature (U-Th/He en la Cordillera Oriental (Low-Temperature (U-Th)/He Thermochronometric Analyses in Eastern Cordillera, Colombia). $50,000.

2008 - National Geographic Society. Dating Zircon Survivors in Multi-cycle Arc Volcanoes: a new Tool for Predicting Long-term Magmatic Periodicity? Co-PI with Axel Schmitt (UCLA), $17,400.

2008 - NSF Tectonics. Collaborative Research: Development of extensional systems in regions of hot, thick crust: Insight from Tibet. $154,019 (co-PI with M. Taylor)

2008 - NSF Petrology and Geochemistry. Magnetite (U-Th-Sm)/He Geochronology - A Novel Technique for Dating Continental and Oceanic Basalts. $200,036.

2007 - Navy Geothermal Program. Thermochronometric Constraints on the Connection between Advection of Heat through Faulting and Nature of Geothermal Resource for the Hawthorne/Wassuk Range area, Nevada, $134,000.

2006 - Apache Egypt Oil Contract. Thermochronometric Investigation of the SOKAR-1X Unconformity. $69,523.

2005 - NSF Petrology and Geochemistry. Development and calibration of rutile (U-Th)/He geo-and thermochronometry. $ 174,122.

2005 - NSF Instrumentation and Facilities. Technician Support: (U-Th)/He laboratory at the University of Kansas [Phase I]. $203,374.

2005 - KU General Research Fund Grant. Timing of ancient earthquakes by radiometric dating of frictional seismic melts - Development of zircon (U-Th)/He dating of pseudotachylites. $7,588.

2004 - NSF Tectonics. Collaborative Research: Collaborative Research: Exhumation of the Colorado Plateau--spatial and temporal distribution and implications for landscape evolution. $118,818.

2003 - NSF MARGINS. Collaborative Research: Integrated thermochronological & structural investigation of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea rift margin: Implications for the rupturing of continental lithosphere. $189,287.

2003 - NSF MARGINS. Collaborative Research: Integrated thermochronological & structural investigation of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea rift margin: Implications for the rupturing of continental lithosphere. $189,287.

2003 - NSF Tectonics. Timing and Kinematics of Cenozoic of E-W Extension in central Tibet Important Transition in the Strain Field of the Tibetan Plateau. $229,909.

2002 - NSF Tectonics. Collaborative Research: Late Cenozoic to Recent Fault Slip Distribution in the Central Walker Lane Belt, Western Nevada. Award Amount: $162,961.

2011 - DOE Geothermal Technologies Program. Novel Coupled Thermochronometric and Geochemical Investigation of Blind Geothermal Resources in Fault- Controlled Dilational Corners,Dixie Valley, Nevada. $850,000.

2018 - Apache Egypt. Chronostratigraphy and Thermal Evolution Reconstruction of the Abu Gharadig and Alamein basins, Egypt. $170,00.

2015 - NSF IF MRI. Acquisition of a Multicollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer for Earth Science Research at the University of Texas at Austin. $452,544.

2015 - ExxonMobile. Thermal Evolution of the Iranian Zagros – Lorestan and Fars Provinces. $119,658.

2014 - NSF Tectonics. Exhumation History of the Indian Lesser Himalaya: Discriminating Tectonic Models with Implications for the Neogene Isotopic Composition of Seawater. $361,772.

2013 - NSF Tectonics. Collaborative Research: Title: Collaborative Research: Paleogeographic record of contractional to extensional tectonics in the Sevier hinterland, Nevada. $298,000.

2012 - ExxonMobil. Depositional and Deformational History of the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt and Foreland Basin, Kirkuk Embayment, Iraqi Kurdistan. $845,409 Horton and Stockli co-PIs.

