FACULTY

Full-Time Faculty

Charles E. Brown

Hydrogeology

Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

E-mail: cbrown10@gwu.edu

Courses: Physical Geology, Environmental Geology, Historical Geology, Hydrology, Global Climate Change

Research Interests: Dr. Brown has completed research studies centered in the geologic and hydrologic disciplines including digital modeling of groundwater flow and remediation techniques, geochemical fate and contaminant transport modeling, and geostatistics and multivariate statistical modeling applications to water resources and other scientific data.  He also has worked on digital simulation modeling of sedimentation and structural processes in geologic basins, oil and gas exploration, hydrodynamics of petroleum and natural gas reservoirs, borehole and surface geophysical applications in geologic basins, environmental issues in geology and science, as well as international energy and time series forecast modeling.  He continues to complete research that is related to the subjects above, and is working on a third book entitled “World Water Resources”. Because digital modeling simulation in geology, hydrology, and geochemistry will lead the geologic and hydrologic sciences into the next century, Dr. Brown continues to focus on computer simulation modeling in the various sciences. He is also interested in the cross correlation of geological and biological sciences in solving environmental issues.

 

Catherine A. Forster

Vertebrate Paleontology

Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Tel: (202) 994-1008

E-mail: forster@gwu.edu

Courses: Historical Geology, Sedimentation and Stratigraphy, History of Life

Research Interests: Discovery and collection of Mesozoic age vertebrates, primarily dinosaurs, with field programs in China, Madagascar, and South Africa. Primary description and phylogenetic analysis of dinosaur taxa.  My current work focuses on ornithischian dinosaurs, particularly the Ornithopoda. I have also worked with theropod (including birds) and sauropod dinosaurs, as well as non-dinosaurian taxa such as turtles, cynodonts, and crocodilians.

 

 

 

 

H. Henry Teng

Aqueous Geochemistry

Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology

Tel: (202) 994-0112

E-mail: hteng@gwu.edu

Courses: Geochemistry

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Research Interests: Probing and understanding the behavior of earth materials in natural aqueous environments, including rock-water interactions (dissolution, formation, transformation, chemical change) in nature. Current research focuses on mineral dissolution and crystallization in waters with different chemistry to unravel reaction processes and mechanisms at crystal-water interfaces.  Approaches include in situ microscopic study and ex situ experimental exploration from both energetic and kinetic points of view. Exploring biomolecule-mineral interaction to understand biomineralization,(e.g. shells or bones) in biological systems, and the origin of bio-homochirality (the uniform handedness in amino acids and sugars) and, hence, the origin of life. Investigating interactions of microbes with soils to determine if certain fungi are able to promote nutrient release from minerals (bio-fertilizer). Studying methods to curtail CO₂ emission through geological carbon sequestration by converting CO₂ to carbonate minerals as a permanent solution; this study includes the crystallization processes of carbonate minerals to better understand this conversion, and the use of catalysts and bacteria to convert CO₂ to calcium carbonate.

 

Richard P. Tollo

Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

Ph.D., University of Massachusetts

Tel: (202) 994-6960

E-mail: rtollo@gwu.edu

Courses: Physical Geology, Mineralogy, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Geological Field Methods, Volcanology, Field Experience in Volcanology

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Research Interests: My research primarily involves field-based studies of Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks, including application of petrologic and geochemical information to deduce the typically complex evolution of such rocks and the terranes in which they occur.  My current work involves field and petrologic studies of Mesoproterozoic basement rocks and Neoproterozoic metavolcanic rocks exposed near Mount Rogers in southwestern Virginia.  Investigations include detailed field mapping, petrologic and geochemical characterization, and in situ trace-element geochemical analyses of zircons dated by U-Pb isotopic methods.  These studies are undertaken in collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. Geological Survey. A recent focus of our work involves detailed SHRIMP (sensitive high resolution ion microprobe) analysis of trace-element compositions in Precambrian zircons that have been dated using standard SHRIMP isotopic techniques.  These studies are designed to elucidate the geochemical and petrologic mechanisms of zircon formation in polymetamorphosed rocks of igneous origin.  Undergraduate students play an active and key role in all of my research-related activities.

 

In Memorium - George C. Stephens

Please click here to visit his memorial and photo collage.

 

 

Part-Time and Adjunct Faculty

Joseph H. Kravitz

Professorial Lecturer

Marine Geology

Ph.D., The George Washington University

Office of Naval Research

Courses: Oceanography

E-mail: kravitz@gwmail.gwu.edu

 

Research Interests: My research interests include the study of sediments and sedimentary processes in high-latitude, glacial-marine environments, as well as the application of marine geotechnical techniques to the solution of geologic problems.  I have studied the geologic character of sea floor worldwide including the Arctic's Kane Basin, Baffin Bay, and the sea floor off Wilkes Land, Antarctica.

 

John F. Lewis

Emeritus

Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

Ph.D., Oxford University

E-mail: jlewis@gwu.edu

 

Giuseppina Mattietti

Associate Professorial Lecturer

Igneous Petrology

Ph.D., George Washington University

Tel: (202) 994-0113

Courses: Physical Geology, Enviornmental Geology, Geology and the Environment, Geological Hazards and Land-Use Planning

E-mail: geolgkm@gwu.edu

 

Research Interests: Igneous Petrology and Geochemistry of Tertiary volcanic and granitoids sequences of the northern Caribbean plate boundary

 

 

Marlene McGuirl

Adjunct Professor

Environmental Justice

J.D., DePaul College of Law

Courses: Environmental Law

E-mail: marlenemcguirl@aol.com

 

Advocacy Interests: Environmental justice, including community vulnerability, sustainability and climate justice

 

Elisheva (Elli) Pauli

Lecturer and Laboratory Coordinator

M.S., George Washington University

Tel: (202) 994-0113

Courses: Physical Geology, Environmental Geology, introductory laboratories

E-mail: epauli@gwu.edu

 

Research and Teaching Interests: Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of talented scientists on a variety of research projects ranging from mineral characterization of Martian Meteorites to synthetic precipitation of Mg-carbonates as a potential route for mineral carbon sequestration. While I enjoy research for the intellectual challenge, teaching is where I take my pleasure, and presently, my time is dedicated to developing a strong Environmental Geology curriculum and coordinating the environmental, physical, and historical geology laboratory courses.  I am also the proud mommy of 6 parrots, 1 chinchilla, 4 cats, and my doggy Snuffles, who teach me new things about this miraculous planet every single day!!

 

Kenneth A. Rasmussen

Professorial Lecturer

Oceanography

Ph.D., University of North Carolina

Courses: Oceanography, introductory laboratories

E-mail: krasmussen@nvcc.edu

 

Research Interests: My research has focused on sedimentary records of climate change in marine and lacustrine carbonate environments. These studies have been conducted in St. Croix, The Bahamas, Belize, Hungary, Italy, and Kyrgyzstan. I have been particularly interested in the origin and development of microbialite and stromatolite reefs, as well as the genesis and paleoecology of carbonate hardgrounds.

 

Frederic R. Siegel

Emeritus

Geochemistry

Ph.D., University of Kansas,

Geochemistry

E-mail: nzkara@gwu.edu

 

Patrick T. Taylor

Professorial Lecturer

Geophysics

Ph.D., Stanford University

Courses: Geophysics

National Aeronautics and Space Admistration

E-mail: patrick.taylor@nasa.gov

 

Research Interests: My research focusses on the application of geophysics, especially magnetic systems, to problems in terrestrial and planetary geology.