JSG Oustanding Researcher Award 2018 - University of Texas at Austin (2018)

GSA Fellow - Geological Society of America (2016)

Science Performance Award (Full Professor Level) - UT Dept. of Geological Sciences (2015)

Science Performance Award (Full Professor Level) - UT Dept. of Geological Sciences (2014)

Chevron (Gulf) Centennial Endowed Professorship - Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin (2014)

J. and M. Van Sant Geology Excellence Award - University of Kansas (2006)

Caltech Texaco Philanthropic Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship - Caltech (1999 - 2001)

UC White Mountains Research Station Fellowship - University of California (1996 - 1999)

Outstanding master's thesis award - ETHZ (1995)

Swiss Presidential Silver Medal - President of Switzerland (1995)

Stanford University Graduate Fellowship - Stanford University (1995)

Member, Faculty Council, University of Texas (2020)

Chair, DGS COVID-19 Online Instructional Transition, UT Jackson School of Geosciences (2020)

Chair, Dept. of Geological Sciences, UT Jackson School of Geosciences (2020)

Member, GSA Student Research Grant Review Committee, Geological Society of America (2019)

Member, GSA International Committee, Geological Society of America (2018)

Member, International Thermochronology Standing Committee, (2018)

Member, GSA Structure and Tectonics Career Award, Geological Society of America (2013 - 2015)

Chair, Solid Earth and Tectonic Processes Research Theme, UT Jackson School of Geosciences (2011 - 2017)

NSF Margins initiative steering committee, Margins steering committee, NSF, Washington DC (2008 - 2010)

Herbette Visiting Professor Universite de Lausanne, Switzerland, Sabbatical, Universite de Lausanne, Switzerland (2007)

Organizer and Convener, GeoEarthScope-MARGINS interface workshop, GeoEarthScope Meeting Monterey, California (2007)

Associate Professor (thermochronology/tectonics), Dept of Geology, University of Kansas (2006 - 2011)

Advisory committee, ISES (Integrated Solid Earth Sciences) initiative, GSA/AGU (2006)

Organizer, EarthScope GeoSwath Walker Lane EarthScope, Reno, Nevada (2006)

Honorary Research Associate, Dept of Geological Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada (2005 - 2011)

Organizer and Convener, GSA Penrose Conference, Kinematics and geodynamics of intra-plate dextral shear in eastern California and western Nevada. Mammoth Lakes, California (2005)

Co-Director of IGL, Isotope Geochemistry Laboratories, University of Kansas (2003 - 2011)

Invited Panelist and Forum Leader, Integrated Solid Earth Sciences workshop, GSA/AGU (2003)

Integrated Solid Earth Sciences Member, pearheading database development for Geochronology and Thermochronology, Cyberinfrastructure workshop at the University of Kansas (2003 - 2011)

Assistant professor (thermochronology/tectonics), Dept of Geology, University of Kansas (2001 - 2006)

Editor, On Track, International fission-track newsletter, Stanford University (1996 - 1997)

Teaching and research assistant, Dept of Geol and Environ Sciences, Stanford University (1995 - 1999)

Teaching and laboratory assistant, Institute of Geology, ETH Zurich (1993 - 1995)

Postdocs

Rudra N Chatterjee

Megan Mueller
I am an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow. My research focuses on using sedimentary rocks to reconstruct ancient subduction zones and continental collisions. I utilize a combination of field work, sedimentology, stratigraphy, geo-/thermo-/petrochronology, and provenance proxies. I use the evolution of ancient sedimentary basins to explore the links between geodynamics, tectonics, topography, magmatism, and biogeography.

Drew Levy, 2020, University of Texas

Federico Galster, 2015 - 2018, University of Texas
Now Geologist with Swiss Geological Mapping Consortium in Switzerland

Ryan McKenzie, 2013 - 2014, University of Texas
Now Assistant Professor at University of Hong Kong https://www.earthsciences.hku.hk/people/academic-staff/dr-mckenzie-ryan

Owen Anfinson, 2012 - 2015, University of Texas
Now Assistant Professor at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park CA https://geology.sonoma.edu/faculty-staff/owen-anfinson

Andrew Smye, 2012 - 2015, University of Texas
now Assistant Professor at Penn State University http://ajsmye.com/

Elizabeth Cassel, 2011 - 2014, University of Texas
Now Assistant Professor at University of Idaho in Moscow ID https://www.uidaho.edu/sci/geology/people/faculty/ecassel

Jeffrey Marsh, 2011 - 2013, University of Texas
Now Post-Doctoral Fellow & LA-ICP-MS Laboratory Technician at Laurentian University in Sudbury Canada https://merc.laurentian.ca/people/jeffrey-marsh

Charles Verdel, 2010 - 2011, University of Kansas
Postdoctoral Research Associate Now Project Geologist at Geological Survey of the Northern Territory of Australia

Junsheng Nie, 2010 - 2011, University of Kansas
Now Professor at Lanzhou University in Lanzhou China

Badr Ghorbal, 2009 - 2011, University of Kansas
Postdoctoral Research Associate Now Researcher at Simula Research Laboratory in Oslo Norway

Joe Andrew, 2009 - 2010, University of Kansas
Postdoctoral research associate Now Research Associate at University of Kansas

Stephanie Brichau, 2004 - 2006, University of Kansas
Postdoctoral Research Associate Now Charge de recherche IRD at University of Toulouse France

Graduate Students

Max Ehrenfels , Ph.D., expected 2026 (Supervisor)
The aim of my research is to improve established methods and develop new methods to extract thermal history information using the (U-Th)/He decay system in zircon. An initial project will produce new mineral standards to overcome analytical shortcomings in the currently used laser ablation (U-Th)/He protocol. This will lay the groundwork for further investigating fundamental basics such as the diffusion...

Daniel Ruiz Arriaga , Ph.D., expected 2023 (Supervisor)
My current research is focused on the architecture reconstruction of Jurassic syn-rift basins along east Mexico to better understand the tectonic drivers behind the early Mesozoic history of the Gulf of Mexico. The approach I use relies on the integration of structural and stratigraphic observations at different scales, in combination with sediment provenance analysis and detrital zircon geo- and thermochronology....

E. Gabriela Gutiérrez Tamayo , Ph.D., expected 2022 (Co-supervisor)
My current research is focused on sediment routing systems at various temporal and spatial scales. I am interested on elucidating how these systems respond to allogenic controls in sedimentary basins as well as understanding the impact on the structural setting, stratigraphy and hydrocarbon systems of the basin.

Patricia Ascanio-Pellon (Supervisor)
My research is focused on geochronology, structural geology, and sedimentology. I am using detrital zircons from Jurassic sandstones in western Cuba to determine the sediment's provenance and its implications for Caribbean tectonics.

Ethan M Conrad (Co-supervisor)
I am a PhD candidate at the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences (Institute for Geophysics, UTIG & Department of Geological Sciences, DGS) advised by Profs. Claudio Faccenna (Formerly UT & Roma TRE, now GFZ Potsdam & Roma TRE), Thorsten Becker (UT - JSG: DGS & UTIG), and Daniel Stockli (UT - JSG: DGS). My research interests include structural...

Sandra Juarez Zuniga (Supervisor)

Sage Turek (Supervisor)

Leena Abdulqader (Supervisor)
Utilizing my geology degree from the University of Jordan and drawing from my experience in driving technical support excellence at Esri, I am currently spearheading innovative research on South Jordan's dikes. Under the supervision of Dr. Danny Stockli, this research endeavors to yield significant contributions to our comprehension of regional tectonics and geological history, carrying far-reaching implications.

Cullen Kortyna, Ph.D., 2022 (Co-supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Eirini Poulaki, Ph.D., 2022 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Catherine Ross, Ph.D., 2022 (Co-supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Megan Flansburg, Ph.D., 2022 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Zachary Foster-Baril, Ph.D., 2022 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Emily Hinshaw, M.S., 2022 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Samuel Robbins, M.S., 2021 (Supervisor)
Department of Geosciences

Kelly David Thomson, Ph.D., 2020 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2016, UT). Thesis: Detrital U-Pb-He provenance investigation of the Ainsa Basin, Southern Ph.D. (2020, UT). Thesis: Intra-unit variability and mixing of detrital zircon provenance studies in the modern and deep time Now instructor at Gallatin College, Bozeman MT

Clara Brennan, M.S., 2019 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2019, UT). Thesis: In-situ laser ablation and step-heating 4He/3He thermal history recovery Now a Ph.D. student at Central Michigan University

Margo Odlum, Ph.D., 2019 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2019, UT). Thesis: Thermo-tectonic record of hyperextension, structural inversion, and foreland basin evolution of the eastern and central Pyrenees Now a NSF postdoctoral Scholar at Utah State University

John Lee, Ph.D., 2018 (Co-supervisor)
University of Kansas
M.S. (2007, KU). Thesis: Thermochronometric constraints on the incision history of the Grand Canyon from borehole and surface samples Ph.D. (2018, KU). Thesis: Cenozoic erosion history and long-term landscape evolution of the central Sierra Nevada, California. Co-advised with J.D. Walker at KU.

Douglas Barber, Ph.D., 2018 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2018, UT). Thesis: Tectonic and sediment provenance evolution of the NW Zagros in Kurdistan (Iraq) and SE Turkey Now Geologist with Chevron in Houston TX

Adam Goldsmith, 2018 (Co-supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2018, UT). Thesis: Influence of radiation damage on helium diffusion in zircon and its application to detrital thermochronometry. Co-supervised with Richard Ketcham (UT) Now Research Associate at University of Connecticut

Emily Copperdock (Hernandez-Goldstei, Ph.D., 2017 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2017, UT). Thesis: Development of magnetite (U-Th)/He dating of serpentinites and its application of hyper-extended continental margins Postdoc at WHOI Now Assistant Professor at University of Southern California https://earth.usc.edu/cooperdock/

Steffi Wafforn, Ph.D., 2017 (Co-supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2017, UT). Thesis: Temporal and thermal evolution of the Grasberg Gold District of West Papua, Indonesia. Co-advised with Mark Cloos Now Exploration Geologist at Pretium, Canada

Egardo Josue Pujols Vasquez, Ph.D., 2017 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2011, KU). Thesis: Structural evolution and timing of extensional faulting in the central Gulf of Suez, Egypt Ph.D. (2017, UT). Thesis: Reconstruction of the interplay between the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt and the Sevier foreland basin, central Utah Now Assistant Professor at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX

Renas Koshnaw, Ph.D., 2017 (Co-supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2016, UT). Thesis: The Zagros fold-and-thrust belt and foreland basin of Kurdistan (Iraq). Co-advised with B. Horton) Postdoctoral scholar at Univ of Bern, Switzerland Now Humboldt postdoctoral scholar at Univ of Goettingen, Germany

Alissa Kotowski, Ph.D., 2017 (Co-supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2019, UT). Thesis: Structural, thermal, and rheological evolution during prograde metamorphism in the subduction channel - a field-oriented study in Syros, Greece. Advised with W. Behr) Now postdoctoral scholar at McGill University, Montreal Canada

Patrick Boyd, M.S., 2017 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2017). Thesis: Thermal evolution of the lower crust during continental rifting and breakup, eastern Alps, Switzerland Now Geologist with BP in Houston TX

Spencer Seman, Ph.D., 2016 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2016, UT). Thesis: Novel geo-and thermochronometric and petrologic insights into the evolution of HP rocks in the central Aegean, Greece Postdoctoral scholar at Penn State Univ Now Senior Research Scientist at McCrone Associates

Michael Prior, Ph.D., 2016 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
Ph.D. (2016, UT). Thesis: Tectonic and thermal evolution of the Bullfrog Metamorphic Core Complex, Nevada Postdoctoral scholar at Colorado State University

Cody Colleps, M.S., 2016 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2016, UT). Thesis: Integrated structural and stratigraphic study of the frontal Himalayas in NW India Now Ph.D. Student at Hong Kong University

Daniel Arnost, M.S., 2015 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2015, UT). Thesis: Impact of meteoric fluid flow on the long-term thermal evolution - insights from Alpine tunnels studies

Nikki Seymour, 2015 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2015, UT). Thesis: Lower-crustal syn-rift exhumation at a hyper-extended continental margin - a case study in NE Corsica, France Ph.D. from Colorado State University (2020) Now NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University

Michael Cloos, M.S., 2014 (Co-supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2014, UT). Thesis: Sedimentary and provenance evolution of the Plio-Pleistocene Colorado River Delta, California. Co-advised with Ron Steel Now Geophysicist at DownUnder GeoSolutions

Alison MacNamee, M.S., 2014 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2014, UT). Thesis: Coupled Thermochronometric and Geochemical Investigation of Blind Geothermal Resources in Fault-Controlled Dilational Corners, Dixie Valley, Nevada Now a Geoscientist at Hess Corporation, Houston TX

Nicole Hart, M.S., 2014 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2014, UT). Thesis: Coupled bedrock and detrital thermochronometry of a hyper-extended continental margin, Mauleon, Pyrenees

Tandis Bidgoli, Ph.D., 2014 (Co-supervisor)
University of Kansas
Ph.D. (2014, KU). Thesis: Temporal and kinematic reconstruction of middle Miocene extension and transition to Mio-Pliocene transtension in the Las Vegas area. Co-advised with J.D. Walker at KU Research Scientist at the Kansas Geological Survey NOW Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri in Colombia MO https://geology.missouri.edu/people/bidgoli

Tim Shin, 2014 (Co-supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2014, UT). Thesis: Contractional and extensional evolution of the Aegean tectono-metamorphic complex in Andros and Tinos islands, Greece Now a Geologist with TOTAL in Houston TX

Caleb Rhatigan, M.S., 2014 (Supervisor)
University of Texas
M.S. (2013, UT). Thesis: Thermochronometric investigation of the Paleozoic stratigraphic and thermal evolution of the Western Desert, Egypt

Joshua Burrus, M.S., 2013 (Supervisor)
University of Texas at Austin
M.S (2013, UT). Thesis: Integrated footwall and hanging wall tectonics and stratigraphic evolution of the Weepah Metamorphic Core Complex, Nevada Now Apache Corporation in Midland TX

Eugene Szemanski, Ph.D., 2012 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Structural and sedimentological evolution of the Wadi Al-Hamd half-graben, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Now Geologist with Chevron in Houston TX

Jordan Taylor (Rhatigan), M.S., 2012 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Magnetite (U-Th-[Sm])/He geochronology of Colombia River Basalts Now Client Service Representative at Worxtime

Evan Bargnesi, M.S., 2011 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Thermochronometric constraints on detrital provenance and source thermal evolution from a supra-detachment basin in Paros, Greece Now Geological Advisor Exploration for California Resources Corporation in Bakersfield CA

Kyle Gorynski, M.S., 2011 (Co-supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Thermochronometric Constraints on the Longevity of a Geothermal System in an Extensional Tectonic Setting. Co-advised by Doug Walker (KU) Now Director Reservoir Characterization and Exploration at Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.

Sarah Evans, M.S., 2011 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Tectonic evolution of a Tethyan rift marin and ocean-continent transition in the Eastern Alps - An integrated magnetite and zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometric approach Ph.D. UNLV Now at ExxonMobil in Houston TX

Kurt Sundell, M.S., 2011 (Co-supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Thermochronology of the Lunggar active metamorphic core complex, Tibet. Co-supervised by Michael Taylor (KU) Ph.D. University of Houston Now postdoctoral scholar at LaserChron University of Arizona in Tucson AZ

Chris Hager, Ph.D., 2010 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Structural Geology and Neotectonics of the Xianza Rift, Central Tibet Now a Petroleum Geologist with Chevron in Bakersfield CA

Joe Miller, M.S., 2010 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
M.S. (2012, KU). Thesis: Detrital (U-Th)/He and U-Pb dating of the northern Alpine Flysch and Molasse, central Switzerland Now a Geologist with CDM Smith in Denver, CO

Melissa Wolfe, M.S., 2009 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: He Diffusion in Rutile and Calibration of Rutile (U-Th)/He Thermochronology on the KTB Ultra-Deep Borehole

Markella Hoffman, M.S., 2009 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Incision and exhumation history of the Colorado Plateau in the Canyonlands to Book Cliffs Region, Utah Now with ExxonMobil in Houston TX

Travis Glauser, M.S., 2009 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: Thermochronometric investigation of multiple unconformities and post-depositional thermal history of a fault block in the northern Western Desert, Egypt Now Geologist at Chesapeake Energy

Terrence Blackburn, M.S., 2006 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Thesis: (U-Th)/He Dating of Xenoliths from Kimberlites and basaltic volcanic fields Ph.D. MIT Now Assistant Professor at University of California at Santa Cruz https://eps.ucsc.edu/faculty/Profiles/fac-only.php?uid=terryb

David Bradley, M.S., 2005 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
David Bradley - M.S. (2005, KU). Thesis: Kinematics and slip rates of the Coaldale Fault, Nevada Now Geotechnical Consultant in Savannah GA

Christopher Tincher, M.S., 2005 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Christopher Tincher - M.S. (2005, KU). Thesis: Cenozoic Volcanism and Tectonics in the Queen Valley Area, western Nevada Now Executive Vice President, Development & Geology, at Nickel Road Operating LLC Previous Exploration Geologist with EnCana and Newfield Exploration in Denver CO

Juan Pablo Centeno, M.S., 2004 (Supervisor)
University of Kansas
Juan Pablo Centeno - M.S. (2004, KU). Thesis: Exhumation of the Torngat Mountains, northern Labrador, Canada Now Research Software Engineer with National Jewish Health

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Research/Theses:
Terrence Blackburn (2004). Senior Thesis: Timing and origin of Kansas kimberlites.
Nathan Winters (2004). Senior Thesis: Basalt geochemistry of the Volcanic Hills area, Esmeralda County, Nevada.
Kelly Wooten (2004). Senior Thesis: Mesozoic magmatism and deformation in the northern White Mountains, CA and NV.
James Lyons (2004). Senior Thesis: Petrography and geochronology of lamprolites in Woodsen County, Kansas.
Jack Desmond (2005). Senior Thesis: Gravity and basin geometry of Queen Valley, California and Nevada.
Mark Hadley (2005). Senior Thesis: Gravity and basin geometry of Queen Valley, California and Nevada.
Adam Kueker (2005). Senior Thesis: Volcanic stratigraphy of Pliocene ash-flow tuffs in northern Fish Lake Valley, Nevada.
Randy Ackerman (2006). Senior Thesis: Zircon and titanite (U-Th)/He geochronology of Oligocene ash flow tuffs in northern Fish Lake Valley
Alec Waggoner (2007). Senior Thesis: Monazite, xenotime, and allanite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry - a case study from the NQTL core complex, Tibet
Spencer Seaman (2009). Senior Thesis: (U-Th)/He dating of conodonts - A case study from in the Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria.
Josef Miller (2009). Senior Thesis: Zircon (U-Th)/He dating of impact melts and suevites from the Manson impact, Iowa.
Adam Goldsmith (2009). Senior Thesis: (U-Th)/He dating and He diffusion of emerald from the Eastern Cordillera, Colombia.
Cody Colleps (2013). Senior Thesis: Zircon U-Pb geochronology of subsurface basement samples from the Western Desert, Egypt.
Laura Dafov (2016). Senior Thesis: DZ U-Pb as a monitor of sand generation in response to dams along the Colorado River of Texas
Dylan Hart (2016). Senior Thesis: DZ U-Pb record of the Jurassic syn-rift strata in the central Lusitania Basin, Portugal
Edna Rodriguez (2016). Senior Thesis: The Devils River Uplift - Rifted piece of Laurantia or slice of Gondwana?
Samuel Robbins (2017). Senior Thesis: Zircon U-Pb and He constraints on the Paleozoic and Mesozoic chronostratigraphy of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Thomas Ditges (2019). Senior Thesis: Provenance evolution of the Pennsylvanian Strawn Group in central Texas
Patrica Standring (2019). Senior Thesis: Thermal evolution of the Glarus Thrust Sheet, Switzerland

Year	Semester	Course
2024	Spring	GEO 382T	Continental Tectonics
2024	Spring	GEO 381T	Marine Tectonics
2024	Spring	GEO 381S	Tectonic Problems
2024	Spring	GEO 660B	Field Geology
2024	Spring	GEO 339T	Continental Tectonics
2024	Spring	GEO 338T	Marine Tectonics
2023	Summer	GEO f660B	Field Geology-Wy/Mt/Ut
2023	Spring	GEO 382T	Continental Tectonics
2023	Spring	GEO 381T	Marine Tectonics
2023	Spring	GEO 339T	Continental Tectonics
2023	Spring	GEO 338T	Marine Tectonics
2023	Spring	GEO 420K	Intro To Field/Strat Meths
2022	Summer	GEO f660B	Field Geo-Wy/Mt/Ut
2022	Spring	GEO 391	Geochronology
2022	Spring	GEO 420K	Intro To Field/Strat Meths
2022	Spring	GEO 381S	Tectonic Problems
2021	Summer	GEO f660B	Field Geo-Tx/Nm/Co/Wy/Mt/Id/Ut
2021	Spring	GEO 391	Thermochronology
2020	Fall	GEO 382T	Continental Tectonics
2020	Fall	GEO 339T	Continental Tectonics-Wb
2020	Fall	GEO 339T	Continental Tectonics
2020	Spring	GEO 391	Geochronology
2020	Spring	GEO 381K	Tectonic Problems
2019	Fall	GEO 339T	Continental Tectonics
2019	Summer	GEO f660B	Field Geo-Tx/Nm/Co/Wy/Mt/Id/Ut
2019	Spring	GEO 420K	Intro To Field/Strat Meths
2019	Spring	GEO 391	Thermochronology
2019	Spring	GEO 381K	Tectonic Problems
2018	Summer	GEO f660B	Field Geo-Tx/Nm/Co/Wy/Mt/Id/Ut
2018	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2018	Spring	GEO 391	Geochronology
2018	Spring	GEO 381K	Tectonic Problems
2018	Spring	GEO 420K	Intro To Field/Strat Meths
2017	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2017	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2017	Spring	GEO 391	Thermochronology
2016	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2016	Fall	GEO 339T	Continental Tectonics
2016	Fall	GEO 303	Introduction To Geology
2016	Spring	GEO 391	Geochronology
2016	Spring	GEO 381K	Tectonic Problems
2016	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Structural Geology
2015	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2015	Fall	GEO 391	Sedimntry Source-To-Sink Dynmc
2015	Fall	GEO 386G	Gis & Gps Applics In Earth Sci
2015	Fall	GEO 339T	Continental Tectonics
2015	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Structural Geology
2015	Spring	GEO 391	Geochronology
2015	Spring	GEO 391	Advanced Field Methods
2014	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Structural Geology
2014	Fall	GEO 391	Thermochronology
2014	Fall	GEO 339T	Continental Tectonics
2014	Spring	GEO 381K	Tectonic Problems
2014	Spring	GEO 391	Geochronology
2014	Spring	GEO 391	Advanced Field Methods

Graduate Positions

Innovative Detrital Provenance Studies - Double Dating PLUS
A major thrust of my current research the development and application of more comprehensive isotopic detrital provenance tools. U-Pb on zircon is clearly the big work horse, but only goes so far and sometimes yields "no" useful info, e.g., if the source of the sediment is mostly recycled sediment. We have extensively pursued double dating of zircons by U-Pb and He, as zircon He ages yield very interesting insights into the thermal and tectonic history of the source terrane; often yielding very different insights than crystallization ages. The combination is powerful, but I think we can take things so much farther by combining double dating with other constrains. People have tried fission track (not precise enough), Hf/Hf (to get mantle separation model ages), etc., but what we want to do and are working on is really Double Dating ++, combining zircon U-Pb-He dating with a variety of other geochemical aspects to more comprehensive understand detrital provenance and improve paleo-tectonic reconstructions. For example, trace-element thermometry (Ti in zirc), REE on zircon (met vs mag origin), Hf/Hf (see above), oxygen isotopes, etc. and also to develop rutile in an analogous manner (e.g., Zr in rut thermometry, Cr/Nb ratio (mafic vs granulitic), REE, etc.). The sky is the limit and what can learn so much. The issue in part it, how much can a single grain tell us before it's gone? The project sounds very laboratory oriented, but it's really a combination of field and lab work. We have identified a few possible case study areas, e.g., Morocco; great exposures, long-lived and preserved record of basin deposition since the Precambrian. My group is already working on some case studies in NW Himalayas, the N & S Pyrenees, the Sevier FTB, Permian Basin and other foreland basin. New projects include provenance studies along rifted and passive continental margins such the Gulf of Mexico, the central Atlantic Margins in Canada, USA, Portugal, and Morocco.

Laser ablation (U-Th)/He and 4He/3He dating of zircon and apatite
Seeking motivated Ph.D. students interested in noble gas geo-thermochronology and geochemistry to pursue project in method development and application of laser ablation (U-Th)/He dating and depth profile 4He/3He thermochronometry of zircon and apatite. Our laboratory has a dedicated noble gas extraction line with a SFT magnetic sector noble gas mass spectrometer and dedicated Excimer Laser. The lab also houses two Element2 magnetic sector single collector ICP-MS instruments with a second Excimer laser as well as a state-of-the-art Bruker optical interferometric microscope. The project will develop laser ablation methodology to recover detailed thermal histories from apatite and zircon by laser ablation (U-Th)/He and 4He/3He dating as well as comparison to step-heating fractional loss experiments.

LA-ICP-MS single-pule U-Pb depth profiling recovery of thermal histories
Seeking motivated Ph.D. students interested in in-situ geochronology to pursue project in method development and application of laser ablation continuous mode or single-pulse U-Pb LA-ICP-MS geo-thermochronology as well as trace element speedometry to constrain thermal history or lower and middle crustal rocks. The UTChron Geo- and Thermochronometry laboratory houses two Element2 magnetic sector single collector ICP-MS instruments with a large-volume cell Excimer laser system, ideally suited for depth profiling and U-Pb and trace element split stream analysis. The laboratory also houses a Bruker optical interferometric microscope to control laser ablation rates as well as a Raman system. The focus of applications is on method development and application to the exhumation of middle and lower crustal rocks in rifted margin settings.

Ph.D. Project Greece - Petrochronology and tectonic evolution of the Cycladic Blueschist Complex (University of Texas at Austin) (4-5 years)
Ph.D. project available in the Stockli Research Group and UTChron Laboratory of the Dept of Earth and Planetary Sciences (https://eps.jsg.utexas.edu/) at the Jackson School of Geosciences (https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/) of The University of Texas at Austin. The project focuses on the tectonic and metamorphic evolution of the Cycladic Blueschist Complex in central and northern Greece to constrain the tectonic and metamorphic evolution of one of the world's best-exposed subduction complexes. The project entails field mapping and structural analysis with strong emphasis on accessory mineral (zircon, apatite, titanite) LA-ICP-MS petrochronology, microanalytical mineral imaging and elemental and isotopic mapping, and low-temperature (U-Th)/He thermochronometry of the Cycladic Blueschist Complex in central and north-eastern Greece with the goal of constraining the pre-subduction, subduction, and exhumation history of Cycladic blueschists and understanding subduction underplating within the Hellenic subduction complex. The project is a collaboration with the University of Athens (Prof. Soukis) and we are seek an outstanding, motivated, and independent PhD student with interested in combining field and cutting-edge laboratory work.

Interested candidates should contact Dr. Daniel Stockli with any inquiries and questions regarding the project or application procedures. For more information regarding the Stockli Research Group (https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/stockli-group/), the UTChron Laboratory (https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/utchron-lab/) please see these website links.

Applications are due January 1, 2024, and information about applying to our program is online using the online application from the Graduate School of the University of Texas at Austin. Applications must be complete in the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) by the appropriate deadline. ALL ITEMS must be received by the deadline. We no longer require submission of a GRE score for the application for the Fall of 2024, however, international applicants do require submission of TOEFL scores.

For general admissions questions, please see https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/education/graduate/admissions/

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. With nearly 52,000 students from all 50 states and 123 countries, we take seriously our motto: What Starts Here Changes the World. We boast 18 colleges and schools with over 300 degree programs, representing a diversity of thought and scholarship that is staggering. The Dept. of Geological Sciences at UT seeks to foster an environment where faculty, students, and staff feel valued and welcome.

Stockli Research Group

UTChron Lab

Helios Data Reduction and Manipulation Software

JSG Faculty Profile Article (Stockli)